10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 144,997 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Oil leak 1996 3.4 DOHC Chevy Lumina I did my research that is a common problem in these cars then its costs a pretty good penny to fix by the dealership like $2000.
- Utica, MS, USA
Purchased 1996 Chevy Lumina w/3.1 liter engine. Vehicle has been well maintained and currently has 115,000 miles. The vehicle has never been involved in a car accident. The issue is that the camshaft has broken. Why would a vehicle that has had regular oil changes and maintenance experience this problem? it seems an extreme problem for a well-cared for vehicle. This was a former police vehicle (first 96,000 miles). My son's girlfriend also owns a Lumina (1999, no VIN available) and she too has had the camshaft replaced in her vehicle at 170,000.
- Platte City, MO, USA
: the contact stated the engine's intake manifold was leaking antifreeze. The non service dealer determined the top of the motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not taken to a service dealer.
- Johnstown, OH, USA
While driving to work one morning on a highway, the intake manifold head gasket blew, mixing the oil with the water, causing the motor to need replacing. I had the motor replaced at a cost of $2680.07. We had an extended warranty of 6 years 50 thousand miles, the motor blew at 6.5 years and 52,091 miles. Nothing was done to help me the consumer. I called the dealer( burtness Chevy,303 E.beloit St. Orfordville, wi.53576), and they said it was my fault for not trading in the car before the warranty was up. Then I called GM(central office P.O.box 33170, detroit, mi.48232-5170)and they said a warranty is a warranty. I just now came across your web sight, and I feel I need to let you know about this problem. Hope they can come up with a better reason in the future for other consumers. Thanks you, cheryl phillips.
- Janesville, WI, USA
Consumer says vehicle gets hot and immediately stalls. Consumer has replaced engine once before. Consumer has been told the problem is the upper intake manifold. Vehicle is serviced regularly, and was taken in for recalls to the dealer. Engine in vehicle is currently bad and is costly to replace.
- Elkton, KY, USA
At low speed the steering locks. If feels as if the vehicle has shut off.
- New Matamoras, OH, USA
On 7/20/03 the battery was getting weak so I bought a new battery compatible with the car. On the first start with the new battery the car behaved normally. However, when I started it the second time and was backing up a slight slope of a driveway, the car died. I put the car back in park and restarted the car. Without touching the gas pedal with my foot, the gas pedal dropped to the floorboard and the car raced forward with the gear shift still in park. The brakes would not work. I steered the car trying to locate the emergency brakes but they were too far away for me to reach and still maintain the racing car. I thought turning off the engine would stop the car since the brakes has failed but even turning off the engine, it raced even faster and the next thing I knew I had crashed into a tree totalling out the car. I cracked my head into the windshield breaking my nose. Luckily, the visor was down and protected my face. I also sustained bruising and back injuries along with the concussion. Also, the air bag did not activate. Thankfully, as I am short and if it had, then I would have been decapitated or killed from it. My insurance only gave blue book value to the car as it was unrepairable and had to be totalled. I am wanting to seek legal action against the manufacturer. Is there any class action lawsuits regarding this problem on the Lumina's? I feel it was computer problem that shut down the car made it behave like it was possess. No lights came on inside the car to indicate there was a computer problem or any other problem. There is only one way to put in a battery so it could not have been the battery. Debra K. oliver
- Mayflower, AR, USA
Lower intake manifold leaking dexcool on my Chevy Lumina 1996 3.1 and while I was in the midas shop checking my car a girl have monti carlo 97 has the same problem my mechenic telling my he gets alot og these problems with Chevy 3.1 3.4
- Chicago, IL, USA
- Gaffney, SC, USA