1999 Chevrolet Lumina Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report coolant leaks traced to the intake manifold gasket on the 3.1L V6, typically noticed as a slowly dropping coolant level, no cabin heat, rising temperature or steam and a sweet smell. Complaints describe the repair as recurring rather than one-time, and many surface under 60,000 miles. A smaller but consistent group describes brake trouble, including ABS or traction-control issues and rotors that wear unevenly, along with occasional stalling, oil leaks and electrical faults at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Intake manifold gasket coolant leak (3.1L V6)

   • 26 complaints (25%)
   • median 63,020 mi at 6.3 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2016

   Owners describe coolant disappearing from the overflow jug over days or weeks, no heat from the vents, steam or smoke, and overheating. Shops identify the intake manifold gasket, and sometimes the head gasket, as the source; several owners say the repair was done once and the leak returned later. Reported repair bills run from a few hundred to about a thousand dollars, and some owners mention coolant or fumes entering the cabin through the vents. Commonly reported between roughly 30,000 and 140,000 miles, with many entries in the 50,000-75,000 range.

   What to check: Look for a coolant level that keeps dropping, coolant residue or staining around the intake manifold, and a sweet smell or steam after a drive. Ask for service records showing when the intake gaskets were last replaced and with what gasket material.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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”

   NHTSA complaint #10005090, filed 2003-02, 54,000 miles

   “My 1999 lumnia, at 28,000 miles developed a coolant leak around the intake gasket and head gasket. Was small but dealer replaced the battery, then a week later the alternator, at 38,000 the coolant leak was very noticeble. $$$ to replace gaskets when I was told the manufactuer knew of the bad gaskets used in its manufactureing.”

   NHTSA complaint #10056884, filed 2004-02, 28,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brakes grab, grind or lose assist in wet weather

   • 14 complaints (14%)
   • median 7,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2005

   Owners report the pedal going hard or brakes not holding after driving through rain, longer stopping distances, grinding and clanking noises, and ABS or traction-control lights on. Some entries describe rotors replaced repeatedly for uneven wear and vibration, and one describes brake shoes whose rivets had rusted. Dealers in several complaints said they could not reproduce the condition or that the vehicle was outside the covered range. Reported across a wide mileage span, from very low miles up to about 175,000, often in wet or rainy conditions.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the brakes on a wet road and listen for grinding or clanking; watch for an ABS or traction-control lamp that stays on. Ask whether the wheel speed sensors and ABS pump have been serviced, and whether a brake fluid flush is documented.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10025442, filed 2003-07, 7,000 miles

   “While driving at 30 MPH, the consumer heard a clanking and grinding sound coming from the brakes. The sounds could be heard when ever the brakes were depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the consumer the rivets from the brakes shoes rusted off. The manufacturer was aware of the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10048561, filed 2003-11, 23,238 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls or cuts out while driving

   • 17 complaints (17%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 10.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2019

   Owners describe the engine quitting without warning at speed or while accelerating from a stop, sometimes with the volt light on and the steering becoming very heavy. Some say the alternator was replaced, one says a computer module stopped recognizing the ignition key, and several report that dealers could not duplicate or diagnose the fault. Complaints also mention rough running and a misfire after a wiring or insulation problem in the engine bay. Spread from low mileage into the 100,000-170,000 range, with no clear single trigger.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Take an extended test drive including stops and restarts, and ask whether the alternator, battery and ignition lock cylinder have been replaced. A scan tool check for stored codes and a look at engine bay wiring condition is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I took my car for a service repair. (tune up) only to discover on the waya awkward smell and misfire. Upon arriving I was notified that the internal hood insulation broke free and crumbled in chunks on top of my fuel injector and created a heat that melted four of the fuel injector wires covers and all.”

   NHTSA complaint #10970616, filed 2017-04, 15 miles

   “While driving, my car will just suddenly cut off and this occurs whether stopped at the light or while pressing the accelerator. The volt light comes on and the car just cuts off and the steering wheel locks up. My local Chevrolet dealer (youman's Chevrolet, macon, ga) tried to find out what was the problem by running diagnostics, but could never determine the cause. Since the problem continued to occur, and wondering if the problem could be due to the age of the car, I parked the car and purchased another car in may, 2013. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10576171, filed 2014-04, 150,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Oil leaks onto exhaust (fire/smoke reports)

   • 9 complaints (9%)
   • median 116,500 mi at 10.7 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2016

   Complaints describe oil leaking from the valve cover gasket or engine seals onto hot exhaust parts, producing a burning odor and, in some entries, smoke or small flames from under the hood. Several owners link the symptom to recall campaigns 09V116000 and 15V701000 and say the vehicle identification number was not covered or that the remedy parts were unavailable. One entry describes engine bay insulation crumbling onto the fuel injector wiring. Reported from about 77,000 to 200,000 miles, often on older vehicles with a visible external oil leak.

   Recall 09V116000Recall 15V701000

   What to check: Check the engine bay and the area around the exhaust manifolds for fresh oil residue and a burning smell after driving. Ask whether recall 15V701000 or the earlier campaigns were completed on this vehicle and confirm by VIN with a dealer.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car caught fire in my driveway 10 minutes after I returned home. Luckily no one was injured and fire dept. Was able to put out fire before it spread to my home. Fire inspector said it looked like it was caused by the fuel injectors.”

   NHTSA complaint #10217681, filed 2008-02, 175,200 miles

   “Gm safety recall complaint: I backed out of my driveway drove about half a block and smelled smoke; returned home, parked and saw smoke coming from under the hood. Raised hood and found engine own fire in small flames. I proceeded to pour a small bucket of water on the fire and it went out. Coincidentally, I had just received safety recall notice 09047 from GM the same day, stating that the car could catch fire starting with the spark plug wires channel and beyond. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10435695, filed 2011-11, 200,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbag deployment without a crash

   • 7 complaints (7%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2004

   Several complaints describe the front airbags deploying with no impact, for example while shifting into drive after backing out or after running over a rut at walking speed, with the windshield breaking and occupants reporting facial or neck injuries. In one entry the airbags did not deploy during a collision. Dealer responses described in the complaints are limited. Reported at very low mileage and on vehicles of unknown mileage; conditions varied from a driveway rut to a parking maneuver.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag system has any stored fault codes and whether the airbag lamp behaves normally on startup. Note that a supplemental restraint lamp complaint exists in the service bulletin list.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10008381, filed 2003-03, 60,000 miles

   “Consumer was backing out and shifting gear into drive when both airbags deployed, causing windshield to shatter, $4000 worth of damage. There was no crash or impact. Driver sustained neck and eye injuries due to glass.when airbags deployed it knocked driver out.”

   NHTSA complaint #877085, filed 2000-12

Buying note. The intake manifold gasket and the oil-leak-onto-exhaust symptoms are the two things to look at closely on this model year, since both appear repeatedly and both can be expensive or messy to ignore. Ask for service records, check coolant level and engine bay oil residue before purchase, and confirm by VIN which recall campaigns have actually been completed.

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.