1996 Chevrolet Lumina

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HAS THREE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE LOWER TWO LIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. WHEN HE CHANGED THE BULBS, THEY ILLUMINATED BRIEFLY AND THEN QUICKLY BURNED OUT AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 135,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Incident Apr 1, 2007

THE PAINT JOB IS HORRIBLE. THE PAINT IS COMPLETELY PEELING OFF OF MY LUMINA. *JB

Incident Sep 1, 1996

DT*: 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.

Incident Dec 1, 2004

I TURNED ON MY CAR AND PUT IT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. I HAD FOUR FRIENDS IN THE CAR. I WAITED FOR MY FRIENDS TO GET SITUATED IN THE CAR AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THE CAR DID NOT ROLL BACK AS IT NORMALLY DID WHEN IN GEAR. SUDDENLY, THE CAR LURCHED BACKWARD AND STARTING ACCELERATING TOWARD A CONCRETE WALL THAT WAS ABOUT 45 FEET BEHIND US. I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. I QUICKLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO TRIED TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. NOTHING HAPPENED, SO I QUICKLY TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, JUST IN CASE I HAD ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TOWARDS THE WALL. I REMEMBER PICKING UP BOTH MY FEET JUST TO MAKE SURE I WAS NOT TOUCHING THE PEDALS. WE HIT THE WALL GOING ABOUT 25-30 MPH. FOUR OF US WERE FINE, BUT MY FRIEND IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BROKE HER CHEEKBONE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYONE WILLING TO INSPECT THE CAR TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CAR WAS SALVAGED FOR PARTS. *JB

Incident Aug 25, 2006

1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA, BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING EXCEPT FOR IN THE REAR WINDOW. IF THAT BULB WERE TO BURN OUT, I WOULD HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS AT ALL. I HAVE DISCOVERED, AND I AM SURE, THAT YOU ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN CORRECTED? *JB

Incident Aug 13, 2006

THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AROUND 100K MILES AND GETTING WORSE EVER SINCE. THE PISTON PIN IS GOING BAD. I FOUND OUT THAT GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BY A CERTIFIED GM TECHNICIAN. HE TOLD ME THAT ALL 3.1L ENGINES HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND GM WONT FIX IT. I FEEL SHAFTED AND WILL NEVER BY A GM PRODUCT AGAIN. *NM

Incident Jul 22, 2006

THE CHEVROLET LUMINA, 1996; POOR PAINT JOB. THE PAINT LASTS APPROXIMATELY FOUR (4) YEARS AND THEN IT STARTS TO CHIP AND PEEL OFF. *NM

Incident Sep 2, 2000

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. *JB

Incident May 28, 2002

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE FRAME CAME OUT AROUND THE BOLTS. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FALL ONTO THE GROUND AND THE STEERING TO PULL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY HAVE NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS SUPPOSE TO SEND OUT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE.*AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM

Incident Dec 6, 2005

1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT DAMAGING THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER AND DOOR (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

Incident Apr 19, 2005

TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IN CHEVROLET LUMINA CAUSING BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT WORK. (EXCEPT 3RD BRAKE LIGHT) FROM MY RESEARCH, THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE. FOR WHATEVER REASON THE MAIN BRAKE LIGHTS GO THROUGH THAT SWITCH. THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH IS CAUSING THEM NOT TO WORK. THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT IS NOT AFFECTED BECAUSE IT'S NOT WIRED THROUGH THAT SWITCH. I KNOW SWITCHES GO BAD, BUT THIS SWITCH HAS WENT BAD ON A LOT OF VEHICLES CAUSING NO MAIN BRAKE LIGHTS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *NM

Incident Dec 8, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE FRAYED. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. UPON INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CABLE WAS FRAYED AND UNRAVELING. THE MECHANIC WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER SEVERAL TIMES. THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN WAITING THREE WEEKS FOR THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PART. CURRENTLY, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

Incident Nov 1, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT IS POSSIBLE TO OPEN IT FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, BUT WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. SHE IS AFRAID THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AND SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN IT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAME OPEN WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND PRIOR TO THE SLIDING DOOR FALLING OFF ITS HINGES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE MECHANIC TOLD HER HE THOUGHT THE WINDSHIELD/WIPER MOTOR WAS BAD.*AK UPDATED 12/7/2005. *NM

Incident Jul 9, 2005

THE INTAKE GASKET ROTTED. THEREFORE, ANTIFREEZE LEAKED INTO THE OIL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE. THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *NM

Incident Jan 1, 2005

ON 7/20/03 THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED IN MY 1996 CHEVROLET. LUMINA. UPON STARTING THE CAR, WHILE STILL IN PARK, THE GAS PEDAL PULLED TO THE FLOORBOARD & THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD OUT OF CONTROL. THE BRAKES FAILED. WHILE DODGING PEOPLE, HOMES, AND VEHICLES, I TRIED STOPPING THE CAR BY TURNING OFF THE IGNITION TO CUT POWER TO THE MOTOR BUT THIS ONLY OPENED THE THROTTLE. THE LAST THING I REMEMBER WAS A LOUD WHINE, SCREAMING & BLACKING OUT. I AWOKE FROM A CONCUSSION CRASHED INTO A TREE WITH FACIAL, BRAIN, AND SPINAL INJURIES. GM INVESTIGATED AND STATED THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT RELEASE THE INVESTIGATION REPORT TO ME. I CANNOT FIND AN ATTORNEY TO SUE THEM. THIS WAS NOT DUE TO DRIVER ERROR. THE CAR WAS IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER PRIOR TO THE BATTERY BEING CHANGED CORRECTLY. THE 2004 OLDS ALERO WAS RECALLED FOR A STICKING ACCELERATOR. THE MPH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MALFUNCTION OF THE CAR, 0 (ZERO); WHEN THE CAR PLOWED INTO THE TREE SPLATTERING ME INTO THE WINDSHIELD HEAD FIRST LIKE A BUG, 60+ ESTIMATED BY WITNESSES. INSURANCE TOTALED THE CAR & SOLD TO SALVAGE EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE HOLDING IT FOR ME WHILE UNDERGOING EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT. I TRACKED DOWN THE SALVAGE YARD FOR GM AND AN INVESTIGATOR EXAMINED THE CAR BUT WILL NOT TELL ME WHAT HE FOUND OUT. *JB

Incident Jul 20, 2003

DT: HAD A FLAT TIRE, AND THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER HAD DRY ROT, AND SHOULD CHANGE THE TIRES. THEY ARE 70,000 MILES ON THRE TIRES, AND THEY HAVE BEEN USED FOR 3 YEARS AND 28,000 MILES. YOKOHAMA TIRES.

Incident Aug 1, 2005

DT: 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. *TT

Incident May 6, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1996 CHEVY LUMINA. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SOMETIMES THEY WILL WORK AND SOMETIME THEY WILL NOT. SHE HAS ALSO NOTICED THIS ON SEVERAL OTHER LUMINAS. THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT SHE HAS CHANGED THE BULBS ON THE BRAKE LIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES AND SHE STILL NOTICES THIS PROBLEM FROM TIME TO TIME. *JB

Incident Dec 15, 2004

DT: THE BRAKES LIGHT ONLY WORKED EVERY NOW AND THEN, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER LUMINAS. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BULBS AND FUSE HAVE BEEN CHECKED. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. *JB

Incident Mar 12, 2005

WHILE STARTING UP THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER,THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE VACUUM HOSE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

Incident Apr 21, 2005

MY DAUGHTER BROUGHT A USED 1996 LUMINA.SHE DROVE IT ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE IT STARTED ACTING UP. SHE LOST HEAT AND CAR WOULD GO TO OVERHEAT AND STALL. WHEN SHE GOT IT CHECKED SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE INTAKE GASGET WAS SHOT. THIS ALLOWED THE ANTIFREEZE GO INTO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT THE SELLER WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY MORE THAN SHE PAID FOR IT TO REPAIR IT. SO WE ARE VERY DISSAPOINTED WITH THE CAR. I WOULD NEVER BUY ONE AGAIN AS I FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON THINK IN LUMINAS FOR SEVERAL YEARS RUNNING.

Incident Jan 27, 2005

CAR SEEMED TO BE OVERHEATING AND RUNNING OUT OF ANTIFREEZE MUCH TOO OFTEN. TOOK IT INTO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME MY ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO MY OIL, AND THAT MY HEAD GASKETS WERE CRACKED AND LEAKING. WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE, OR THE PROBLEM WOULD JUST KEEP OCCURRING. *JB

Incident Feb 26, 2005

MY CHEVROLET LUMINA REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICHLE AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. SUBSTANTIAL FRONT END DAMAGE, BUT NO INJURIES.*AK

Incident Oct 9, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE BELTWAY VEHICLE'S SECURITY SYSTEM FAILED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST HIM $1400.00 TO REPAIR IT. *AK

Incident Sep 28, 2004

AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE NEXT DAY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING STARTED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. *NM *SC *JB

Incident Feb 3, 2003

AT LOW SPEED THE STEERING LOCKS. IF FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF.

Incident Sep 13, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

Incident Aug 30, 2004

A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE LOCKS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED ON THEIR OWN. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE DOOR PROBLEM. HOWEVER, MECHANIC REPLACED THE SHOCKS ON BOTH DRIVER 'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

Incident Sep 2, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH VEHICLE DROVE OVER A PIPE IN THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. PASSENGER'S SIDE SHATTERED THE WINDOW, SENDING GLASS INTO THE VEHICLE. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR BURNS TO THE ARM AND NECK. *AK

Incident Aug 30, 2004

DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. *MR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AS WELL. *SC *JB

Incident Feb 3, 2003

WATER LEAKED INTO THE CRANK CASE BECAUSE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DEFECTIVE. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WERE FOUND. *AK

Incident May 16, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY.*MR THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES FROM THE AIR BAG. THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. *NLM *SC *JB

Incident Feb 3, 2003

NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR CAUSES MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TO FAIL. THIS CAUSES SAFETY PROBLEMS. A SMALL TRUCK WAS BEHIND ME A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AND SLAMMED HIS BRAKES ON BEHIND ME. HE THEN PULLED NEXT TO ME AND TOLD ME MY TWO REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, BUT THE THIRD (TOP) ONE DOES. ALSO, REAR TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK. RIGHT SIGNAL WORKS MOST OF THE TIME, BUT SWITCH WILL NOT SIGNAL A LEFT TURN. ALL BULBS ARE FINE. IN RESEARCHING JUST IN A COUPLE HOURS, I FOUND ABOUT 40 OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH REPLACEMENT IS THE REPAIR MOST REPORTS CITE AS WORKING. THE REPAIR IS COSTLY, REQUIRING DISASSEMBLY OF STEERING COLUMN.*AK

Incident May 6, 2004

UPON DEPRESSION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE LOW TRACK AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON . WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE LOST BRAKE POWER. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP. THE CONSUMER THEN PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES RE-ENGAGED THEMSELVES. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 14 MILES. *JB

Incident Apr 3, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING TO THE LEFT AT 5 MPH, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED, AND GLASS WAS ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. DRIVER SUSTAINED CUTS ARMS AND FACE. *AK

Incident Mar 22, 2004

CONSUMER REQUESTING FOR AIR BAG ON-OFF SWITCH. *LA *JB

I JUST PAID OVER $700 TO HAVE A MECHANIC REPLACE THE INTAKE GASKET ON MY 1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON MY CAR AND ENGINE TYPE. THAT WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A POSSIBLE RECALL FOR THIS, OR WHAT ACTION I SHOULD TAKE TO BE COMPENSATED. *JB

Incident Mar 5, 2004

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A PROBLEM WHEN SHIFTING GEARS IN COLD WEATHER. *AK

Incident Feb 3, 2004

PAINT PEELING FROM CAR IN SEVERAL VERY LARGE AREAS. ONE SPOT NEARLY ALL OF RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL IS NOW GONE. A LOCAL MECHANIC., AND TWO LOCAL BODY MEN AGREE THIS CAR HAS BEEN REPAINTED. I PURCHASED IT FROM THE DEALER NEW "DEMONSTRATOR" BUT WAS TOLD IT HAD NEVER BEEN WRECKED. BUT KNOW SEVERAL FAMILIES AROUND HERE WITH 96 MODELS, ALL ARE PEELING. THE SAME WITH MY AND EVERY OTHER 85 MODEL GREY CHEVY. WHAT CAN WE DO? *LA

Incident Sep 9, 2000

PAINT IS PEELING OFF OFF MY LUMINA CAR NO UNDER COAT UNDER PAINT. REAR SEAT BELT KEEPS COMING LOOSE.

Incident Mar 15, 2003