1998 Chevrolet Lumina complaints

TRUNK SPRING WEAK, LID FALLS. SPRING CAN BE ADJUSTED, BUT IS VERY DIFFICULT AND POTENTIALY DANGEROUS IF SPRING SLIPS WHILE TIGHTNING IT. *AK

WHILE PUTTING VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD, AT THIS TIME THE STEERING AND BRAKES DO NOT WORK, ALSO THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE CONSUMER WILL PUT THE VEHICLE IN OVERDRIVE OR DRIVE. *SLC

VERY HARD TO INVOKE SOUND FROM THE HORN. MY FAMILY ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE HORN FAILED TO PRODUCE SOUND. *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

NO SUMMARY

LOSS OF POWER / STALLS/ AS IT IS BEING DRIVEN DOWN RD.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR WILL CUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT WILL SKIP/PULL BACK AND KEEP MOVING WHILE DRIVING 55/70 MPH. IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP FOUR (4) TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL I DRIVE IT HOME AND THE PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN. HAS ANYONE ELSE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM?*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

I LOSE POWER WHEN GOING UP SLIGHT INCLINES AND THE ENGINE SEEMS TO HESITATE WHEN DRIVING UP THE INCLINE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT MAYBE THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BAD BUT HAD THEM CHECKED AND ARE FINE. I BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING BECAUSE THE CAR ALSO ROLLS BACKWARD WHEN STOPPED OR ON AN INCLINE.

POWER STEERING HAS FAILED ABOUT A HALF DOZEN TIMES. IF I WAS NOT A PRETTY STRONG MAN, CAR WOULD BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE. POWER STEERING HAS FAILED WHEN MAKING TURNS AFTER RUNNING THROUGH MUDPUDDLES OR STANDING WATER. TAKES TREMENDOUS EFFORT TO TURN. POSSIBILITY OF SOMEONE GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. JUST SENT MESSAGE TO CHEVROLET VIA THEIR WEBSITE. JUST HAVE NOT TAKEN THE TIME TO FIND OUT ABOUT IT.

POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM FAILURE RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. *ET

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

SMALL BUMPS CAUSE STEERING TO GO LIGHT AND STRUTS MAKE LOUD NOISE AND THE LOW TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON

CONSUMER FINDS IT HARD TO SEE OUT OF THE SOLAR TINTED WINDSHIELD. NLM

THE BACK WINDOW EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING SHOWERING GLASS PIECES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. YH

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

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE TRUNK WILL CLOSE DOWN HARD, HITTING OCCUPANT. TRUNK SHOULD HAVE SOME TYPE OF A RESTRAINT, SUCH AS SHOCK ABSORBER ORA HOLD LATCH, TO PREVENT INJURY WHEN CAR IS AN INCLINE. *AK

AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONED ON DRIVER SIDE CAUSED OPERATOR TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH WENT AIRBORNE AND CRASHED. *AK

THE EVENFLO ON MY WAY INFANT CAR SEAT WAS NOT VERY SAFE ONCE INSTALLED IN ANY VEHICLE. MY INFANT SON WAS ABLE TO KICK OUT THE SEAT BELT FROM THE TOP THREAD. WE WERE UNABLE TO USE THE BASE ATTACHED TO IT SINCE IT WOULD NOT FIT IN MY CAR. ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT MAKES ME VERY FURIOUS. EVERYBODY IS SO CONCERNED IN SAFETY OF THE CAR SEAT ITSELF, BUT DID THEY EVER INSTALL ONE OF THESE THINGS. MOST PARENTS PREFER THE CAR SEAT TO BE INSTALLED IN THE REAR CENTER, BUT ARE UNABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THIS SEATBELT. IS IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE THIS SEATBELT COMPLY WITH THE CAR SEAT INSTALLATIONS. FOR INSTANCE, MAKE ALL REAR CENTER SEATS A STANDARD BELT AND LATCH THAT CONFORM TO ALL CAR SEATS? *AK

IT'S DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS AND SOUND THE HORN. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. *AK *ML

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

EXTREME PRESSURE IS REQUIRED WHEN APPLYING THE HORN WHICH COULD BECOME DANGEROUS IN EMERGENCY TRAFFIC SITUATIONS, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CAR ROLLS BACKWARDS WHEN STOPPED ON SLIGHT INCLINES UNLESS THE BRAKE IS FULLY DEPRESSED. IT HAS CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE A FEW TIMES. I WILL MENTION IT TO DEALER ON MY NEXT VISIT AS I THOUGHT THIS WAS A NORMAL THING FOR BIG CAR. STEERING COLUMN GIVES A LOUD CLUNK WHEN TURNING; IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS NOT PROPERLY LOCKED IN THE ADJUSTMENT POSITION. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED AND "NOTHING WRONG" WAS FOUND. I HAVE ONLY CHANGED THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION ONCE IN 1-1/2 YRS. YET IT STILL DOES IT CONSTANTLY AND IT IS SUCH A HARD CLICK THAT I FEEL LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS GOING TO DROP INTO ANOTHER POSITION. I WILL REPORT IT TO THE DEALER AGAIN.

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

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, CONSUMER UNSURE IF THE PROBLEM IS LINKED TO THE TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE GONG UP A SLIGHT INCLINE AT 30 MPH AND UP VEHICLE JERKED/HESITATED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG SENSOR COMING ON AND REMAINING ON. DEALER /MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

ALTERNATOR FAILED. 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

STEERING.

ALL FRONT SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LATCH ; DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPAIRED THEM ON TWO OCCASIONS. BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

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

ALL THREE REAR SEATBELTS UNBUCKLE WHILE IN USE WHICH WON'T PROTECT OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED SEATBELTS TWICE. BUT, DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.*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

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS VEHICLE DOOR LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY. *YC

FRONT END FLOATING ALL OVER THE ROAD .PULLING TO THE RIGHT .HAD 4 WHEEL ALIGMENTS AND THE DEALER PUT 4 USED TIRES ON THE CAR THE LAST TIME AND NOW IT SHIMMIES. THE OWNER BRUCE WEED SAID THAT AS GOOD AS IT GETS . I THINK ITS A PROBLEM BECAUSE I PUT MY FAMILY IN THE UNSAFE CAR PLEASE HELP

REAR DOORS FROZE SHUT DURING SNOWY WEATHER.

THE LUMINA STEERING IS VERY LOOSE AT THE CENTER. IT WONDERS WHEN DRIVING SRAIGHT. DEALER WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TOLD THEM ABOUT IT FOUR TIMES SENSE I BOUGHT THE CAR.

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

WINDSHILED WASHERS CLOGGED WITH SALT CAUSING POOR VISIILITY WHILE DRIVING.

POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE REPLACED, CAUSING GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEEL. MJS

FRONT STRUTS FAILED. *YC

HEATER FAILED. MJS

POWER DOOR LOCK FAILED. *YC