FaultScore

Chevrolet Lumina engine problems

423 of the 4,007 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Lumina are about the engine — 11% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1995.

423

Complaints

11%

Share of all complaints

2

Crashes

16

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

1990 Lumina 40 9.5%

Median failure at 100,100 miles

1991 Lumina 37 8.7%
1992 Lumina 40 9.5%

Median failure at 525,000 miles

1993 Lumina 21 5.0%

Median failure at 154,168 miles

1994 Lumina 12 2.8%
1995 Lumina 72 17.0%

Median failure at 97,279 miles

1996 Lumina 41 9.7%

Median failure at 115,000 miles

1997 Lumina 56 13.2%

Median failure at 76,408 miles

1998 Lumina 45 10.6%

Median failure at 93,300 miles

1999 Lumina 47 11.1%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

2000 Lumina 8 1.9%

Median failure at 78,838 miles

2001 Lumina 4 0.9%

Median failure at 66,000 miles

What owners said

1999 Chevrolet Lumina at 13,600 miles Nanticoke, PA

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME AND IT SHUT OFF , NOW IT WON'T TURN BACK ON

NHTSA complaint #11243554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Chevrolet Lumina at 185,000 miles Hanford, CA

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10939293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Chevrolet Lumina at 90,000 miles Otis, LA

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10907344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Chevrolet Lumina at 102,000 miles Quincy, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATED 08/16/16*LJ UPDATED 08/17/16

NHTSA complaint #10881856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Chevrolet Lumina Lexington, KY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR RECALL NOTICE 15757. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS AN OIL LEAK, AND SHE WAS ADVISED NOT TO PARK IN A GARAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10869959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Chevrolet Lumina at 121,000 miles Long Beach, CA

ENGINE

VEHICLE MAKING BANGING NOISE TOOK TO SHOP TOLD A BURNT VALVE, ( IT WAS DRIVEN IN/OUT OF SHOPS) SECOND SHOP WEEKS OF INVESTIGATING, SAME DIAGNOSIS. LACKED FUNDS TO REPAIR, TOOK HOME. READ ABOUT RECALL CONTACTED MANUFACTURER REFERRED TO LOCAL DEALER. DEALER SAID PARTS WERE BEING ORDERED BASED ON RECALL, BUT TOOK IT IN EARLIER THAN CONTACT. SERVICE PERSON INDICATED THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF RECALL..THEY COULD DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR BUT COST IN THE THOUSANDS. I COULDN'T AFFORD THAT OR CONTINUE GETTING TICKETS (NOT ABLE TO MOVE IT BECAUSE BATTERY NEEDED A FULL CHARGE. I AM A WOMAN KNOW LITTLE ABOUT CARS, DID NOT WANT TO GET STUCK IF IT DEFAULTED. SECOND REPAIR SHOP ADVISED ME THAT I COULD DRIVE IT UNTIL IT JUST STOPPED, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS DEFINITELY NOT IN RECALL SO I DONATED TO KARS FOR KIDS. ON 3/8/16 GOT A CALL FROM SAME LOT TELLING ME MY RECALL PARTS HAD COME IN. PUZZLED & ALARMED TOLD CALLER ABOUT THEIR SERVICE DEPT. SHE SEEMED A PUZZLED SO I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. SHE CHECKED &TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECORD OF MY APPOINTMENT & SERVICE PERSON HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF ME. PUZZLED AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON? PAID AAA $60.00 FOR TOW PAID $35.00 FOR USED TIRE. TOW GUY SAID I COULD DRIVE CAR DEALER AND SAVE TOW FEE BUT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING BROKE CAR SO I HAD HIM TOW.MY QUESTION IS HOW DOES A CONSUMER KNOW IF THEIR SPECIFIC CAR FALLS UNDER A RECALL? THE CAR WAS MY LANDLORD'S DYING GIFT TO ME. I DROVE HIM AND HIS WIFE TO CHURCH, TO THE BANK, TO THE DOCTOR, FOR OIL CHANGES, ETC. I NEVER RECALLED TAKING IT FOR A RECALL AND MY LANDLORD WAS IN HIS 90'S I DIDN'T KNOW IF HE HAD OVERLOOKED RECALL SO MY MOTIVATION TO CHECK. TALKED TO MGR. OF DEALERSH 3/8/16 HE SAID HE WOULD INVESTIGATE, SERVICE PERSON WAS EXPERIENCED AND HE WAS SORRY ABOUT MY VEHICLE. NOW I, A SENIOR CITIZEN HAVE NO MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.

NHTSA complaint #10845748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Chevrolet Lumina at 116,000 miles Kodak, TN

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE HEAD GASKETS LEAKING WATER INTO THE PISTONS. THE HEAD GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #10838554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Chevrolet Lumina at 131,000 miles Feasterville, PA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHSTA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 131,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #10824855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Chevrolet Lumina Moreno Valley, CA

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10821269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Chevrolet Lumina at 80,000 miles Long Beach, CA

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10818652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Chevrolet Lumina at 245,000 miles Saint Louse, MO Fire

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10810738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Chevrolet Lumina Fresno, CA Fire

ENGINE

ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE.WHILE I WAS DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10810147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1993 Chevrolet Lumina at 155,000 miles Bethelehem, PA

ENGINE

CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING, SITTING IN TRAFFIC OR AT A LIGHT, WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE. MECHANIC CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG ON DIAGNOSTICS TO FIX

NHTSA complaint #10777879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1992 Chevrolet Lumina at 1,000,000 miles Mentor, OH

ENGINE

SUBFRAME WASHERS RUST AND FAIL WHICH CAUSED IN THIS CASE THE STEERING RACK TO DISCONNECT . I HAVE BEEN AUTO TECH FOR 25 YEARS AND HAVE SEEN MANY MAKES HAVE VERY CONCERNING SAFETY PROBLEMS . THE NHTSA HAS FAILED IN MY EYES . THE STATE I LIVE IN USES SALT SO THE PROBLEMS SHOW UP FASTER HERE IN RUST AND COLD RELATED PROBLEMS . MY PERSONAL VEHICLE HAS 4 ITEMS THAT I TRULY BELIEVE SHOULD BE RECALLED BUT ARE NOT . 1 OF THEM MAKES MY DRIVER AIRBAG INOP . THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND ANY HELP I CAN BE PLEASE CONTACT.

NHTSA complaint #10662112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Chevrolet Lumina at 229,000 miles Amelia, OH

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10650823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Chevrolet Lumina Upper Sandusky, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

1999 CHEVROLET LUMINA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL MECHANICAL PROBLEMS AND RECALL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CUT OFF, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS DETERMINED, THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN WENT OUT, THE EGR VALVE WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE CONSUMER HAD SHIFTING PROBLEMS AND THE HEAT AND A/C WERE INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10632858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Chevrolet Lumina at 150,000 miles Macon, GA

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR WILL JUST SUDDENLY CUT OFF AND THIS OCCURS WHETHER STOPPED AT THE LIGHT OR WHILE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THE VOLT LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR JUST CUTS OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER (YOUMAN'S CHEVROLET, MACON, GA) TRIED TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM BY RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS, BUT COULD NEVER DETERMINE THE CAUSE. SINCE THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR, AND WONDERING IF THE PROBLEM COULD BE DUE TO THE AGE OF THE CAR, I PARKED THE CAR AND PURCHASED ANOTHER CAR IN MAY, 2013. THE CAR IS STILL PARKED IN MY YARD. I DECIDED TO REPORT THIS BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE THE SAME THING THAT IS HAPPENING TO THE OTHER GM CARS BUT MY MODEL IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY 1999 LUMINAS STILL BEING DRIVEN AND YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.

NHTSA complaint #10576171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Chevrolet Lumina at 50,000 miles Hamden, CT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I DROVE A LUMINA THAT HAD A PROBLEM THAT SOUNDS LIKE SAME TYPE OF ENGINE SHUTOFF PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS LATELY. IT HAPPENED MOST OFTEN WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. AS I DECELERATED ON EXIT RAMPS, THE ENGINE WOULD SHUTOFF. THIS BECAME A FAIRLY REGULAR OCCURRENCE WITH THIS CAR. SEVERAL MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. (I BELIEVE IT WAS A 1994 OR 1995 LUMINA THAT I OWNED. I COULD NOT FIND A RECORD OF IT.)

NHTSA complaint #10565892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Chevrolet Lumina at 112,000 miles Harrodsburg, KY

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10509822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Chevrolet Lumina at 109,300 miles Billings, MT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

JULY 2009 I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT AROUND 75 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE DIED AND WOULDN'T START, PULLED OFF THE ROAD, ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START, AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT STARTED AND I DROVE HOME. I CALLED A MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT PROBABLY WAS THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, GO TO THE JUNK YARD AND GET ONE. FROM THEN THROUGH DECEMBER 2012 I REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE THREE TIMES. IN DECEMBER 2012 I REPLACED BOTH THE MODULE AND THE CRANK POSITIONING SENSOR, THINKING THAT IT COULD BE CAUSING THE MODULE FAILURE. THREE MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN I HAD THE MODULE TESTED, IT WAS OK, HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, THEY CHECKED IT FOR THREE DAYS AND SAID THE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE HAD MADE THE CRANK POSITIONING SENSOR TO SEPARATE INTERNALLY AND IT WAS REPLACED AGAIN. CAR RAN FINE FOR THREE WEEKS AND WOULDN'T START AFTER DRIVING AROUND TOWN LET IT SIT FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, STARTED UP ON THE FIRST TRY DROVE IT HOME. APRIL 2013 MY JUDGMENT TELLS ME THAT THE PLUG TO THE POSITIONING SENSOR IS THE PROBLEM, WHEN ENGINE IS HOT THE PLUG EITHER OPENS UP OR SHORTS OUT FROM LIQUID FROM THE ENGINE. I CHECKED WITH THE PARTS MAN AND HE SAID HE HAD SOLD ONE POSITIONING SENSOR ALL YEAR (MINE) AND SOLD 30 PLUGS GOING TO IT, I'M REPLACING MY PLUG!

NHTSA complaint #10508758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Chevrolet Lumina problems