1998 Chevrolet Lumina Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY CAUSED OTHER ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK IN THE VACUUM HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

NHTSA ID

10939293

Incident

Dec 28, 2016

Mileage

185,000 mi

MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT RECALL # 15V701000, AND ALSO MY CAR STARTED LEAKING WATER INTO THE OIL SO I HAD TO PARK IT UP FOR A WHILE AND JUST BEEN WITHOUT A RIDE EVER SINCE ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

NHTSA ID

10907344

Incident

Aug 17, 2009

Mileage

90,000 mi

1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR RECALL NOTICE 15757. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS AN OIL LEAK, AND SHE WAS ADVISED NOT TO PARK IN A GARAGE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10869959

Incident

Dec 1, 2015

VEHICLE MAKING BANGING NOISE TOOK TO SHOP TOLD A BURNT VALVE, ( IT WAS DRIVEN IN/OUT OF SHOPS) SECOND SHOP WEEKS OF INVESTIGATING, SAME DIAGNOSIS. LACKED FUNDS TO REPAIR, TOOK HOME. READ ABOUT RECALL CONTACTED MANUFACTURER REFERRED TO LOCAL DEALER. DEALER SAID PARTS WERE BEING ORDERED BASED ON RECALL, BUT TOOK IT IN EARLIER THAN CONTACT. SERVICE PERSON INDICATED THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF RECALL..THEY COULD DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR BUT COST IN THE THOUSANDS. I COULDN'T AFFORD THAT OR CONTINUE GETTING TICKETS (NOT ABLE TO MOVE IT BECAUSE BATTERY NEEDED A FULL CHARGE. I AM A WOMAN KNOW LITTLE ABOUT CARS, DID NOT WANT TO GET STUCK IF IT DEFAULTED. SECOND REPAIR SHOP ADVISED ME THAT I COULD DRIVE IT UNTIL IT JUST STOPPED, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS DEFINITELY NOT IN RECALL SO I DONATED TO KARS FOR KIDS. ON 3/8/16 GOT A CALL FROM SAME LOT TELLING ME MY RECALL PARTS HAD COME IN. PUZZLED & ALARMED TOLD CALLER ABOUT THEIR SERVICE DEPT. SHE SEEMED A PUZZLED SO I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. SHE CHECKED &TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECORD OF MY APPOINTMENT & SERVICE PERSON HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF ME. PUZZLED AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON? PAID AAA $60.00 FOR TOW PAID $35.00 FOR USED TIRE. TOW GUY SAID I COULD DRIVE CAR DEALER AND SAVE TOW FEE BUT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING BROKE CAR SO I HAD HIM TOW.MY QUESTION IS HOW DOES A CONSUMER KNOW IF THEIR SPECIFIC CAR FALLS UNDER A RECALL? THE CAR WAS MY LANDLORD'S DYING GIFT TO ME. I DROVE HIM AND HIS WIFE TO CHURCH, TO THE BANK, TO THE DOCTOR, FOR OIL CHANGES, ETC. I NEVER RECALLED TAKING IT FOR A RECALL AND MY LANDLORD WAS IN HIS 90'S I DIDN'T KNOW IF HE HAD OVERLOOKED RECALL SO MY MOTIVATION TO CHECK. TALKED TO MGR. OF DEALERSH 3/8/16 HE SAID HE WOULD INVESTIGATE, SERVICE PERSON WAS EXPERIENCED AND HE WAS SORRY ABOUT MY VEHICLE. NOW I, A SENIOR CITIZEN HAVE NO MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.

NHTSA ID

10845748

Incident

Feb 24, 2016

Mileage

121,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AND LATER INDICATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT COULD NOT PROVIDE A DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10821269

Incident

Dec 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS PROTRUDING AS IF IT WERE GOING TO EXPLODE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10818652

Incident

Dec 1, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE THEN THERE WAS FIRE COMING FROM THE FRONT UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED AND THE UPPER MANIFOLD WAS CRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE FIRE OCCURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 245,000.

NHTSA ID

10810738

Incident

Dec 2, 2015

Mileage

245,000 mi

ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE.WHILE I WAS DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

10810147

Incident

Dec 11, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, AN UNUSUAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 229,000.

NHTSA ID

10650823

Incident

Sep 30, 2014

Mileage

229,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE RATTLED AND MADE A LOT OF NOISE UNTIL IT WARMED UP. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 112,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509822

Incident

Apr 27, 2013

Mileage

112,000 mi

MY REPORT: ORIGINAL DIAGNOSTIC CODE WAS 3RD CYLINDER SPARK PLUG. SYMPTOMS WERE CONSISTENT WITH THIS. CAR DROVE FINE THAT EVENING UNTIL THE ENGINE HAD TROUBLE, SPUTTERED AND SHUT OFF. MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND DETERMINED THERE WAS NO COOLANT AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE ENGINE FAILED BECAUSE THIS MODEL AND YEAR IS KNOWN FOR COOLANT LEAK INTERNALLY BY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF COOLANT LEAK EXTERNALLY PRIOR TO THIS, DIDN'T BLOW WHITE SMOKE OUT THE BACK, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT DIDN'T GO ON, THE OIL WAS FULL, NO MILKY STUFF IN RADIATOR EITHER, THE CAR DROVE LIKE NEW, AND THE CAR ONLY HAD 76,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAD ONE PREVIOUS OWNER AND WAS WELL-MAINTAINED BY THAT OWNER AND MYSELF. I BOUGHT IT 2 YEARS AGO WITH ONLY 38,000 MILES ON IT. I LOOKED INTO WHY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WOULD LEAK AND FOUND 2 REPORTS. BECAUSE THIS WAS A DEFECT, I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED WITH AND ENGINE OR MONEY FOR THE ENGINE FROM CHEVY: PROBLEM REPORTS: CHEVROLET LUMINA REPORT: INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS MAY LEAK COOLANT OR ENGINE OIL MODEL YEARS AFFECTED: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001 ENGINES AFFECTED: 3.1L V6, 3.4L V6, 3.8L V6 THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET MAY DEVELOP AND EXTERNAL ENGINE OIL OR COOLANT LEAK. IN SOME CASES, AN INTERNAL COOLANT LEAK MAY OCCUR CAUSING COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE ENGINE OIL. OUR TECHNICIANS TELL US THAT OPERATING THE ENGINE WITH A COOLANT/OIL MIX CAN RESULT IN INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. REPLACING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET SHOULD CORRECT THESE LEAKS. UNFORTUNATELY THE 3.1 LITRE ENGINE HAS A MANUFACTURE FLAW. THE GASKET IS PLASTIC AND RUBBER. OVER TIME THE PLASTIC CRACKS DUE THE HEAT AND THE RUBBER SEAL FAILS. FELPRO HAS REDESIGNED THAT GASKET. INSTEAD OF BEING PLASTIC AND RUBBER IT IS STEEL AND RUBBER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10489267

Incident

Dec 7, 2012

Mileage

76,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONSUMER STATED ABOUT 1/2 MILE AWAY FROM HER HOUSE, THE VEHICLE STARTED SPUTTERING. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND DECIDED TO WALK HOME. WHEN SHE RETURNED WITH HER HUSBAND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PUTTING OUT A FIRE FROM HER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL # 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, A REPRESENTATIVE CONCLUDED THAT THE STATUE OF LIMITATIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA DOES NOT REQUIRE THE MANUFACTURER TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY AFTER 7 MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 11/04/09*LJ UPDATED 11/06/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10286635

Incident

Aug 7, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE FOR ANOTHER WEEK. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND, THUS INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

NHTSA ID

10272674

Incident

May 14, 2009

Mileage

86,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLS AND THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS INACCURATE READINGS. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE KICKS AND BEGINS LOSING SPEED. THE VEHICLE IS EITHER LOSING OR NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 073021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA ID

10233606

Incident

May 16, 2008

Mileage

114,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. IN MARCH OF 2008, THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WINDSHIELD. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY KEPT IT FOR THREE DAYS. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ONCE MORE, BUT IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. THE DEALER REFUSED TO MAKE ANY MORE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 140,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,897. UPDATED 7/3/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AT LEAST 10 TIMES. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE WAS BAD. UPDATED 07/03/08

NHTSA ID

10230850

Incident

Apr 13, 2008

Mileage

129,897 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE STALLED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE STARTED, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED.. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE HIS VIN TO BE INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 49,000. UPDATED 04/04/08. *LJ UPADATED 04/02/08

NHTSA ID

10220240

Incident

Feb 29, 2008

Mileage

49,000 mi

PROBLEM WITH INTERNAL OIL PUMP ... UNABLE TO BUILD UP ENOUGH PRESSURE TO ADEQUATELY SERVICE THE ENGINE ... 3.1L V6 MFI OHV 12V. WHAT IS THE COMPANY'S CORRECTIVE ACTION RE RECALL. WHERE DO I GO FOR "RECALL SERVICE?". *NM

NHTSA ID

10156656

Incident

Apr 24, 2006

DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD POP. SHE RAISED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THE MANIFOLD COMPLETELY SHATTERED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY, AND THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE.*AK THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS INSTALLED.

NHTSA ID

10144116

Incident

Nov 27, 2005

1998 CHEVY LUMINA PASSENGER CAR INTAKE LEAKING AFTER DEALER REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY WORK. INTAKE LEAKING AGAIN AT UNDER 69,000 MILES, AND WE ARE TOLD THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAN BE DONE AGAIN WITH A NEW SEALANT CHEVROLET RECOMMENDS. THIS AT A COST OF $675 TO US AFTER WE ARE TOLD THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FROM THE MATEING OF THE TWO SURFACES OF ALUMINUM AND IRON ON THE ENGINE. SAME DEALER HAS DONE ALL THE PREVENITIVE MANTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE. WE ARE TOLD THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE.

NHTSA ID

10122413

Incident

May 15, 2005

Mileage

34,100 mi

CONTACT STATES: CONTACT HAD THE CAR FOR A TOTAL OF SIX DAYS AND THE FIRST THREE DAYS HAD A HEAD GASKET REPLACED. NOW THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN, AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. IT IS RUNNING, AND MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. DEALER TOLD CONTACT TO PUT MOTOR HONEY IN THE VEHICLE TO QUITE DOWN THE ENGINE, AND HE REFUSED TO PUT THE MOTOR HONEY IN THE ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10119850

Incident

May 2, 2005

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ANTIFREEZE LEAKED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10101785

Incident

Nov 29, 2004

ALL MY ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED OUT AND THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT NEVER CAME ON BUT I DID NOT HAVE ANY HEAT. I DID NOTICE ANTI-FREEZE ON THE GROUND AND TOOK MY CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY SAID I NEEDED A WATER PUMP AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS REPLACED.*AK I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED A POPPING NOISE ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WHEN TURNING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. NO FATALITIES OR INJURIES AS YET.

NHTSA ID

10096496

Incident

Oct 7, 2004

NO MAJOR WARNING LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE. AUTO HAS 95,000+ MILES ON IT AND ENGINE SEIZED WITH NO APPARENT WARNINGS OR PROBLEMS OBSERVED. FOUND OUT THAT TYPE OF ENGINE IN MY CAR HAS A DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURED PART IN THE ENGINE THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM OF WHICH CHEVY WILL NOT RECALL. IF PROBLEM WOULD HAVE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, FATAL ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10096013

Incident

Sep 26, 2004

Mileage

95,600 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO CHECKED IT TO FIND THAT THE ENGINE HAD DIED DUE TO A FAILED CAM. THIS CAR ONLY HAS APPROX 58000 MILES ON IT AND IT IN SHOW ROOM CONDITION. I TAKE EXTRA CARE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THIS ENGINE SHOULD HAVE FAILED. MY EXTENDED WARRENTY EXPIRED IN MAY AND NOW THE DEALER WANTS ME TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE. AN ENGINE THAT COSTS AS MUCH AS THE BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THE CAR IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10082909

Incident

Jul 22, 2004

Mileage

58,000 mi

CAR HAS STALLED WITHOUT ANY REASON OR WARNING. CAR HAS EXPERIENCED ENGINE RACING OR SURGING. CAR HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP AND TO THE DEALERSHIP (3DAYS) NO ONE ABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10073079

Incident

Mar 1, 2004

Mileage

125,000 mi