1996 Chevrolet Lumina Visibility Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHO REPLACED THE ENGINE EGR VALVES. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AND REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS CLEANED, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO A LOUD SQUEAKY NOISE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW MECHANISM WAS INOPERATIVE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000. UPDATED 04/24/09. *LJ THE EGR VALVES WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/28/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10263726

Incident

Aug 8, 1999

Mileage

22,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT IS POSSIBLE TO OPEN IT FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, BUT WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. SHE IS AFRAID THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AND SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN IT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAME OPEN WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND PRIOR TO THE SLIDING DOOR FALLING OFF ITS HINGES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE MECHANIC TOLD HER HE THOUGHT THE WINDSHIELD/WIPER MOTOR WAS BAD.*AK UPDATED 12/7/2005. *NM

NHTSA ID

10142976

Incident

Jul 9, 2005

WINDSHIELD WIPERS START AND STOP AT RANDOM INTERVALS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10021003

Incident

Jun 3, 2003

Mileage

120,250 mi

VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ABOUT 2 YRS AGO BECAUSE IT STARTED LOSING POWER AND WAS RUNNING ROUGH. THE POWER WINDOW ON DRIVER SIDE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. BRAKES GRIND WHEN WET EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED. NOTICED AROUND THIS TIME THAT THE CAR TEMPERATURE GAUGE SOMETIMES CREEPED UP ABOVE NORMAL. IT SEEMED TO BE LOSING ANTI-FREEZE. THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING. I REFILLED THE ANTI-FREEZE. IT SEEMED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IT SLOWLY RETURNED. VEHICLE WAS ALSO VERY SLOWLY LOSING OIL. LAST MONTH (10/02) I STARTED HOME FROM WORK. THE CAR SUDDENLY OVERHEATED. STRONG FUMES CAME INTO THROUGH THE VENTS, BURNING MY EYES. I HAD TO STOP REPEATEDLY TO LET THE CAR COOL SO THAT I COULD GET HOME. I WORK ONLY 3 MILES FROM HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME, THE OIL STICK CONTAINED OIL HALFWAY UP THE STICK. STARTED OVER FLOWING FROM THE OIL CAP WHEN I RESTARTED. SMOKE WAS HEAVY FROM THE BACK. HAD SOMEONE CHECK THE CAR. THE CAR IS NOT FUNCTIONABLE. WILL NOT TURN OVER. REPLACED THE STARTER BUT DIDN'T HELP. THERE IS OIL IN THE RADIATOR, WATER IN THE OIL. SEEMS TO BE FUEL IN THE ANTI-FREEZE. APPEARS TO BE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET OR MORE. HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS MAKE AND MODEL YEAR WAS RECALLED FOR MOTOR PROBLEMS PREVIOUSLY PARALLELING THESE SAME PROBLEMS. DT

NHTSA ID

770078

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW WENT DOWN WOULD NOT GO BACK UP-NO PROBLEM WITH THIS WINDOW BEFORE-DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW-SLUGGISH,OFTEN LOSES POWER......DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW KNOB PUSHED IN CANNOT RETRIEVE IT.....ENGINE BEGAN OVER HEATING IN NOV...ANTIFREEZE PUT IN...ANTIFREEZE MIXED IN WITH ENGINE OIL..ENGINE FROZE UP-HAD TO BE REPLACED.........ANTIFREEZE PART JUST SHATTERTED AS CAR COMING OUT OF PARKING SPACE--FLUIDS LOST-ENGINE LOST POWER---MECHANIC REPORTS NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED ESTIMATES $2,500---MECHANIC REPORTS THAT THIS OR SIMILAR FAILURES OF TRANSMISSSION COMMON ON THIS VECHICLE AND THAT TRANSMISSION EXPERTS ARE AWARE OF THIS AND HAVE FREQUENT COMPLAINTS.....ALL THESE EVENTS OCCURRED IN LAST 6 MONTHS IN ADDITION TO THE NEED OF BRAKE HUB BEARING ON LEFT REAR WHEEL..TOTAL ESTIMATED COST $5,000

NHTSA ID

746268

Incident

Dec 1, 2000

WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH FAILED TO OPERATE DURING A HEAVY RAINSTORM AT HIGH SPEED. WIPER BECAME JAMMED AND FAILED TO WORK. ONLY WORKED AT LOW SPEED WHICH WAS NOT SUFFICIENT. REPAIRED AND PAID FOR PART MYSELF.*AK

NHTSA ID

734946

Incident

Sep 10, 2000

WHILE DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM THE CONSUMERS WINDSHIELD WIPERS CEASED TO OPERATE DUE TO A CORRODED GROUND WIRE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS DUE TO POOR DESIGN SINCE THE WIRE IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE BATTERY. NLM

NHTSA ID

550543

Incident

Oct 6, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT OPERATE FAST ENOUGH TO PERMIT VISIBILITY IN HEAVY RAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

707766

WHEN HE USING THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID THE FAN INTAKES THE FUMES FROM THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID INSIDE THE CAR. THE VEHICLE SMELLS LIKE MENTHOL ALCOHOL . THE OWNER HAS BEEN TO THE ARBITRATION BOARD TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID

816654

Incident

Sep 25, 1997

ELECTRICAL WINDOW FAILED.

NHTSA ID

606026

Incident

Jan 6, 1997

AIR DUCT TOO CLOSE TO ENGINE, ALLOWING EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE, CHOKING DRIVER.

NHTSA ID

518245

Incident

Jun 6, 1997

POWER WINDOW CONTROL FAILED.

NHTSA ID

603265

Incident

Mar 1, 1996

OVERHEATING OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND RADIO DIALS.

NHTSA ID

512375

HORN COMMUNICATION SYSTEM IS ASSEMBLED INCORRECTLY, CAUSING THE HORN NOT TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY, LOSS OF SOUND. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN THE WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN AFTER A CAR WASH OR RAIN THE WATER COMES DOWN FREELY ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. DEALER ADVISED THAT THE HORN IS N THE PROXIMITY OF THE AIR BAG WHICH KEEPS IT FROM SOUNDING AND THAT WAS THE WAY VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT.*JB

NHTSA ID

805793

Incident

Apr 1, 1996

UPON PURCHASING VEHICLE, OWNER WASN'T AWARE THAT REAR WINDOW HAS NO SYSTEM TO DEFROST AND WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. OWNER HAS REPEATED DIFFICULTY WITH CLEARING FOG. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

804302

Incident

Aug 1, 1996

IN WET AND DRY WEATHER THE BRAKES DON'T STOP CAR, IT SLOWS IT DOWN . *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE GLIDES TO A STOP. STARTER MAKES STRANGE NOISE. MOUNTING BOLT MISSING FROM RADIO CAUSING RATTLING NOISE. DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY WORKS IMPROPERLY. WINDOW STICKING, DEALER ADJUSTED UPPER DOOR AND WINDOW MOLDINGS ALONG TRACK. *SLC

NHTSA ID

800577

Incident

May 16, 1996

DASHBOARD REFLECTS ON WINDSHIELD DISTORTING VISIBILITY. *SD

NHTSA ID

502330

Incident

Mar 12, 1996