1998 Chevrolet LUMINA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
180 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
97,063 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 71 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering:Rack And Pinion is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 180 complaints (11.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 46 | 25.6% |
| Braking behavior | 38 | 21.1% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 3.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 3.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 2.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 20 |
| Steering | 19 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
Steering:Rack And Pinion: 20; Steering: 19; Engine: 10; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Air Bags: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 7; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 21 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 21; 150,000 and above: 11
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 109 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 30 |
| 2001 | 26 |
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 32 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 30; 2001: 26; 2002: 15; 2003: 17; 2004: 32; 2005: 13; 2006: 5; 2007: 3; 2008: 6; 2009: 6; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 6; 2017: 5; 2018: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Steering:Rack And Pinion leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 46 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 11 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10014066 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014066 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022801 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND A LOUD NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A STEERING SHAFT FAILURE. GM DEALERSHIP SAID THAT FORD COMPANY HAD STARTED A RECALL ON SOME OF THEY'RE MODELS FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *AK *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009208 · 2002-05-17 (May 17, 2002)
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 WEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033348 · 2003-08-23 (August 23, 2003)
MY 1998 LUMINA IS WILL NOT START UNLESS THE GAS PEDAL IS PUMPED (THIS IS A FUEL INJECTION CAR) AND ONCE THE CAR IS RUNNING IT IDLES VERY ROUGH AS THOUGH THE CAR WILL STALL. THE DEALERSHIP RAISED THE INJECTORS AND REPLACED A HARNESS AND LET THE CAR IDLE FOR 2 1/2 HOURS. ON THE NEXT COLD START THE CAR IS STILL THE SAME. IT GOES BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033348 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073079 · 2004-05-24 (May 24, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10109675 · 2005-01-20 (January 20, 2005)
VEHICLE MADE A WHINING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. CONVERTER AND PUMP NOISEY. *BF THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10109675 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145260 · 2005-12-15 (December 15, 2005)
LOWER INTAKE GASKET FAILURE. LOSS OF ATF TRANSMISSION FLUID. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 65,744 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 568337 · 2002-11-19 (November 19, 2002)
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE GOING UPHILL OR PASSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SHOP AND THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED-THIS DIDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM. DURING A 600 MILE TRIP, THE CONSUMER HEARD A HIGH PITCHED NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR UNDERSIDE. THIS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. IT HAD BECOME APPARENT TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE FROM THE FUEL PUMP OR FILTER SOCK. THE GAS TANK WAS CHECKED FOR DIRTY GAS, BUT THE FUEL TANK LIQUID WAS CLEAN. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 568337 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259092 · 2009-02-17 (February 17, 2009)
VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN USING THE KEY, TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP.. HAD A NEW KEY MADE.. THE KEY WAS NOT THE ISSUE..HAD A NEW IGNITION INSTALLED THROUGH DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE WORKED FOR A SHORT TIME BUT STARTING SHOWING THE SAME PROBLEMS. HUNDREDS OF $$ LATER, THE CAR IS PARKED NOW WE DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO IT, BUT CAN'T SELL IT UNLESS IT'S FIXED. THIS IS SOME SORT OF STEERING/IGNITION PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS ALSO BEEN KNOWN TO STALL WHILE DRIVING IT. WE HAVE INSTALLED A NEW STARTER, A NEW ALTERNATOR, BATTERY WE ALSO HAD A…
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10845748 · 2016-03-09 (March 9, 2016)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 121,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10845748 at NHTSA ↗