Major Problems with Chevrolet Lumina Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Chevrolet Lumina to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

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Best and Worst Years for Chevrolet Lumina

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Chevrolet Lumina.

Model Year	Complaints
2000 Lumina	29
1999 Lumina	103

Worst 3 Chevrolet Lumina complaints

1999 Chevrolet Lumina DOOR Victims: 5

1999 Chevrolet Lumina AIR BAGS Victims: 2

1999 Chevrolet Lumina FRONTAL Victims: 2

Browse Chevrolet Lumina complaints by category

Problems with MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, COOLING SYSTEM and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Chevrolet Lumina owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING the intake manifold gasket on chevrolet 2000 lumina vin# [xxx] has been replaced twice since the vehicle was purchased. first...	12 ~ 58612 miles
COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING the cooling system was losing antifreeze rapidly due to a defective lower intake manifold gasket both the lower and upper...	10 ~ 51522 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING low coolant light kept coming on had to fill resivoir tank once a week. took car in to find the	10 ~ 75620 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING there was a knocking noise in the engine. the dealership stated it was caused by a pin going into first...	10 ~ 57488 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN from park position its is difficult to shift into reverse . it feels as though it is in neutral vehicle	10 ~ 39105 miles
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC ongoing problem with brakes squealing when stopping at an intersection and/or while backing up. dealer notified . feel free to	8 ~ 300 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM when exiting the car persons opening door receive shock. this is very painful and causes person to jump. the dealer...	8 ~ 59953 miles
ENGINE the car shut off while going down the highway at 45mph. i got out of the car looked under the...	6 ~ 148433 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL consumer stated the accelerator became stuck in busy traffic consumer was able to get vehicle off the road put it...	6 ~ 27833 miles
STEERING i was driving my husband's 1999 lumina. i stopped at an intersection to wait to make a left turn. the...	4 ~ 57383 miles
TIRES the right front tire blewout while driving causing damage to the rim (b.f. googrich touring t/a sr4 p205/70r15 dot apm0b0110400	4 ~ 6250 miles
DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC ongoing problem with brakes squealing when stopping at an intersection and/or while backing up. dealer notified . feel free to	4
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS air bags deployed when driving on rough dirt driveway. estimated speed 5 mph. i had driven up the drive okay...	4
FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC while backing up or turning to the right brakes make noise....	3
AIR BAGS engine stalls causing vehicle to hit a parked vehicle. *yc ...	3
BRAKE LIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING brake lights do not work. third brake light in back dash works. the brake lights work sometimes when the turn	2 ~ 84500 miles
CONTROL MODULE > ANTI-THEFT > IGNITION on many occasions the anti-theft light on this 2000 malibu has come on and the car will not start for...	2 ~ 65253 miles
TREAD/BELT > TIRES on august 28 2005 the left front tire on my vehicle suffered a major tread separation. the ongoing attempt to...	2 ~ 12500 miles
EQUIPMENT in your recall section for chevrolet vehicles i could not find my car listed. i have a 1999 chevrolet lumina...	2
EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING manifold leak developed around 55000 miles resulting in loss of coolant and $1000 repair of an apparently common problem with	2 ~ 82500 miles
ACCELERATOR PEDAL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL consumer stated the accelerator became stuck in busy traffic consumer was able to get vehicle off the road put it...	2
ROTOR > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS sitting overnite vehicle front rotors for oxides and causes substantial increase in stop distances for first 4 to 5 miles....	2 ~ 3500 miles
AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT i have 3 different complaints. 1. the rotors on my car had to be replaced 3 times before i had...	2 ~ 3500 miles
FRONT > SUSPENSION after backing out of a parking space and started traveling heard a noise in front end of vehicle. dealer has	2 ~ 55500 miles
GASOLINE > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING engine stalls causing vehicle to hit a parked vehicle. *yc ...	2
BODY > STRUCTURE i took my car for a service repair. (tune up) only to discover on the waya awkward smell and misfire....	1 ~ 15 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM bought 99 chevy lumina used 5-6 months ago checked everything out found nothing serious with car just minor tune up...	1
VISIBILITY 1999 chevrolet lumina. consumer writes in regards to several mechanical problems and recall issues. *smd the consumer stated the vehicle...	1
GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE) > EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM 1999 chevrolet lumina. consumer writes in regards to several mechanical problems and recall issues. *smd the consumer stated the vehicle...	1
WHEELS the car shut off while going down the highway at 45mph. i got out of the car looked under the...	1 ~ 240000 miles
POWER TRAIN tl* the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet lumina. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph the transmission shifted from...	1 ~ 84000 miles
LATCH > DOORS > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES i have a 1999 chevy lumina that in 2007 both the rear door latches broke a few months apart i...	1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING turn signal switch causes rear brake lights not to work. i didn't find out about it until a police officer...	1 ~ 215000 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC turn signal switch causes rear brake lights not to work. i didn't find out about it until a police officer...	1 ~ 215000 miles
INJECTORS > FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE car caught fire in my driveway 10 minutes after i returned home. luckily no one was injured and fire dept....	1 ~ 175200 miles
WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM vehicle was running hot. took it to midas midas who said it was a intake manifold problem with the plastic...	1 ~ 111000 miles
MECHANICAL > EQUIPMENT vehicle was running hot. took it to midas midas who said it was a intake manifold problem with the plastic...	1 ~ 111000 miles
COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY > MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN vehicle was running hot. took it to midas midas who said it was a intake manifold problem with the plastic...	1 ~ 111000 miles
SWITCH > TURN SIGNAL > EXTERIOR LIGHTING brake lights not working or working on/off. found the cause to be the turn signal switch after replacing the stop...	1
CATALYTIC CONVERTOR > EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM dt*: the contact stated the passenger compartment intermittently fills with fumes after the engine has been running for 30 minutes....	1 ~ 48000 miles
CONTROL UNIT/MODULE > ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC excessive brake pulsation and vibration with increased stopping distance. *ak...	1 ~ 57500 miles
TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE vehicle is experiencing a problem with the gas tank. the seam where the top of the tank and the bottom...	1 ~ 71000 miles
COLUMN SHIFT > LEVER AND LINKAGE > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION the lever used to change gears broke off unexpectedly when consumer was putting vehicle in park. taken to a mechanic	1 ~ 56799 miles
RECLINER > FRONT ASSEMBLY > SEATS consumer's vehicle was rear ended when the backs of both front seats both broke. vehicle was totaled. manufacturer was conducting	1 ~ 6000 miles
CHILD SEAT the buckle of the harness will not fit into the latch between the child's leg. *ak...	1 ~ 150000 miles
CONVERTIBLE > HARNESS BUCKLE > CHILD SEAT the buckle of the harness will not fit into the latch between the child's leg. *ak...	1 ~ 150000 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC while driving at 30 mph the consumer heard a clanking and grinding sound coming from the brakes. the sounds could...	1 ~ 23238 miles
HEATER CORE > DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY the heating system failed. the consumer believed that the problem was the antifreeze. ak sc...	1 ~ 87000 miles
GLASS, SIDE/REAR > VISIBILITY consumer's wife was driving front passenger side window exploded. on another occasion rear windshield exploded. dealer has been notified and	1
GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) > STEERING consumer states that the steering would make a popping sound when turning. dealer was notified and replaced the steering gear	1
RACK AND PINION > STEERING consumer states that the vehicle would make a noise while driving vehicle taken to the dealer and had the rack	1
ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM vehicle will die in middle of the freeway with no prior warning. this makes it very easy to have a...	1
BUCKLE ASSEMBLY > FRONT > SEAT BELTS problem with latching driver's side seat belt. dealer notified. feel free to provide any further information.*ak...	1
UNDERBODY SHIELDS > FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE heat shield continues to make noise even after turning off vehicle. dealer notified. feel free to provide any further information	1
FAN > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING car was purchased on 4/23/01 up until todays date 5/21 i have had these problems occur: 4/25 upon braking car...	1
WINDSHIELD > VISIBILITY while backing out of a parking space and without any indication air bags deployed. *ak the front widsheild was shattered	1
MOTOR > WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY while driving in rainy weather windshield wipers quit working. dealer has seen and replaced module and a cover.*ak...	1
HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING this was a rental car from almo rental center. consumer was traveling about 55mph on highway and a drunken driver...	1
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER the gas gauge reads incorrectly. sometimes it reads more than what is in the tank and sometimes it reads less	1
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE during a left front impact both rear doors came open and left rear wheel hub broken off axle no other	1
SUSPENSION bolt head came off of rear sway bar bushing.mr over half of the bolt cracked before it broke off. ts...	1
SEAT BELTS the drivers seat belt track broke. the dealer repaired the problem but 13 months later the problem re-occurred. *nlm...	1
TIE ROD ASSEMBLY > LINKAGES > STEERING 1999 lumina customer states that he had to replace the right outer tie rod because it was about to fall...	1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE concerns about pistons on vehicle. mr...	1
LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS > WHEELS bolt head came off of rear sway bar bushing.mr over half of the bolt cracked before it broke off. ts...	1
STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR > STEERING engine stalls causing vehicle to hit a parked vehicle. *yc ...	1
PADS > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS when applying brakes pedal would go to floor before stopping. dealer replaced pads and problem still exists. *ak...	1
ANCHORAGE > FRONT > SEAT BELTS the seat belt somehow wrapped up one side of a passenger's neck and around the waist the seat belt had	1
PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN vehicle will not move out of park until it had warms up. *ak...	1 ~ 60000 miles
PEDALS AND LINKAGES > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC the abs system had broken and had failed to stop vehicle when brake pedal was pressed. also when its raining...	1
AXLE SHAFT > AXLE ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN the vehicle does not seem safe the tires have a loud roar and the car is hard to keep in...	1
WHEEL CYLINDERS > DRUM > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS at 42000 miles i feel that the rear wheel cylinders should not leak. *ak...	1
HUB > WHEELS during a left front impact both rear doors came open and left rear wheel hub broken off axle no other	1

FAQ

What year Chevrolet Lumina is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 2 years, Chevrolet Lumina models of 2000, 1999 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Chevrolet Lumina?

Chevrolet Lumina models of 1999 and 2000 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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