1999 Chevrolet LUMINA: complaints, problems and recalls

LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON 3.1 V-6, 1999 CHEVROLET LUMINA, 54K MILEAGE. DEALER ESTIMATES $1000 TO REPAIR. INTERNET SITES LIST MANY CARS WITH SAME PROBLEM. GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WILL BE THE RESULT IF I DON'T FIX IT - BUT WHY SHOULD I PAY WHEN CHEVROLET DIDN'T DO THEIR ENGINEERING CORRECT ON THE GASKET AND COOLANT. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005090 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND SAID CAR HAD TOO MANY MILES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006443 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE WITH 60,000 MILES IS BASICALLY DEAD, CHEVY WANTS $500. TO "LOOK" INSIDE AND SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. PRIVATE MECHANIC SAID IT'S SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PISTONS NOT PROPERLY FITTING INTO CYLINDERS. (I THINK HE CALLED IT "PISTON SLAM") HAVE HEARD OF OTHERS WITH SAME 3.1 ENGINE DYING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 60 AND 80 THOUSAND MILES. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY $500 FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT, AND THEN ANOTHER $3500 FOR A NEW ENGINE? YES, THE CAR WENT OUT OF WARRANTY IN DEC. BUT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PRE-EXISTING PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE UNDER RECALL. *NL…

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008381 at NHTSA ↗

THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT TRACK BROKE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE PROBLEM BUT 13 MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017428 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING, THE HEAD GASKET FAILED, WHICH CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018263 at NHTSA ↗

THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CRACKED. *AK *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 46,512 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022136 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

COMPUTER MODULE FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAD NOT YET BE DETERMINED. *AK *PH *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 31,916 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034035 at NHTSA ↗

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.