Chevrolet Lumina APV engine problems

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST STEERING ABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REAR TWO BOLTS THAT HOLD THE ENGINE FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO DISCONNECT. AS OF JULY 26, 2007, THE DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 168,000. UPDATED 02/01/08.

NHTSA complaint #10197533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO INTAKE GASKET FAILURE. WIFE AND MINOR CHILD STUCK ON THE SIDE OF INTERSTATE AT 9:30 PM.,WITH STRANDED VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10080366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

3.4L V6 ENGINE FAILURE WAS A LEAK IN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. AIRBAG FAILURE WAS A DEFECTIVE SEATBELT RETRACTOR, CAUSING AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TO STAY LIT.

NHTSA complaint #10069548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE WILL CUT OUT, THEN RUN SMOOTH AGAIN, CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK. SEVERAL TIMES THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. THE CAR WOULD START BACK UP, WHEN YOU PUT INTO GEAR AND PUSH THE GAS, THE ENGINE WOULD CUT OUT, THE CAR WOULD JERK AS THE ENGINE CUT OUT AND THEN REENGAGE, BUT EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. WE SENT TO OUR LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, HE REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, MINOR TUNE, REPLACE AIR FILTER, CHECK FUEL PUMP - OK, AND REPLACE FUEL FILTER. CAR RAN FINE FOR THREE DAYS AND THEN REPEATED THE SAME PROBLEM. TOOK BACK INTO SHOP, REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AND COILS. ENGINE RUNS OK, BUT WHEN ENGAGING INTO GEAR ENGINE DID NOT HAVE THE SAME RESPONSE AS BEFORE, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS RUNNING AT HALF SPEED. CAR IS NOW SLOW TO GAIN SPEED. TOP SPEED IS 65 MILES PER HOUR. NOW 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON' LIGHT IS ON, SOMETIMES FLASHING.

NHTSA complaint #10062492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED.*AK

NHTSA complaint #10009433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN OIL LEAK, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #565229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN OIL LEAK, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #565229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING 75MPH CAR SHUT OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING.*AK THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF IN THE IDLE POSITION OR WHEN MOVING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED GM AND FILED A SAFETY REPORT. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY CHECKED.

NHTSA complaint #8016926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANG, THEN VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. DEALER DETERMINED THAT PULLEY OFF WATER PUMP SHEARED OFF ITS AXLE, CAUSING SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF. *AK

NHTSA complaint #8010884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

I WAS DRIVING 25 TO 30 MPH WHEN THE CARRIAGE DROPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE STEERING TO ALSO BE PULLED OUT. THE ENGINE DROPPED APPROXAMATELY 6 INCHES AND THE TIE RODS WHERE ALSO BENT.

NHTSA complaint #748726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

INTERMITTENTLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND CONDITIONS VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE WILL START UP IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT HAS STALLED OUT. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #887038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

CAR WAS WORKING FINE ON 10/15, WENT OUT TO START CAR ON 10/16, AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD, TOWING COMPANY UNABLE TO JUMP START VEHICLE, WOULD CRANK BUT NOT TURN OVER. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC, WHO FOUND COOLANT HOSE CONNECTOR, HAD CRACKED AND WAS SPRAYING THE ALTERNATOR WITH COOLANT, CAUSING IT TO SHORT OUT, AND SEND SPIKES OF ELECTRICITY THROUGH MY SYSTEM. THUS FAR HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION MODULE, CAM SENSOR, AND MULTIPLE BURNT FUSIBLE LINK WIRES. STILL HAVING "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ON, AND MECHANIC FEELS WILL ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER, DUE TO QUAD DRIVER CODES PRESENT WHEN CHECKED BY HIS COMPUTER. I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT THE LOCAL DEALER, NOT ONLY HAD THIS COOLANT HOSE CONNECTOR, IN STOCK, BUT ALSO THAT THE PART, WHICH WAS MADE OF PLASTIC ORIGINALLY, IS NOW MADE OF A HEAVY METAL. I AM CURIOUS IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. HAS SO FAR COST ME $700 TO REPLACE THESE FAILED PARTS, AND WILL PROBABLY BE ANOTHER $300 TO $400 FOR THE COMPUTER I AM TOLD.

NHTSA complaint #735962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CAR WAS WORKING FINE ON 10/15, WENT OUT TO START CAR ON 10/16, AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD, TOWING COMPANY UNABLE TO JUMP START VEHICLE, WOULD CRANK BUT NOT TURN OVER. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC, WHO FOUND COOLANT HOSE CONNECTOR, HAD CRACKED AND WAS SPRAYING THE ALTERNATOR WITH COOLANT, CAUSING IT TO SHORT OUT, AND SEND SPIKES OF ELECTRICITY THROUGH MY SYSTEM. THUS FAR HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION MODULE, CAM SENSOR, AND MULTIPLE BURNT FUSIBLE LINK WIRES. STILL HAVING "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ON, AND MECHANIC FEELS WILL ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER, DUE TO QUAD DRIVER CODES PRESENT WHEN CHECKED BY HIS COMPUTER. I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT THE LOCAL DEALER, NOT ONLY HAD THIS COOLANT HOSE CONNECTOR, IN STOCK, BUT ALSO THAT THE PART, WHICH WAS MADE OF PLASTIC ORIGINALLY, IS NOW MADE OF A HEAVY METAL. I AM CURIOUS IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. HAS SO FAR COST ME $700 TO REPLACE THESE FAILED PARTS, AND WILL PROBABLY BE ANOTHER $300 TO $400 FOR THE COMPUTER I AM TOLD.

NHTSA complaint #735962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

RECALL FOR ENGINE MOUNTS ANDWHEELMOUNTING SERVICE CRACKS. NEVER GOT RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #733000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE AND DAMAGE BEARINGS. ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $2,961.87. TWO YEARS LATER, SAME THING HAPPENED TO REMANUFACTURED ENGINE AGAIN, THIS TIME THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE OIL COMPARTMENT AND CAUSE DAMAGE. COST TO US $390 ( NOT COVERED UNDER JASPER WARRANTY BECAUSE JASPER DID NOT INSTALL INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON REMANUFACTURED ENGINE, HALLEEN DID).

NHTSA complaint #721394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED SEVERAL INTERMITANT TIMES. FIRST TIME IN 1998 AT 70 MILES PER HOUR IN A RAIN STORM, WIPERS STOPPED, TOOK CAR OFF CRUISE THEN THE RESUMED. SEVERAL INTERMITENT TIMES AFTERWARD. DEALER WANTED $400 + TO "FIX" MOTER. I WAS SCEPTICAL BECUASE THIS IS NOT THE ONLY GM CAR I HAVE DRIVEN WITH WIPER TROUBLE. LAST BIG INCIDENT WAS LAST FALL 1999 WHEN THE WIPERS STOPPED ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY PREGNANT WIFE AND CHILD IN CAR -200 MILES FROM HOME. I COULD NOT GET THEM TO RESUME. CHECKED FUSE ETC. WAITED OUT STORM UNDER BRIDGE, PROCEDED TO TRUCK STOP AND BOUGHT RAIN-X TO CONTINUE JOURNEY. WHEN I GOT TO DESTINATION I PULLED THE WIPER MOTOR AND IT CHECKED OUT FINE AND THE SWITCH-OK. INTERMITENT TROUBLES ARE HARD TO GET FIXED! I TOOK WIPER MOTOR APART, CLEANED BRUSHES, AND NOTICED SOME BUILD-UP ON THE COMMUNICATOR DISC, AND CONTACTS FOR THE PARKING MECHANISM. CLEANED THIS WITH LIGHT ABRASIVE -REASEMBLED AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM SINCE, ALTHOUGH WITH THE WIPER'S HISTORY I NOW USE RAIN-X ALL THE TIME. I AM AFRAID TO TRAVEL IN SNOW WITH KIDS IN VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO SELL IT BUT WITH THE WIPER SYSTEM TROUBLES, AND THE COOLING SYSTEM THAT KEEPS LEAKING -NEW RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, AND HEAD GASKET -MECHANICS SAY PINK COOLANT IS CORROSIVE. I CAN'T SELL IT TO ANOTHER, AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP THROWING MONEY AT THIS VAN. THANK YOU.VINCENT WALTER.

NHTSA complaint #717447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED SEVERAL INTERMITANT TIMES. FIRST TIME IN 1998 AT 70 MILES PER HOUR IN A RAIN STORM, WIPERS STOPPED, TOOK CAR OFF CRUISE THEN THE RESUMED. SEVERAL INTERMITENT TIMES AFTERWARD. DEALER WANTED $400 + TO "FIX" MOTER. I WAS SCEPTICAL BECUASE THIS IS NOT THE ONLY GM CAR I HAVE DRIVEN WITH WIPER TROUBLE. LAST BIG INCIDENT WAS LAST FALL 1999 WHEN THE WIPERS STOPPED ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY PREGNANT WIFE AND CHILD IN CAR -200 MILES FROM HOME. I COULD NOT GET THEM TO RESUME. CHECKED FUSE ETC. WAITED OUT STORM UNDER BRIDGE, PROCEDED TO TRUCK STOP AND BOUGHT RAIN-X TO CONTINUE JOURNEY. WHEN I GOT TO DESTINATION I PULLED THE WIPER MOTOR AND IT CHECKED OUT FINE AND THE SWITCH-OK. INTERMITENT TROUBLES ARE HARD TO GET FIXED! I TOOK WIPER MOTOR APART, CLEANED BRUSHES, AND NOTICED SOME BUILD-UP ON THE COMMUNICATOR DISC, AND CONTACTS FOR THE PARKING MECHANISM. CLEANED THIS WITH LIGHT ABRASIVE -REASEMBLED AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM SINCE, ALTHOUGH WITH THE WIPER'S HISTORY I NOW USE RAIN-X ALL THE TIME. I AM AFRAID TO TRAVEL IN SNOW WITH KIDS IN VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO SELL IT BUT WITH THE WIPER SYSTEM TROUBLES, AND THE COOLING SYSTEM THAT KEEPS LEAKING -NEW RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, AND HEAD GASKET -MECHANICS SAY PINK COOLANT IS CORROSIVE. I CAN'T SELL IT TO ANOTHER, AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP THROWING MONEY AT THIS VAN. THANK YOU.VINCENT WALTER.

NHTSA complaint #717447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED SEVERAL INTERMITANT TIMES. FIRST TIME IN 1998 AT 70 MILES PER HOUR IN A RAIN STORM, WIPERS STOPPED, TOOK CAR OFF CRUISE THEN THE RESUMED. SEVERAL INTERMITENT TIMES AFTERWARD. DEALER WANTED $400 + TO "FIX" MOTER. I WAS SCEPTICAL BECUASE THIS IS NOT THE ONLY GM CAR I HAVE DRIVEN WITH WIPER TROUBLE. LAST BIG INCIDENT WAS LAST FALL 1999 WHEN THE WIPERS STOPPED ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY PREGNANT WIFE AND CHILD IN CAR -200 MILES FROM HOME. I COULD NOT GET THEM TO RESUME. CHECKED FUSE ETC. WAITED OUT STORM UNDER BRIDGE, PROCEDED TO TRUCK STOP AND BOUGHT RAIN-X TO CONTINUE JOURNEY. WHEN I GOT TO DESTINATION I PULLED THE WIPER MOTOR AND IT CHECKED OUT FINE AND THE SWITCH-OK. INTERMITENT TROUBLES ARE HARD TO GET FIXED! I TOOK WIPER MOTOR APART, CLEANED BRUSHES, AND NOTICED SOME BUILD-UP ON THE COMMUNICATOR DISC, AND CONTACTS FOR THE PARKING MECHANISM. CLEANED THIS WITH LIGHT ABRASIVE -REASEMBLED AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM SINCE, ALTHOUGH WITH THE WIPER'S HISTORY I NOW USE RAIN-X ALL THE TIME. I AM AFRAID TO TRAVEL IN SNOW WITH KIDS IN VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO SELL IT BUT WITH THE WIPER SYSTEM TROUBLES, AND THE COOLING SYSTEM THAT KEEPS LEAKING -NEW RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, AND HEAD GASKET -MECHANICS SAY PINK COOLANT IS CORROSIVE. I CAN'T SELL IT TO ANOTHER, AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP THROWING MONEY AT THIS VAN. THANK YOU.VINCENT WALTER.

NHTSA complaint #717447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE FRONT SUBFRAME MOUNTING BOLTS RUSTED CAUSING THE RETAINERS AND FRAME MOUNTS TO SLIP OFF THE BOLTS. THE CAR WAS IN THE YARD WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I DID FIND A RECALL ON THESE BOLTS AND RETAINERS UNDER A 1991 LUMINA. HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA (SHEARER CHEVEROLET OF SOUTH BURLINGTON VERMONT) INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR"S VIN NUMBER DID NOT FALL UNDER THAT RECALL. MY QUESTION IS IF MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT FALL UNDER THAT RECALL AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY CAR AS THE REST OF THEM DOE'S IT NOT MAKE SENSE THAT THERE ARE MORE LUMINA"S OUT THERE THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN TO? AND IF SO HAS IT ALL READY. WHEN THESE MOUNTS POP OFF THE BOLTS THE STEERING HOUSEING COMES APART, AND BELIEVE ME IT COMES APART. I ONLY THANK GOD THAT I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY YARD WHEN THIS HAPPENED TOO ME.AGAIN I ASK THE QUESTION IF MY CAR DID THESAME THING THAT THE RECALL SAID IT WOULD DO IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE ARE OTHER LUMINA'S OUT THERE THAT THIS COULD HAPPENED TOO? AND BY THE WAY WHY WON'T THE DEALER HERE LET ME HAVE THE RECALL BOLTS AFTER THIS HAS HAPPEND TO ME INSTEAD OF CHARGING ME FOR THEM? THANKS. LYLE BAXTER

NHTSA complaint #717173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.