1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

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. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONSUMER STATED ABOUT 1/2 MILE AWAY FROM HER HOUSE, THE VEHICLE STARTED SPUTTERING. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND DECIDED TO WALK HOME. WHEN SHE RETURNED WITH HER HUSBAND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PUTTING OUT A FIRE FROM HER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL # 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, A REPRESENTATIVE CONCLUDED THAT THE STATUE OF LIMITATIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA DOES NOT REQUIRE THE MANUFACTURER TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY AFTER 7 MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 11/04/09*LJ UPDATED 11/06/09.*JB

Mileage: 100,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE FOR ANOTHER WEEK. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND, THUS INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

Mileage: 86,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLS AND THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS INACCURATE READINGS. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE KICKS AND BEGINS LOSING SPEED. THE VEHICLE IS EITHER LOSING OR NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 073021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

Mileage: 114,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. IN MARCH OF 2008, THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WINDSHIELD. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY KEPT IT FOR THREE DAYS. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ONCE MORE, BUT IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. THE DEALER REFUSED TO MAKE ANY MORE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 140,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,897. UPDATED 7/3/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AT LEAST 10 TIMES. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE WAS BAD. UPDATED 07/03/08

Mileage: 129,897

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE STALLED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE STARTED, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED.. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE HIS VIN TO BE INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 49,000. UPDATED 04/04/08. *LJ UPADATED 04/02/08

Mileage: 49,000

PROBLEM WITH INTERNAL OIL PUMP ... UNABLE TO BUILD UP ENOUGH PRESSURE TO ADEQUATELY SERVICE THE ENGINE ... 3.1L V6 MFI OHV 12V. WHAT IS THE COMPANY'S CORRECTIVE ACTION RE RECALL. WHERE DO I GO FOR "RECALL SERVICE?". *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD POP. SHE RAISED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THE MANIFOLD COMPLETELY SHATTERED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY, AND THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE.*AK THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS INSTALLED.

1998 CHEVY LUMINA PASSENGER CAR INTAKE LEAKING AFTER DEALER REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY WORK. INTAKE LEAKING AGAIN AT UNDER 69,000 MILES, AND WE ARE TOLD THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAN BE DONE AGAIN WITH A NEW SEALANT CHEVROLET RECOMMENDS. THIS AT A COST OF $675 TO US AFTER WE ARE TOLD THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FROM THE MATEING OF THE TWO SURFACES OF ALUMINUM AND IRON ON THE ENGINE. SAME DEALER HAS DONE ALL THE PREVENITIVE MANTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE. WE ARE TOLD THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE.

Mileage: 34,100

1998 CHEVY LUMINA PASSENGER CAR INTAKE LEAKING AFTER DEALER REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY WORK. INTAKE LEAKING AGAIN AT UNDER 69,000 MILES, AND WE ARE TOLD THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAN BE DONE AGAIN WITH A NEW SEALANT CHEVROLET RECOMMENDS. THIS AT A COST OF $675 TO US AFTER WE ARE TOLD THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FROM THE MATEING OF THE TWO SURFACES OF ALUMINUM AND IRON ON THE ENGINE. SAME DEALER HAS DONE ALL THE PREVENITIVE MANTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE. WE ARE TOLD THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE.

Mileage: 34,100

CONTACT STATES: CONTACT HAD THE CAR FOR A TOTAL OF SIX DAYS AND THE FIRST THREE DAYS HAD A HEAD GASKET REPLACED. NOW THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN, AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. IT IS RUNNING, AND MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. DEALER TOLD CONTACT TO PUT MOTOR HONEY IN THE VEHICLE TO QUITE DOWN THE ENGINE, AND HE REFUSED TO PUT THE MOTOR HONEY IN THE ENGINE.*AK

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ANTIFREEZE LEAKED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC *JB

ALL MY ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED OUT AND THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT NEVER CAME ON BUT I DID NOT HAVE ANY HEAT. I DID NOTICE ANTI-FREEZE ON THE GROUND AND TOOK MY CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY SAID I NEEDED A WATER PUMP AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS REPLACED.*AK I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED A POPPING NOISE ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WHEN TURNING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. NO FATALITIES OR INJURIES AS YET.

NO MAJOR WARNING LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE. AUTO HAS 95,000+ MILES ON IT AND ENGINE SEIZED WITH NO APPARENT WARNINGS OR PROBLEMS OBSERVED. FOUND OUT THAT TYPE OF ENGINE IN MY CAR HAS A DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURED PART IN THE ENGINE THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM OF WHICH CHEVY WILL NOT RECALL. IF PROBLEM WOULD HAVE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, FATAL ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED.*AK

Mileage: 95,600

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO CHECKED IT TO FIND THAT THE ENGINE HAD DIED DUE TO A FAILED CAM. THIS CAR ONLY HAS APPROX 58000 MILES ON IT AND IT IN SHOW ROOM CONDITION. I TAKE EXTRA CARE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THIS ENGINE SHOULD HAVE FAILED. MY EXTENDED WARRENTY EXPIRED IN MAY AND NOW THE DEALER WANTS ME TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE. AN ENGINE THAT COSTS AS MUCH AS THE BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THE CAR IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.*AK

Mileage: 58,000

CAR HAS STALLED WITHOUT ANY REASON OR WARNING. CAR HAS EXPERIENCED ENGINE RACING OR SURGING. CAR HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP AND TO THE DEALERSHIP (3DAYS) NO ONE ABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. *AK

Mileage: 125,000

WHILE DRIVING CAR ENGINE SHUTS OFF PERIODICALLY. CAR STARTS BACK UP AND A FEW MINUTES LATER IT SHUTS OFF AGAIN. HAD CAR CHECKED OUT BY MECHANIC BUT EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE FINE. CAN'T FIND REASON WHY CONTINUOUSLY SHUTTING OFF.*AK

Mileage: 111,000

I BOUGHT A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA IN 2000, AND NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS, UNTIL RECENTLY. THE ENGINE BEGAN MISFIRING ON CYLINDER 1 AND I REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND PLUG WIRES ASSUMING IT WOULD CORRECT THE ISSUE. DURING THIS TIME, I ALSO DID AN OIL CHANGE AND CHECKED ALL FLUIDS AND FOUND THE ANTIFREEZE TO APPEAR "RUSTED". I CHECKED IN THE OVERFLOW RESEVOIR AND NOTED OIL AND A DIRTY APPEARANCE TO THE ANTIFREEZE. I HAD THE ANTIFREEZE SYSTEM FLUSHED, AND NOW THE PROBLEMS ARE BACK, LESS THAN 5,000 MILES LATER. WHILE SEARCHING FOR THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND A LOT OF DATA TALKING ABOUT THE DEX-COOL ISSUES AND HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL MECHANICS, AND THEY SEEM TO BELIEVE THAT THE HEAD GASKET IS BAD, WHICH IS CAUSING THE MISFIRE PROBLEM. THIS IS GOING TO BE A COSTLY REPAIR, ONE OF WHICH I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SINCE THERE SEEMS TO BE A GROWING ISSUE WITH HEAD GASKETS AND THE DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE.*AK

I HAVE HAD MY CAR (98 CHEVROLET LUMINA) FAIL TWICE IN ONE WEEK DUE TO COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE. ONCE FOR A WATER PUMP AND ANOTHER FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I AM ALARMED BY THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS I FIND. BOTH FAILURES HAVE LEFT US STUCK WITH NO TRANSPORTATION.*AK

Mileage: 91,000

I HAVE HAD MY CAR (98 CHEVROLET LUMINA) FAIL TWICE IN ONE WEEK DUE TO COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE. ONCE FOR A WATER PUMP AND ANOTHER FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I AM ALARMED BY THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS I FIND. BOTH FAILURES HAVE LEFT US STUCK WITH NO TRANSPORTATION.*AK

Mileage: 91,000

FOR WEEKS THE VEHICLE LOSES FLUID AND THE ENGINE OVERHEATS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT LOWER INTAKE GASKET WAS BLOWN. *AK *TS

Mileage: 27,000

THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. SCC PH

THIS CAR BROKE TWO CAMSHAFTS (THE ORIGINAL AND AFTER INSTALING A NEW ONE, THE FIRST TIME THE MECHANIC TURN ON THE AUTO IT BROKE THE CAMSHAFT AGAIN APPARENTLY WITHOUT ANY REASON. I SPENT MORE THAN $3,000 TO FULLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE BUT FINISHED BUYING ANOTHER ENGINE. AT THIS MOMENT IS IN THE MECHANIC INSTALLING THE ENGINE. 4 MONTHS OF PAYING THE CAR, THE INSURANCE AND THE MECHANIC AND PARTS WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT REALLY HAPPENED. 3 MECHANICS CHECKED THE CAR AND FOUND IT HAS A RARE LUBRICATION PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT DELIVERS OIL TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THE ENGINE. THE OILPUMP IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND EVERYTHING SEEMS NORMAL BUT WHEN YOU TURN ON THE AUTO IT BREAKS THE CAMSHAFT AGAIN.*AK

WHILE SITTING IN STOPPED POSITION AND HAVING BRAKES APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL WILL SLOWLY LOSE PRESSURE. THIS WILL ALLOW PEDAL TO GO TO FLOORBOARD. CONSUMER HAS TO PUMP PEDAL FOR THIS NOT TO OCCUR. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR PEDAL TO GO TO FLOOR IF CONSTANT PRESSURE IS APPLIED. *AK FOUR B.F. GOODRICH TIRES EXPERIENCED CRACKING BETWEEN THE TREAD, REPLACED AT HALF PRICE BY B.F. GOODRICH. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A TICKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. *SLC

THERE IS A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. NOISE COULD BE HEARD IF THE ENGINE IS IDLING OR WHILE VEHICLE IS IN PARK AND GAS PEDAL IS BEING DEPRESSED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT EXAMINED, AND TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NOISE WAS DUE TO A 'NORMAL PISTON SLAP.' *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 12 TIMES, AND REPLACED ONE FUEL INJECTOR. DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. DEALER THEN REPLACED ALL FUEL INJECTORS. *AK DEALER ALSO REPLACED FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, AND FUEL TANK, POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEM. *SLC

VEHICLE WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED AND CANNOT GO INTO LOWER GEARS DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH TRANSAXLE. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND IT WAS REAR ENDED CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER. *YH

CAR WAS RUNNING GOOD ,AND JUST HAD OIL CHANGED . I BOUGHT IT AS A PROGRAM CAR STILL UNDER WARRENTY. HAVE HAD NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. CAR WAS RUNNING FINE ONE DAY AND THE NEXT MORNING AFTER TRYING TO START IT , THE CAR'S ENGINE SEEMED TO JUMP AND WOULD NOT START. THE WHOLE CAR SHOOK. HAD IT TOWED AND FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN . A PISTON ROD IN THE ENGINE BROKE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS WHAT A DEALER SAID, AFTER IT WAS LOOKED AT. DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CAR IS THERE FOR REPAIRS NOW . NEW ENGINE WILL HAVE TO BE PUT IN GOING TO COST $3500.*AK

OIL PAN GASKET LEAKING IN REAR, DEALER REPLACED OIL PAN GASKET, 13 MONTHS LATER WITH 86000 MILES THE INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE GASKETS. *SLC

CAR EXPLODED IN OUR GARAGE CAUSING LOSS OF TWO VEHICLES, OUR TOWNHOUSE AND OUR LIVE AS WE KNEW IT. WE HAD LESS THAN 60 SECONDS TO ESCAPE WITH OUR LIVES. THE LAST 8 MO.S OF OUR LIVES HAVE BEEN "HELL" AND IS NOT OVER YET! WE BOTH HAVE INCURRED SERIOUS MEDICAL, FINANCIAL, EMOTIONAL, QUALITY-OF LIFE AND TRAUMA/LOSSES AS A RESULT OF THIS EVENT. IN LESS THAN 60 SECONDS OUR LIVES WERE THROWN BACK 40 YEARS! WE DO NOT WANT ANYONE ELSE TO HAVE TO THROUGH THIS NIGHTMARE THAT WE EXPERIENCING. *AK REFERENCED IN EA02-030

THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONES AND THE CAR STALLS ON THE ROAD. YH

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

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. YH

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER CAME TO A STOP. AS CONSUMER PULLED OFF AGAIN, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. IT SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN IN AN INTERSECTION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE DASH LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON , AND THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT NO PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK