1998 Chevrolet Lumina problems
Owners have filed 276 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet Lumina. Steering is the most reported problem area, at 21% of complaints. After that come engine (15%) and brakes (13%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 276 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 21% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 12 and 6
- Injuries and deaths
- 17 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 97,000 miles 88 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 8 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 12 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 17 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 11 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 17 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 4 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 4 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Among the 88 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 97,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 88,000 miles (28 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 12 complaints mention a crash; 6 complaints mention a fire; 17 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 8th most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Chevrolet Lumina with enough data (119 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Front end damage to both sides of car, air bags did not deploy, cruise control was on, kept increasing speed, sometimes would not release when brake was touched, other times it would shut off by itself, lost control of car, front end went into a ditch & car was flipped, air bags are still intact at this time.
Car exploded in our garage causing loss of two vehicles, our townhouse and our live as we knew it. We had less than 60 seconds to escape with our lives. The last 8 mo.s of our lives have been "hell" and is not over yet! We both have incurred serious medical, financial, emotional, quality-of life and trauma/losses as a result of this event. In less than 60 seconds our lives were thrown back 40 years! We do not want anyone else to have to through this nightmare that we experiencing. Referenced in ea02-030
Temporary loss of steering. On 4 occasions within the past 2 weeks I had recently left my residence and was making either a left or right turn. At the start of the turn I could not steer the car. It was as if something was broken, I did hear a squeal. I was able to return home (about 2 blocks) and again checked the power steering fluid and the serpentine belt. The fluid was correct and the belt is about 8 months old. For the recall #03v527000 in 2003 I did go to the chevrolet dealer in ft.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet lumina. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, she noticed a grinding and banging sound coming from the steering wheel. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 03v527000 (steering) but was advised by the manufacturer that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.