1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE DRIVING. HE NOTICED A SMALL PIN HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE CAUSED BY CORROSION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 160,000. UPDATED 10/07/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT REAR STEEL BRAKE LINE WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AT 2 LOCATIONS. UPDATED 10/08/08. *JB

Mileage: 160,000

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

MY BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS MALFUNCTIONED IN MY VEHICLE. THEY HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED AND WILL GO OUT WHEN I AM TURNING OR TRYING TO STOP. I HAD THEM CHECKED FOR 4 YEARS STRAIGHT- PADS CHANGED AND COMPLETELY SERVICED- MY MECHANIC SAID IT IS SOME COMPUTER SENSOR IN THE BRAKES THAT GOES OUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CHEVY. IT IS EXPENSIVE AND A DEFECT. I HAVE WENT THROUGH INTERSECTIONS- AND BEEN SO CLOSE IN REAR ENDING SEVERAL VEHICLES BECAUSE OF MY INABILITY TO STOP MY CAR. *JB

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL ANDC BRAKES BECAME INOPERATIVE. CONSUIMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. *AK

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES RELAYS CLICK AND CYCLE CONTINUALLY WHEN BRAKING. DEALER STATES THE TRACTION CONTROL MODULE MAY BE MALFUNCTIONING. DOES NOT SEEM TO AFFECT NORMAL BRAKING. *NLM

Mileage: 98,000

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE USED AND IT STILL HAD 1000 MILE WARRANTY FROM THE DEALER. WHEN I GOT THE CAR THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP SO THEY REPLACED IT. BEFORE I EVEN GOT OUT OF THE PARKING LOT THE (VIBRATION SHUDDER HOSE) WENT BAD. OR AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT THE GUY AT THE SERVICE AREA TOLD ME THE NAME WAS. THEY HAVE REPLACED THAT. AND FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING WITH THEM THAT THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN WHINING. ALSO THE BRAKES DO NOT STOP TO WELL IN THE RAIN. I TRAVEL A LOT AND WE GO THROUGH BRAKES LIKE WATER. WE ALSO HAD THE AC COMPRESSOR GO OUT LAST YEAR DURING THE SUMMER. THE CAR WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. WE KEEP OUR CAR UP VERY WELL. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND ALL THESE PROBLEMS. I KNOW THIS MAY NOT SEEM LIKE BIG PROBLEMS BUT WHEN I KEEP MY CAR UP AND HAVE BEEN FIGHTING WITH THE DEALER DUE TO WHINING THIS IS FRUSTRATING.*JB

Mileage: 35,000

WHEN BACKING UP AND SLOWING DOWN ABS STARTS TO CLATTER. ITS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED WITH 32,000 MI. FROM THE BEGINNING BRAKES WOULD NOT GRAB IN THE RAIN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS EXTREMELY HARD. THE DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THAT'S THE WAY THIS CAR IS. I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS NOT USE TO 4 WHEEL DISC BRAKES. (I DRIVE A 4 WHEEL DISC CAR AT WORK.) I INSISTED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. DEALER TURNED THE FRONT ROTORS WHICH DID NOT HELP. I INSTALLED HIGH PERFORMANCE DISC PADS ON ALL FOUR WHEELS WHICH HELPED A LOT BUT ONLY FOR ABOUT 20000 MILES. THE BRAKES USE TO WHEN THEY GOT WET. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE IN WET WEATHER! *TS ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***762002

Mileage: 35,000

I WAS GOING 55 MPH ON BELTWAY. I DISCOVERED THAT MY BRAKES WERE VERY HARD TO PUSH AND COULD NOT STOP. PULLED OFF TO SHOULDER AND COULD NOT PICK UP ANY ACELERATION. I HAD THE CAR TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO DEALER FOR CHECK-UP. THE DEALER (FOX) ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER HOSE FROM THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER BECAME LOOSE AND WAS "CRIMPED" NEAR THE HOOD AND FIRE WALL. THIS RESULTED IN THE FLOW OF VACUUM PRESSURE BEING COMPROMISED AND STOPPING. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER HOSE HAD TO BE "REPOSITIONED." THIS CORRECTED BOTH PROBLEMS OF FAILED BRAKING AND LACK OF ACCELLERATION. THE DEALER WOULD NOT OR COULD NOT FULLY EXPLAIN IF THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM OR WAS A RESULT OF HUMAN ERROR WHEN WORK IS PERFORMED ON THE CAR. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE "CRIMPED" BOOSTER HOSE. LOST OF BRAKES WHEN GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS WAS QUITE UPSETTING. I THOUGHT I WOULD PASS THIS COMPLAINT ON FOR YOU REVIEW AND ANY ACTION YOU DEEM FIT. IF THIS IS A SAFTY PROBLEM, PERHAPS A TECH BULLETIN OR WARNING SHOULD BE ISSUED BY CHEV. THANK YOU. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME FOR ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED ON YOUR PART.*AK

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES MAKES A CLICKING SOUND WHEN PEDAL IS PUSHED AS IF THEY ARE BEING ACTIVATED INTO THE SKID MODE AND EVERY TIME THEY CLICK THE LIGHTS ON THE CAR DIM. SO IF YOU GO TO SLOW DOWN THE BRAKES CLICK SEVERAL TIMES AND THE LIGHTS DIM AND ONCOMMING DRIVERS ARE ANNOYED BY MY LIGHTS DIMMING AND BRIGHTNING.*AK

AIRBAGS ARE DEFECTIVE. REPAIRED BRAKES, STARTER

VEHICLE WAS SET ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 50-55MPH WHEN IT STARTED TO PICK UP SPEED. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND TRIED TO TURN CRUISE OFF. TO STOP VEHICLE CONSUMER PUT IT IN NEUTRAL/ APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SOME GRAVEL WHICH HELPED TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN AND INTO PARK. A MECHANIC DISCONNECTED CRUISE CONTROL. BRAKES WERE BURNED OUT TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO A DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE. *AK

BRAKES GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, SOMETIMES CONSUMER HAS TO PUMP BRAKE PEDAL FOR VEHICLE TO STOP. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL BECOMES HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER WILL INSPECT VEHICLE.*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

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

IN RAIN WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IT TAKES 3 TO 4 SECONDS BEFORE THERE IS BRAKING ACTION, PEDAL WILL FEEL HARD. DEALER STATED THAT WAS NORMAL.*AK

WHEN DRIVING UNDER WET CONDITIONS THERE IS A LOSS OF BRAKES WHEN PEDAL IS APPLIED . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR BRAKES ON MY 1998 LUMINA. THEY WOULD DRAG AND MAKE A METAL TO METAL NOISE. I TOOK THE CAR INTO FRONTIER CHEVROLET 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. AS I SAID, THE BRAKES MADE A METAL TO METAL NOISE, THE BRAKES WOULD DRAG, SOMETIMES EVEN SKIDDING THE TIRES ON DRY PAVEMENT. THIS HAPPENED WITH LIGHT TO MODERATE BRAKE PRESSURE ON THE PETAL. THE LAST TIME I WAS INTO FRONTIER CHEVROLET, THE SHOP FORMAN TOLD ME THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO FIX IT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG. I CONTACTED GM AT THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE ON AT LEAST TWO OR POSSIBLY THREE OCCASIONS. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T REACH THE SHOP FORMAN AND THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME. THEY NEVER DID. I LIVE IN MONTANA WHERE ICY ROADS ARE A PROBLEM IN THE WINTER. WITH WINTER WETHER SETTING IN I GAVE UP ON THE DEALER AND TOOK THE CAR INTO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE THE BRAKES FIXED. I DIDN'T WANT TO CHANCE THE BRAKES LOCKING UP ON ICY ROADS AND SENDING ME OUT OF CONTROL. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SOON DISCOVERED METAL SHAVINGE ON THE DRUMS AND OTHER BRAKE PARTS. HE SAID THE SHOES WERE RUBBING ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRUMS WHEN THE PETAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS CAUSED THE SHOES TO BIND INSIDE OF THE DRUMS, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO DRAG AND POSSIBLY LOCK UP. HE MEASURED THE ORIGINAL SHOES AND THE REPLACEMENT SHOES AND FOUND THAT EVEN WITH 31,000 MILES OF RUBBING ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRUMS, THE ORIGINAL SHOES WERE .007 WIDER THAN THE REPLACEMENTS. MY NEIGHBOR TOLD ME OF A PONTIAC GRAND AM THAT SHE OWNED THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. SHE ALSO TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER, WHO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ( IN ANOTHER CITY), TOLD HER THAT GM HAD INSTALLED THE WRONG SHOES ON HER CAR. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM FOR GM. WHILE THIS DIDNOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, IT VERY EASILY COULD HAVE IF I HADN'T HAD THE CAR FIXED AT MY OWN EXPENSE, EVEN THOUGH THE PARTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HOPE YOU WILL LOOK INTO THIS PRO

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY DID NOT GRAB AS QUICKLY. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE LEFT BRAKE ROTOR WAS CRACKED WITH HOT SPOTS. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THE HOT SPOT ON THE ROTORS WERE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NOTICED THAT BACK ROTORS HAD DEEP GROOVES IN THEM AT APX 16,000 MI. REPORTED TO DEALER, SAID IT WAS NORMAL..I'VE HAD CARS WITH MORE THAT NEVER EVEN HAD ROTORS TURNED DOWN, ANYWAY, THEY REPLACED 4 BRAKE PADS,SAID THEY WERE GONE & TURNED ROTORS DOWN, COST ME 334.00 I FEEL IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO A FRIENDS CAR SAID IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, HE TOLD ME TO CHECK MY ROTORS, THATS WHEN I NOTICED THE DEEP GROOVES. HE HAS SAME STYLE CAR (MONTECARLO,APX SAME MILEAGE)THE DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL!!!!!!!!!! I DON'T THINK SO. GOT NO WHERE WITH GM THEY'LL SAY & BELIEVE WHAT DIAMOND CHEV TELLS THEM.. LIKE I SAID, MY FRIENDS DEALER, KNIGHT CHEVY IN SOUTHBRIDGE MA , SAID IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY! *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE MAKING A NORMAL STOP DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER . BUT, DEALER DID NOT CHECK BRAKES. *AK

BRAKES FAILED. TOWED TO CHEVROLET DEALER AND WAS TOLD FLUID LOOKED CONTAMINATED. DEALER REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND FLUSHED BRAKE FLUID. *AK

BRAKES FAILED. TOWED TO CHEVROLET DEALER AND WAS TOLD FLUID LOOKED CONTAMINATED. DEALER REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND FLUSHED BRAKE FLUID. *AK

CONSUMER IS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING BRAKES FOR THIRD TIME. CALIPERS ARE RUBBING ON THE TIRES, AND THE BRAKE PADS ARE WARPED. *AK

THIS PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED PROPERLY BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I WOULD APPRECIATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM IN DEPTH WITH A NHTSA REPRESENTATIVE DUE TO THE PROBLEM DATING BACK TO A 1993 LUMINA, A 1995 LUMINA AND NOW THE 1998 LUMINA. I HAVE HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH BRAKE SYSTEMS AND FEEL THAT I CAN POSSIBILITY HELP TO ANSWER SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS OF DRIVERS STATING THAT THEIR BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARD. WHEN I HAD MY CAR SERVICED, THE SERVICEMAN STATED THAT HE HAD COMPARED MY VEHICLE BRAKES AND FOUND THEM TO BE ALMOST THE SAME AS ON THE NEW VEHICLES. I DO AGREE THAT SOME OF THE NEW VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME BLEED DOWN PROBLEM AS MY VEHICLE AND THAT IS MY CONCERN. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE OPERATION OF MY BRAKES AND DECIDED TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER AND ARRANGED FOR ME TO HAVE A CAR TO KEEP ME FROM DRIVING THE CAR HOME . ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS ONLY AN UNUSUALLY FAST PEDAL BLEED DOWN THE MANAGER STATED THAT HE TOO, HAS A CONCERN ABOUT THE BRAKE PROBLEM AND HAD ORDERED A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE NEW CLYLINDER DID REDUCE THE REQUIRED BRAKING EFFORT BUT THERE IS STILL EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL BLEED DOWN UNDER LIGHT PEDAL FORCE. I THINK I CAN HELP TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND SUGGEST A CORRECTION. I WILL DISCUSS THIS WITH THE LEADER SERVICE MANAGER. I OWNED A 1993 LUMINA AND EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE PEDAL "GOING TO THE FLOOR BOARD" WHICH VERY NEARLY CAUSED ME TO HAVE TWO MAJOR ACCIDENTS. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT ASSURING ME THAT MY CAR BRAKES WORKED AS GOOD AS ALL THE NEW CARS. WITH THE HELP OF THE ST. LOUIS BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND A BRAKE TEST OFF OF OIL CHANGE RAMPS, THE BBB REPORT CONVINCED GM TO BUY BACK MY 1993 LUMINA. I FEEL THAT THE ONLY WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE NHTSA IS BY REVIEWING THE MECHANICS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM, BRAKE FLUID FLOW AND TEST PROCEDURES. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. HOW MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILIAR PROBLEMS.

BRAKES AND PADS FAILED. YH

BRAKES AND PADS FAILED. YH

WHILE DRIVING 20 TO 30MPH WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. VEHICLE WENT STRAIGHT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION.ALSO, WHEN BACKING OUT BRAKES LOCKED UP. *AK

MY BRAKES PULSATE WHEN APPLYING. I'M HAVING BRAKE FAILURE MUCH TO SOON FOR MY DRIVING AND PAST EXPERIENCE WITH NEW CARS. THE DEALER IS SAYING THAT THE ROTORS ARE WARPED AND THAT IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, I BRAKE VERY LITTLE, SINCE MOST OF MY 86 MI. DAILY COMMUTE IS INTERSATE; I AM EXTREMELY EASY ON A BRAKE WHEN BRAKING; I'VE NEVER SLAMMED THE BRAKE; PAST EXPERIENCE WITH MANY NEW CARS HAS NEVER RESULTED IN WARPED BRAKES, IN FACT, MY 1992 LUMINA EURO HAD 60K BEFORE FRONT PADS WERE NEEDED AND 90K BEFORE REAR PADS... ROTORS WERE (AND ARE) STILL OKAY. LASTLY, I CHECKED THE INVESTIGATIONS DATABASE AND FOUND THAT THE '98 MONTE CARLO HAS A "DEGRADED BRAKING PERFORMANCE". I WONDERED IF THE LUMINA BRAKES WERE THE SAME AS THE MONTE? *AK

WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE BREAKS REQUIRE A GREAT DEAL MORE PEDAL PRESSURE TO STOP THE CAR IN THE RAIN.

THE ABS BRAKES FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. HAS HAPPENED TWICE. VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A "BUY BACK". *AK

WHILE GOING 30MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT & STOPPED SUDDENLY. DRIVER IN THE LUMINA APPLIED BRAKES & HIT RIGHT SIDE OF RANGER (DOOR & BED). NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. SEAT BELT CAUSED SLIGHT TRAUMA TO HEART AREA. *AK