1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA Complaints

EXTREME PRESSURE IS REQUIRED WHEN APPLYING THE HORN WHICH COULD BECOME DANGEROUS IN EMERGENCY TRAFFIC SITUATIONS, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CAR ROLLS BACKWARDS WHEN STOPPED ON SLIGHT INCLINES UNLESS THE BRAKE IS FULLY DEPRESSED. IT HAS CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE A FEW TIMES. I WILL MENTION IT TO DEALER ON MY NEXT VISIT AS I THOUGHT THIS WAS A NORMAL THING FOR BIG CAR. STEERING COLUMN GIVES A LOUD CLUNK WHEN TURNING; IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS NOT PROPERLY LOCKED IN THE ADJUSTMENT POSITION. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED AND "NOTHING WRONG" WAS FOUND. I HAVE ONLY CHANGED THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION ONCE IN 1-1/2 YRS. YET IT STILL DOES IT CONSTANTLY AND IT IS SUCH A HARD CLICK THAT I FEEL LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS GOING TO DROP INTO ANOTHER POSITION. I WILL REPORT IT TO THE DEALER AGAIN.

THIS PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED PROPERLY BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I WOULD APPRECIATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM IN DEPTH WITH A NHTSA REPRESENTATIVE DUE TO THE PROBLEM DATING BACK TO A 1993 LUMINA, A 1995 LUMINA AND NOW THE 1998 LUMINA. I HAVE HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH BRAKE SYSTEMS AND FEEL THAT I CAN POSSIBILITY HELP TO ANSWER SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS OF DRIVERS STATING THAT THEIR BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARD. WHEN I HAD MY CAR SERVICED, THE SERVICEMAN STATED THAT HE HAD COMPARED MY VEHICLE BRAKES AND FOUND THEM TO BE ALMOST THE SAME AS ON THE NEW VEHICLES. I DO AGREE THAT SOME OF THE NEW VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME BLEED DOWN PROBLEM AS MY VEHICLE AND THAT IS MY CONCERN. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE OPERATION OF MY BRAKES AND DECIDED TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER AND ARRANGED FOR ME TO HAVE A CAR TO KEEP ME FROM DRIVING THE CAR HOME . ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS ONLY AN UNUSUALLY FAST PEDAL BLEED DOWN THE MANAGER STATED THAT HE TOO, HAS A CONCERN ABOUT THE BRAKE PROBLEM AND HAD ORDERED A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE NEW CLYLINDER DID REDUCE THE REQUIRED BRAKING EFFORT BUT THERE IS STILL EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL BLEED DOWN UNDER LIGHT PEDAL FORCE. I THINK I CAN HELP TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND SUGGEST A CORRECTION. I WILL DISCUSS THIS WITH THE LEADER SERVICE MANAGER. I OWNED A 1993 LUMINA AND EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE PEDAL "GOING TO THE FLOOR BOARD" WHICH VERY NEARLY CAUSED ME TO HAVE TWO MAJOR ACCIDENTS. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT ASSURING ME THAT MY CAR BRAKES WORKED AS GOOD AS ALL THE NEW CARS. WITH THE HELP OF THE ST. LOUIS BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND A BRAKE TEST OFF OF OIL CHANGE RAMPS, THE BBB REPORT CONVINCED GM TO BUY BACK MY 1993 LUMINA. I FEEL THAT THE ONLY WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE NHTSA IS BY REVIEWING THE MECHANICS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM, BRAKE FLUID FLOW AND TEST PROCEDURES. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. HOW MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILIAR PROBLEMS.

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, CONSUMER UNSURE IF THE PROBLEM IS LINKED TO THE TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE GONG UP A SLIGHT INCLINE AT 30 MPH AND UP VEHICLE JERKED/HESITATED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG SENSOR COMING ON AND REMAINING ON. DEALER /MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

ENGINE CUTS OFF SPORADICALLY. VEHICLE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND STARTED BACK UP IN ORDER TO GET ENGINE STARTED BACK UP. DEALER CAN'T FIND A SOLUTION. *AK

ALL FRONT SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LATCH ; DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPAIRED THEM ON TWO OCCASIONS. BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 20 TO 30MPH WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. VEHICLE WENT STRAIGHT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION.ALSO, WHEN BACKING OUT BRAKES LOCKED UP. *AK

ALL THREE REAR SEATBELTS UNBUCKLE WHILE IN USE WHICH WON'T PROTECT OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED SEATBELTS TWICE. BUT, DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.*AK