1998 Chevrolet Lumina Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year centre on steering, especially power-assist loss or binding when turning, often at low speed. Many owners describing that symptom say the dealer told them their vehicle identification number was outside a 2003 rack-and-pinion recall. A second cluster covers cooling-system and intake gasket leaks, and engine compartment oil drips and fires are described in complaints tied to exhaust-manifold oil recalls.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering loss or binding, especially in turns

   • 50 complaints (22%)
   • median 76,800 mi at 7.9 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • filed 1999–2017

   Owners describe the steering becoming heavy or binding, most often while making a left turn at low speed such as entering a parking space, and in some cases a temporary complete loss of assist. Several say a garage traced it to the rack and pinion, and that the dealer or manufacturer checked the VIN and said the vehicle was not covered by the 2003 rack-and-pinion recall. Some had the rack and pinion replaced themselves, which they report resolved the symptom. Reported from very low mileage up to about 130,000 miles, with many cases under 100,000 miles and several at low-speed turning.

   Recall 03V5270001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Turn the wheel through full left and right lock at idle and listen for noise or binding, and ask whether the rack and pinion has been replaced. Ask a dealer to confirm whether the vehicle is covered by the rack-and-pinion recall.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 1998 Chevrolet Lumina, which I purchased new in 1998. I had noticed a sporadic steering wheel kick-back at low speeds when turning left in this vehicle. I told a friend about my situation (he too owns same year,make,model) and he explained he received a recall letter from Chevrolet and had this problem corrected on his vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10058978, filed 2004-02, 50,000 miles

   “Difficulty turning the steering wheel to the right at low speeds. Contacted GM and instructed to take the vehicle to a dealer. Charged $100 and told this vehicle was not included in NHTSA recall 03v527000 due to VIN. Replaced rack and pinion myself which fixed the issue. My car shows the exact same signs of the reason you did this recall. Why was my car not included? I demand an answer!”

   NHTSA complaint #10611260, filed 2014-07, 98,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Coolant loss, overheating and intake gasket leaks

   • 19 complaints (9%)
   • median 86,000 mi at 11.9 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2017

   Owners report losing coolant, overheating, and being told the lower intake manifold gasket had failed; some describe coolant mixing into the oil. Complaints mention repeat repairs at the same area, including one where a leak returned after a warranty repair, and dealers quoting a reseal using a revised sealant. Reported from roughly 27,000 to about 185,000 miles, with several cases between 34,000 and 91,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check coolant level and look for milky residue under the oil filler cap or on the dipstick, and ask for service records showing whether the intake gaskets and water pump have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had my car (98 Chevrolet Lumina) fail twice in one week due to cooling system failure. Once for a water pump and another for intake manifold gasket. I am alarmed by the number of similar complaints I find. Both failures have left us stuck with no transportation.”

   NHTSA complaint #10062237, filed 2004-03, 91,000 miles

   “My complaint is about recall # 15v701000, and also my car started leaking water into the oil so I had to park it up for a while and just been without a ride ever since any help would be appreciated.”

   NHTSA complaint #10907344, filed 2016-09, 90,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Brake lights and turn signals failing at the multi-function

   • 14 complaints (6%)
   • median 120,000 mi at 7.4 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2020

   Owners report that the two rear brake lights stop working while the centre high-mounted light still works, and that the turn signals or hazard function misbehave. Several say the fault was traced to the turn signal / multi-function switch in the steering column, and that replacing bulbs or fuses did not help. Reported from about 96,000 to 150,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: With the ignition on, have someone watch the rear lights while you press the brake pedal, then operate the turn signals and hazards; ask whether the multi-function switch has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Both rear brake lights have failed and only the center high mounted lights are working. I replaced the bulbs but taht did not help so I did a little troubleshooting and found that the bulbs worked as they lit up when I used the signal lights, hazard lights, and head lights. I next tried replacing the turn signal/harzard flasher but this did not resolve the problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10098253, filed 2004-11, 134,030 miles

   “The multi purpose switch (turn signal) on my 1998 chevy Lumina doesn't work everytime a use the turn signal switch my brake lights go out and I have to wiggle the switch until my brake light come back on. I switched the lever but the problem continues.”

   NHTSA complaint #10262687, filed 2009-03, 96,500 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Oil dripping onto the exhaust manifold

   • 24 complaints (11%)
   • median 88,000 mi at 11.9 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2017

   Complaints describe oil leaking onto the hot exhaust manifold, in some cases followed by smoke or fire from under the hood, and two mention being told of a cracked upper manifold or failed valve cover gasket. Several owners say they learned of the exhaust-manifold oil recalls only after the event, or that parts were unavailable when they called the dealer. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 80,000 to over 245,000 miles.

   Recall 09V116000Recall 15V701000

   What to check: Look for oil residue around the exhaust manifold and spark plug wire channel, and ask whether the exhaust-manifold oil recalls have been completed on this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle making banging noise took to shop told a burnt valve, ( it was driven in/out of shops) second shop weeks of investigating, same diagnosis. Lacked funds to repair, took home. Read about recall contacted manufacturer referred to local dealer. Dealer said parts were being ordered based on recall, but took it in earlier than contact. Service person indicated that my vehicle is not part of recall..they could diagnose and repair but cost in the thousands. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10845748, filed 2016-03, 121,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Lumina. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag was protruding as if it were going to explode. In addition, the contact mentioned that oil was leaking onto the exhaust manifold and the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10818652, filed 2016-01, 80,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Rough idle and stalling

   • 12 complaints (5%)
   • median 111,000 mi at 9.7 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2012

   Owners describe the engine idling rough, surging, or shutting off while driving, sometimes restarting and stalling again. In several cases the dealer could not reproduce or identify the cause, and one owner reported an intake manifold failure shortly after a no-start episode. Mostly reported between about 49,000 and 114,000 miles.

   What to check: Start the engine cold and let it idle, watching for a rough or hunting idle, and ask whether ignition, fuel and intake components have been serviced recently.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 1998 Lumina is will not start unless the gas pedal is pumped (this is a fuel injection car) and once the car is running it idles very rough as though the car will stall. The dealership raised the injectors and replaced a harness and let the car idle for 2 1/2 hours. On the next cold start the car is still the same. It goes back to the dealership on monday.”

   NHTSA complaint #10033348, filed 2003-08, 60,900 miles

   “While driving car engine shuts off periodically. Car starts back up and a few minutes later it shuts off again. Had car checked out by mechanic but everything seems to be fine. Can't find reason why continuously shutting off.”

   NHTSA complaint #10073017, filed 2004-05, 111,000 miles

Buying note. On a car this age, service history matters more than mileage: ask specifically about rack-and-pinion work, intake gasket and coolant repairs, and completion of the exhaust-manifold oil recalls. A test drive that includes full-lock low-speed turns and a cold idle will surface the two most commonly described symptoms.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.