1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA Complaints

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, SHE NOTICED A GRINDING AND BANGING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V527000 (STEERING) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *TR

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

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

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