1998 Chevrolet Lumina Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RANDOM POWER STEERING LEAK. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD TO REPLACE THE FLUID CONSTANTLY. WHEN A MECHANIC REPLACED THE STEERING PUMP, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE PREVIOUS OWNER THAT THE STEERING RACK MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAD ALSO TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V527000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE RECALL WAS CLOSED. THE CONTACT WAS TO CHECK WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE A REPAIR SOLUTION FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS. CONTACTED GM AND INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. CHARGED $100 AND TOLD THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL 03V527000 DUE TO VIN. REPLACED RACK AND PINION MYSELF WHICH FIXED THE ISSUE. MY CAR SHOWS THE EXACT SAME SIGNS OF THE REASON YOU DID THIS RECALL. WHY WAS MY CAR NOT INCLUDED? I DEMAND AN ANSWER! *TR

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.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKES LINES FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE METAL BRAKES LINES WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 08-09-12 *BF THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HIS COMPLAINT REMOVED. HE STATED WILL BE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH GM REGARDING THE ISSUE. UPDATED 08/09/12. *JB

WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA, ALL OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE WORKING PROPERLY. HOWEVER, A FEW WEEKS LATER I WAS DRIVING AND A MAN TOLD ME THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OUT. THE TOP BRAKE LIGHT HAS ALWAYS WORKED, BUT THE TWO SIDE LIGHTS AND THE REVERSE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM EVER SINCE I NOTICED IT. WE HAVE TIRED THE FOLLOWING: SWITCHING THE LIGHT BULBS, CHANGING THE FUSES, AND GETTING A PROFESSIONAL WORK DONE. HOWEVER, NOTHING WORKS. THE NEW FUSE MAKES THE LIGHTS WORK FOR LESS THAN A DAY IF I'M LUCKY, BUT THEN THE FUSE BLOWS; AND THE EXPERTS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG. I LIVE IN MILWAUKEE, WI, AND HAVE SEEN OVER TEN CARS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM! I HAVE GOTTEN PULLED OVER AND TICKETED 3 TIMES NOW, AND HAVE HAD TO PAY OVER $100 IN FINES, AND AT LEAST $300 AT THE AUTO SHOP, JUST FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM. ALSO, THE REVERSE LIGHTS HAVE NEVER BEEN FIXED, NOT EVEN WITH A NEW FUSE PUT IN. GM NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET ANY MORE TICKETS, OR FIX THE PROBLEM MYSELF. SEEING THAT MANY CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURES PROBLEM, AND I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS PLEASE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO ADDRESS MY CONCERNS. *TR

VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN USING THE KEY, TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP.. HAD A NEW KEY MADE.. THE KEY WAS NOT THE ISSUE..HAD A NEW IGNITION INSTALLED THROUGH DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE WORKED FOR A SHORT TIME BUT STARTING SHOWING THE SAME PROBLEMS. HUNDREDS OF $$ LATER, THE CAR IS PARKED NOW WE DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO IT, BUT CAN'T SELL IT UNLESS IT'S FIXED. THIS IS SOME SORT OF STEERING/IGNITION PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS ALSO BEEN KNOWN TO STALL WHILE DRIVING IT. WE HAVE INSTALLED A NEW STARTER, A NEW ALTERNATOR, BATTERY WE ALSO HAD ALL THE ELECTRICAL WIRING RE-DONE.. WE DON'T KNOW WHY IT STALLS. *TR

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 28-30 MPH, ANOTHER MOTORIST MADE AN OUT OF TURN LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR HIS INSURANCE COMPANY TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE BACK, STOMACH, AND NECK. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

TAKITA RECALL AIRBAG MAY BE THE CAUSE OF PASSENGER SIDE DASH EXPANDING OUTWARDS. UNSURE OF CAUSE. EXPANSION IS SLOWING COMING OUT OF SEM. HAVE NOTICED APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS ONGOING.

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

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA THAT THE BACK GLASS SHATTERED THIS MORNING. MY WIFE WAS LESS THAN 2 MILES FROM HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED THERE WAS NO ICE OR FREEZING WEATHER TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS THERE IS A REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER THAT WAS ON AT THIS TIME. THE GLASS WAS THROWN THROUGHOUT THE BACK SEAT. *NM

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.

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.

THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SEATBELT DOES NOT LOCK. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LOCKING MECHANISM NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED TO ENGAGE BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED. *JB...*AK

LOWER INTAKE GASKET FAILURE. LOSS OF ATF TRANSMISSION FLUID. *NM

VEHICLE MADE A WHINING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. CONVERTER AND PUMP NOISEY. *BF THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED.

ALL FOUR DOORS FREEZE IN THE WINTER. THE CAR CAME WITH AN AUTOMATIC STARTER AND WHEN ITS COLD IN THE WINTER ALL DOORS ARE STUCK. I WILL SET THE HEAT ON THE MAX AND START THE CAR THROUGH THE AUTO STARTER AND LET IT LOOSEN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. YOU STILL HAVE TO GET ALL THE ICE OF AROUND THE WHOLE DOOR AND EVENTUALLY ONE WILL OPEN AFTER YOU KEEP PULLING ON IT. THEN YOU MUST GO INSIDE AND PUSH AND KICK THE DORRS FROM THE INSIDE TO GET THE OTHERS TO OPEN. THIS IS A HASSLE HAVING 2 TODDLERS AND A SON TRYING TO GET TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING. WONDERING IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT AS I LOOKED TROUGH CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND ALSO OTHER COMPLAINTS ARE LISTED AS THE SAME. THANKS FOR ANY INFO.

SUNVISOR WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER A NUMBER OF TIMES, BUT CONTINUES TO COME OUT OF CEILING. TURN INDICATOR - THE HANDLE WILL NOT RETURN TO THE OFF POSITION. LEFT SIDE OF DRIVER SEAT - ALL SUPPORT ON THE LOWER PORTION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS FAILED. YOU MUST SIT ON THE FRAME OF THE SEAT. THE DRIVER WEIGHS ONLY 145 LBS.*AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE GEAR SHIFTER WAS CHANGED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY IN THAT DIRECTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWELVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 229,400.

MY 1998 LUMINA IS WILL NOT START UNLESS THE GAS PEDAL IS PUMPED (THIS IS A FUEL INJECTION CAR) AND ONCE THE CAR IS RUNNING IT IDLES VERY ROUGH AS THOUGH THE CAR WILL STALL. THE DEALERSHIP RAISED THE INJECTORS AND REPLACED A HARNESS AND LET THE CAR IDLE FOR 2 1/2 HOURS. ON THE NEXT COLD START THE CAR IS STILL THE SAME. IT GOES BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY. *AK

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY PULLED TO THE LEFT, WHILE THE WHEELS PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 174,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

LOWER CONTROL ARM HEAD OF BOLT BROKE INTO TWO PIECES AND FELL OFF. THIS COULD OF CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL IF IT HAD FALLEN OFF WHILE DRIIVING.*AK

THIS PROBLEM EXISTS BWHEN THE VEHICLE IS SATIONARY AND IN TRANSIT. IT APPEARS TO BE INTERMITTEN AS WELL. MY BRAKE LIGHTS WORK WHEN I AM BRAKING, BUT THEY SEEM TO INTERMITTENLY BE FAILING WHEN I USE MY DIRECTIONAL SWITCH (4 WAY). I HAVE BEEN ADVISED ON 3 OCCASSIONS, TWICE BY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. BUT THEY DO WORK EXCEPT WHEN THE DIRECTIONALS ARE ON. AFTER SOME RESEARCH WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT REPLACING THE 4 WAY SWITCH WILL RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. MAY I NOTE THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS DEVICE FAIL IN ANY OF MY VEHICLES EVER. THAT REGARDLESS OF THE GES AND MAKES OF MY VEHICLCES THE MANUFACTURERS HAVE HAD THE GOOD SENSE TO MAKE CERTAIN THE 4 WAY SWITCH WAS RELIABLE. MIGHT I ADD LINKING BRAKING WITH THE SWITCH MIGHT BE CONSIDER IRRESPONSIBLE OF THE ENGINEERS. HAS THE 1998 CHEVY LUMINA 4WAY SWITCH BEEN RECALLED!?

WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED. AT TIME OF PURCHASE BRAKE LIGHTS APPEARED TO WORK. SAME EVENING, THE TWO REAR/SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK (THE THIRD/MIDDLE LIGHT WORKS). WE DID SOME TROUBLE SHOOTING, REPLACED BULBS, CHECKED FOR SHORTS. IN OUR RESEARCH WE FOUND THAT THIS IS IN FACT A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG GM SEDANS AND IS CAUSED BY FAILURE OF THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SWITCH CONTACTS COMMONLY FAIL WHEN THE SWITCH BEGINS TO LOOSEN/DISINTIGRATE. THIS CAUSES A VARIETY OF ISSUES AMONG THE SYSTEMS THAT PASS THROUGH THAT SWITCH. BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE IS ONE SUCH ISSUE, AND OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUES. YES, I KNOW IT'S AN OLD CAR AND YES I EXPECT TO HAVE TO MAKE REPAIRS TO IT, BUT I DO NOT EXPECT OUR STUDENT DRIVER TO SUDDENLY BE WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY MANUFACTURE OF THIS COMPONENT. A SMALL AMOUNT OF RESEARCH MAKES IT APPARENT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON, VERY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. IT'S EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND BEYOND MOST PEOPLE'S DIY ABILITIES, BESIDES WHICH I WOULD NOT BE COMFORTABLE WORKING WITH ANYTHING THAT AFFECTS THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY GM HASN'T BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE'S NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.

AFTER I STOPPED I FELT THE SEAT GO BACK. I FOUND THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHED THE SEAT FRAME TO THE SLIDING TRACK HAD CRACKED. THE METAL APPEARS TO BE TOO BRITTLE AND THIN FOR THE APPLICATION. I AM A RELIABILITY ENGINEER WITH SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL FAILURE BACKGROUND AND IT APPEARS THE THIN METAL (~1/16") SHATTERED FROM IMBRITTLEMENT OR SOME SIMILAR PROCESS.*AK

METAL PART THAT CONNECTS SEAT TO THE FRAME TRACK BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO FALL OF TRACK. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

INSTALLATION OF THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL RESULTED IN ONE OF THE FIVE WHEEL STUDS BREAKING OFF IN THE WHEEL NUT. WHEN THE WHEEL HUB WAS REPLACED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WHEEL NUT ENGAGEMENT ON ALL TEN OF THE FRONT WHEEL STUDS WAS ONLY 4 THREADS EACH. THE WHEELS INSTALLED APPEAR TO BE THE STOCK ALUMINUM WHEELS. *TR

ONE OF THE FIVE LUGS BROKE OFF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE USED AND IT STILL HAD 1000 MILE WARRANTY FROM THE DEALER. WHEN I GOT THE CAR THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP SO THEY REPLACED IT. BEFORE I EVEN GOT OUT OF THE PARKING LOT THE (VIBRATION SHUDDER HOSE) WENT BAD. OR AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT THE GUY AT THE SERVICE AREA TOLD ME THE NAME WAS. THEY HAVE REPLACED THAT. AND FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING WITH THEM THAT THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN WHINING. ALSO THE BRAKES DO NOT STOP TO WELL IN THE RAIN. I TRAVEL A LOT AND WE GO THROUGH BRAKES LIKE WATER. WE ALSO HAD THE AC COMPRESSOR GO OUT LAST YEAR DURING THE SUMMER. THE CAR WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. WE KEEP OUR CAR UP VERY WELL. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND ALL THESE PROBLEMS. I KNOW THIS MAY NOT SEEM LIKE BIG PROBLEMS BUT WHEN I KEEP MY CAR UP AND HAVE BEEN FIGHTING WITH THE DEALER DUE TO WHINING THIS IS FRUSTRATING.*JB

VEHICLE WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED AND CANNOT GO INTO LOWER GEARS DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH TRANSAXLE. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND IT WAS REAR ENDED CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER. *YH

WHILE SITTING IN STOPPED POSITION AND HAVING BRAKES APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL WILL SLOWLY LOSE PRESSURE. THIS WILL ALLOW PEDAL TO GO TO FLOORBOARD. CONSUMER HAS TO PUMP PEDAL FOR THIS NOT TO OCCUR. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR PEDAL TO GO TO FLOOR IF CONSTANT PRESSURE IS APPLIED. *AK FOUR B.F. GOODRICH TIRES EXPERIENCED CRACKING BETWEEN THE TREAD, REPLACED AT HALF PRICE BY B.F. GOODRICH. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A TICKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. *SLC