1993 CHEVROLET LUMINA Complaints

ON JULY 18, 1999, I LEFT MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP. I WANTED AND OIL CHANGE, CHECK THE BATTERY AS IT WAS SLUGGISH WHEN STARTING AND TO CHECK ON A SQUEAK IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE SHORT VERSION IS THE DEALER CALLED AND ADVISED THAT THE COOLANT COUPLER IS ABOUT TO BREAK OFF IN THE LOWER INTAKE. THE COST TO REPAIR WOULD BE ABOUT $700. I WAS NOT HAPPY AND DID NOT LET THE DEALER MAKE THIS REPAIR. WHEN I PICKER UP THE CAR AS THE OTHER ITEMS HAD BEEN FIXED, I HAD THE MECHANIC SHOW ME THE PROBLEM. HE INDICATED THAT THE COUPLING WAS ABOUT TO BREAK OFF. I ASKED HIM WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM AND HE ADVISED THAT THE COUPLING WAS POORLY MADE BY CHEVROLET AND THAT THE PART WAS INHERENTLY DEFECTIVE AS THEY HAD USED VERY THIN ALUMINUM TO MAKE THE PART AND THAT THE ENGINE COOLANT ATE AWAY THE TUBE FROM THE INSIDE. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT THE NEWER INTAKE'S COOLANT COUPLING WAS MADE OF MORE SUBSTANTIAL METAL AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE MADE OF BETTER METAL. HE SAID THAT HE SEE'S THESE ALL THE TIME. THE PART COST $12 AND THE REST IS LABOR. I DISCUSSSED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO CONFIRMED WHAT THE MECHANIC SAID. I CALLED CHEVROLET, BUT DID NOT GET ANY TYPE OF ANSWER EXCEPT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYONE TO APPEAL AND THE WOMEN SAID NO. BOTTOM LINE IS IT APPEARS THAT A CHEAP PART WAS USED IN MANUFACTURING THE VEHICLE THAT IS NOT READILY APPARENT DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE OTHER THING IS I AM NOT TO SURE THAT THE MECHANIC MIGHT NOT HAVE JUST BROKE THE TUBE AND IS TRYING TO BLAME IT ON CHEVROLET AND MAKE ME PAY FOR HIS MISTAKE. IF ANYTHING ELSE IS NEEDED, PLEASE CALL OR WRITE.

WHEN THE PEDAL IS APPLIED THEIR IS A CLICKING SOUND, VEHICLE WILL SLOW DOWN, BUT DOESN'T STOP UNTIL IT COASTS ABOUT 20 TO 30 FT. IT HAS A DELAYED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED WITH SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

BRAKE FAILURE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. AFTER DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM, OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, ALL 4 ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED SINCE. *AK *ML

<10 MPH A FREQUENT CLATTERING NOISE AND A VIBRATION IN BRAKE PEDAL. ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS UNTIL ENGINE RESTARTS. FOUR DIFFERENT MECHANIC HAVE TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM.

WIRING IN TURN SIGNAL SWITCH FAULTY CAUSING SMOKE TO COME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMITTENTLY. NLM

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T WORK AT ALL. *AK

I HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH MY 1993 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV VAN. SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE VAN NEW IN FALL 1992 I FOUND THAT THE GAS GAUGE WOULD NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE FUEL WHEN NEAR THE BOTTOM 1/4. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER TWICE WITH NO CHANGES MADE. IN JANUARY OF 1999, THE REAR TRUNK LID LOCK FELL OF AND AFTER HAVING IT REPLACED, I HAD TO RETURN IT AS THE MECH WAS LOOSE AT WHICH TIME I WAS TOLD THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE POWER LOCKING SYSTEM AS THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. ON APRIL 3, 1999, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THE FACTORY INSTALLED CRUISE CONTROL SET, I NOTICED THE SPEED STARTED TO INCREASE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. I HAD TO USE THE BRAKES TO CONTROL THE SPEED AS I COULD NOT TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE SO I TURNED IT OFF AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED IN. THE DEALER SAID THE CRUISE HAD GONE BAD SO I HAD THEM DISCONNECT RATHER THAN PAY $600. TO REPLACE IT. IN THE LAST WEEK I HAVE HAD TWO OF THE SEATBELT RETRACTORS STOP WORKING (FRT PASSENGER AND 2ND ROW LEFT). WHEN I TOLD THE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY COULD REPLACE THEM FOR $400. I FELT COMPELLED TO REPORT THE PROBLEMS SPECIFICALLY THE CRUISE AND SEATBELTS AS THEY ARE SAFETY ISSUES AND THE CRUISE IS POTENTIALLY A HAZARD. THE SEATBELTS MAKE THE CAR LEGALLY UNABLE TO TRANSPORT PASSENGERS UNLESS I PAY $400. TO HAVE THEM FIXED. AND THERE ARE 5 MORE RETRACTORS THAT I SUSPECT MAY FOLLOW THE FIRST TWO. THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST. *AK

THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT TIGHTEN EVEN WITH A SUDDEN STOP, THEY WILL ALLOW THE CARSEATS TO MOVE MORE THAN AN INCH. UNABLE TO CONTACT CHEVROLET TO SEE IF THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL CARS. TRYING TO PREVENT ANY OF MY KIDS HURT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. *AK

BOLT THAT HOLDS BRAKE CALIPER CAME OFF, CALIPERS WENT INTO THE RIM, CAUSING THE WHEEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NOT TO TURN. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED. HOWEVER, OWNER EXPERIENCED THE SAME CONDITION BUT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK