Most common 1998 Chevrolet Lumina problems
Share of the 223 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Lumina complaints by model year
Best Lumina years: 2001, 2000, 1999. Years to avoid: 1995, 1997, 1996. Compare all years →
1998 Chevrolet Lumina recalls (3)
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and gasket.
Engine and engine cooling
General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 Buick regal, my 1998-2003 Chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 Oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 Pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine's plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge.
Steering › Rack and pinion
Certain passenger vehicles have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These retainers could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began on February 5, 2004.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 1998 Chevrolet Lumina:
Power rack and pinion steering failure
GM conducted a safety recall (NHTSA # 02V286) to address a steering defect pertaining to a lower pinion bearing (lpb) within the rack and pinion steering gear (r&p). The recall covered 1,159,156 model year 1997-1998 Pontiac grand prix vehicles built between March 1, 1996 and October 31, 1997, 1996-1998 Pontiac trans sport, Chevrolet lumina apv, Chevrolet venture, Oldsmobile silhouette minivans, and Chevrolet…
Power rack and pinion steering failure
GM's letter to NHTSA dated December 11, 2003, expands its original recall (NHTSA 02V286) to include certain w-body vehicles: 96-97 olds cutlass supreme; 98 olds intrigue; 97-98 olds cutlass; 97-98 Chevy lumina, monte carlo and malibu; 96 Pontiac grand prix; and 96-98 Buick regal.the number of vehicles recalled is 750,283.GM determined that failure of the rack and pinion is related to damage of the lower pinion…
Engine compartment fires
Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with GM?s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a…
What 1998 Chevrolet Lumina owners say
Steering all 56 →
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. I called my local chevolet dealer and the service advised scheduled me an appointment to repair, but then called me back and cancelled appointment and explained to me that my VIN number was not included in the recall. I called Chevrolet assistance and they advised me to pay for repairs out of my pocket because my car was out of warranty. I feel this is unacceptable and discriminatory. Obviously Chevrolet is trying to reduce their costs by denying my claim for this campaign. I have seen quite a few other Chevrolet owners with the same complaint. …
I purchased my vehicle used and it still had 1000 mile warranty from the dealer. When I got the car there was a problem with the fuel pump so they replaced it. Before I even got out of the parking lot the (vibration shudder hose) went bad. Or at least that is what the guy at the service area told me the name was. They have replaced that. And for almost two years now I have been fighting with them that the power steering has been whining. Also the brakes do not stop to well in the rain. I travel a lot and we go through brakes like water. We also had the ac compressor go out last year during the summer. The car was only 4 years old. We keep our car up very well. I do not understand all these problems. I know this May not seem like big problems but when I keep my car up and have been fighting with the dealer due to whining this is frustrating.
Engine & cooling all 43 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Lumina. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle started to smoke excessively. The contact heard a loud noise then there was fire coming from the front under the hood of the vehicle. The contact also stated that the valve cover gasket failed and the upper manifold was crack. The vehicle was destroyed due to the fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling) after the fire occured. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 245,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Lumina. The consumer stated about 1/2 mile away from her house, the vehicle started sputtering. She pulled the vehicle over and decided to walk home. When she returned with her husband the fire department was putting out a fire from her vehicle. The consumer notified the manufacturer in reference to recall # 09V116000 (engine and engine cooling); however, a representative concluded that the statue of limitations in south carolina does not require the manufacturer to assume responsibility after 7 months. The failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 11/04/09 updated 11/06/09.
Brakes all 35 →
When I first bought my 1998 Chevrolet Lumina, all of the brake lights were working properly. However, a few weeks later I was driving and a man told me that my brake lights were out. The top brake light has always worked, but the two side lights and the reverse lights do not work. This has been an ongoing problem ever since I noticed it. We have tired the following: switching the light bulbs, changing the fuses, and getting a professional work done. However, nothing works. The new fuse makes the lights work for less than a day if I'm lucky, but then the fuse blows; and the experts have no idea what is wrong. I live in milwaukee, wi, and have seen over ten cars with the exact same problem! I have gotten pulled over and ticketed 3 times now, and have had to pay over $100 in fines, and at least $300 at the auto shop, just for the brake light problem. …
I purchased my vehicle used and it still had 1000 mile warranty from the dealer. When I got the car there was a problem with the fuel pump so they replaced it. Before I even got out of the parking lot the (vibration shudder hose) went bad. Or at least that is what the guy at the service area told me the name was. They have replaced that. And for almost two years now I have been fighting with them that the power steering has been whining. Also the brakes do not stop to well in the rain. I travel a lot and we go through brakes like water. We also had the ac compressor go out last year during the summer. The car was only 4 years old. We keep our car up very well. I do not understand all these problems. I know this May not seem like big problems but when I keep my car up and have been fighting with the dealer due to whining this is frustrating.
1998 Chevrolet Lumina engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 27 / 21 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Chevrolet Lumina a good car?
Based on 223 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Lumina rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Lumina at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Chevrolet Lumina?
The steering — 56 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about rack and pinion. Next are the engine & cooling (43) and brakes (35).
How many recalls does the 1998 Chevrolet Lumina have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1998 Chevrolet Lumina, the most recent from October 26, 2015 (manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Lumina?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2001, 2000 and 1999. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995, 1997 and 1996. See the full Chevrolet Lumina years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Chevrolet Lumina problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 97,000 miles; 14% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.