1998 Chevrolet LUMINA: complaints, problems and recalls

THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. SCC PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006158 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED TO ENGAGE BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED. *JB...*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015431 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016443 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026463 at NHTSA ↗

THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SEATBELT DOES NOT LOCK. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LOCKING MECHANISM NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 67,833 miles reported. Look up ODI 10027335 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-12-11 (December 11, 2003)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Reported: 2009-04-08 (April 8, 2009)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.

Consequence: IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINE’S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM OR HTTP:WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2015-10-26 (October 26, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.