1999 Chevrolet LUMINA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
95 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
63,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 49 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 95 complaints (11.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 22.1% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 7.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 5.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 5.3% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 3.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Steering | 4 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 7; Electrical System: 6; Engine: 4; Steering: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 8
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 46 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 | 12 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 12; 2001: 5; 2002: 11; 2003: 12; 2004: 12; 2005: 6; 2006: 4; 2007: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 6; 2010: 6; 2011: 4; 2014: 3; 2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 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 10025442 · 2003-07-05 (July 5, 2003)
I HAVE 3 DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS. 1. THE ROTORS ON MY CAR HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES BEFORE I HAD DRIVEN 36,000 MILES. THEY WOULD WEAR UNEVENLY, AND CAUSE NOISE AND VIBRATIONS WHENEVER THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. 2. THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED FROM THE PAN, AND THE GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED 2 OR 3 TIMES.THE TRANSMISSION STILL LEAKS. AND THE BRAKES NEED FIXING AGAIN, BUT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES. 3.WHENEVER THE ENGINE IS UNDER ACCERLATION, MY AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT COOL. THE VENTS CLOSE OFF PREVENTING COLD AIR FROM COMING THROUGH. HO…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048561 · 2003-11-24 (November 24, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A CLANKING AND GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE SOUNDS COULD BE HEARD WHEN EVER THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE RIVETS FROM THE BRAKES SHOES RUSTED OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB *MR
Owner-reported narrative. 23,238 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048561 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10438879 · 2011-12-07 (December 7, 2011)
I WAS DRIVING MY HUSBAND'S 1999 LUMINA. I STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION TO WAIT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE LIGHT CHANGED I PROCEEDED INTO THE INTERSECTION, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, HOWEVER THE CAR PROCEEDED STRAIGHT. THE TIRES WOULD NOT TURN, HOWEVER THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED FREELY BUT THE TIRES WOULD NOT TURN. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC. AFTER HE EXAMINED THE CAR IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WELDS THAT HOLD THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE TO THE FRAME HAD FAILED. I HAD TO HAVE THE ORIGINAL WELDS REDONE COSTING ME $ 400.00 THEN ANOTHER $ 30…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,528 miles reported. Look up ODI 10438879 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576171 · 2014-04-01 (April 1, 2014)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576171 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075362 · 2004-06-14 (June 14, 2004)
MY STARTER RECENTLY WENT ON MY 1999 CHEVROLET, LUMINA, UPON REPAIR IT WAS FOUND THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A SHORT CREATED BY A SEAL FAILURE IN MY ENGINE. THE ANTIFREEZE IS LEAKING OUT MY ENGINE BLOCK FROM THE MANIFOLD/SEAL AND ONTO MY STARTER. THIS WAS SAIDD TO BE DUE TO THE PLASTIC SEAL USED ON THE ALUMINUM ENGINE. IT IS SAID TO NOT BE "CHEMICALLY COMPATIBLE" CAUSING "INEVITABLE WARPING OF THE SEAL". THE COST FOR REPAIR IS BE $600 JUST FOR A NEW SEAL. BUT AT 54,000 MILES THEY SUGGEST TO DUE THE STANDARD MAINTAINANCE WHILE THE ENGINE IS OUT LIK…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056884 · 2004-02-09 (February 9, 2004)
MY 1999 LUMNIA, AT 28,000 MILES DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK AROUND THE INTAKE GASKET AND HEAD GASKET. WAS SMALL BUT DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, THEN A WEEK LATER THE ALTERNATOR, AT 38,000 THE COOLANT LEAK WAS VERY NOTICEBLE. $$$ TO REPLACE GASKETS WHEN I WAS TOLD THE MANUFACTUER KNEW OF THE BAD GASKETS USED IN ITS MANUFACTUREING.
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056884 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116336 · 2005-04-04 (April 4, 2005)
ONLY BY OBSERVING A SLIGHT BUT LESSER COOLANT LEVEL IN THE OVERFLOW JUG OF MY 1999 LUMINA L/S PASSENGER CAR, WERE WE MADE AWARE OF THIS COSTLY DEFECT AT SUCH AN EARLY STAGE. A SUBSEQUENT AND CLOSER LOOK AT THE APPLICABLE AREAS, RESULTED IN CONFIRMATION OF A LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. AT A COST OF $850.00 TO REPLACE GASKETS AND VITAL FLUIDS, I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO ENCOUNTER SUCH A HEAVY DUTY REPAIR FOR THIS LOW MILEAGE AND VIGILANTLY LOOKED AFTER CHEVY PRODUCT. FORTUNATELY FOR ME THE DISCOVERY WAS MADE PRIOR TO AN ENGINE OVERHEAT, WHICH WOULD…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,916 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116336 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185597 · 2007-03-20 (March 20, 2007)
VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT. TOOK IT TO MIDAS, MIDAS WHO SAID IT WAS A INTAKE MANIFOLD PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC CAP AND NEEDED TO REPLACE IT FOR TOTAL OF 700.00. MIDAS SAID THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF CUSTOMERS WITH SAME PROBLEM DUE TO ANTIFREEZE STRENGTH THE DEALERSHIP WAS REQUIRED TO PUT INTO VEHICLE. ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STALLING, AND WHEN FILLING VEHICLE UP WITH GAS, WHICH SEEMS TO RUN OUT OR MAYBE LEAK OUT FAST. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 111,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106909 · 2005-01-06 (January 6, 2005)
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK. THE SEAM WHERE THE TOP OF THE TANK AND THE BOTTOM COME TOGETHER ARE RUSTED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE A LOT OF GASOLINE. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL TANK REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106909 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10661874 · 2014-12-03 (December 3, 2014)
BOUGHT 99 CHEVY LUMINA USED 5-6 MONTHS AGO CHECKED EVERYTHING OUT, FOUND NOTHING SERIOUS WITH CAR JUST MINOR TUNE UP NEEDED AND NEW TIRES. GAVE CAR TO MY SON AS A GOOD FIRST CAR, LAST NIGHT TOOK HIM TO FILL UP GAS TANK AND SMELLED GAS, LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW A DRIP COMING FROM WHAT APPEARS THE GAS TANK. PARKED CAR AT HOME AND LOOKED UNDER CAR, NO LEAK THOUGHT MAYBE I SPILLED GAS, THIS MORNING HE LEFT FOR SCHOOL AND THERE IS A VISABLE PUDDLE FROM WHERE HE WAS PARKED. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10661874 at NHTSA ↗