Most common 1999 Chevrolet Lumina problems
Share of the 103 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 →
1999 Chevrolet Lumina recalls (2)
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1999 Chevrolet Lumina:
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 1999 Chevrolet Lumina owners say
Engine & cooling all 45 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Lumina. The contact stated that the vehicle was no longer operable. The vehicle was inspected by a technician where it was diagnosed that the failure was due to the head gaskets leaking water into the pistons. The head gaskets needed to be replaced. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Lumina. The contact stated that oil was leaking on the exhaust manifold and a burning odor was present. The contact received notification of nhsta campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Brakes
Concern: 1999 low mileage Chevrolet Lumina. Problems with the ABS and traction control systems. Corrosion or defective wheel sensors can cause total loss of braking at slow speeds. My customer explained that his ABS light was on for several months. He had driven threw his fence after turning into his driveway. He mentioned that he would lose all braking if the traction control and ABS light came on at the same time, the ABS and traction control unit was actuating. It was my understanding that if the ABS light was on in all vehicles the ABS would drop out of the braking system rendering the vehicle with conventional brakes. I guess this is not true with some late model gms. I have learned that diagnosing intermittent wheel sensors and wiring is a daunting task. The vehicle we worked on had a defective right front wheel sensor. …
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. How many other owners have reported problems similar to these?
Electrical system
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.
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. The car is still parked in my yard. I decided to report this because this seems to be the same thing that is happening to the other GM cars but my model is not part of the recall. I know that there are many 1999 luminas still being driven and you need to know that this has happened.
1999 Chevrolet Lumina engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Chevrolet Lumina a good car?
Based on 103 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Lumina rates better than average: 62% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Lumina at the same age. It is one of the best Lumina years by this measure. 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 1999 Chevrolet Lumina?
The engine & cooling — 45 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year, most often about exhaust system › manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe. Next are the brakes (19) and electrical system (8).
How many recalls does the 1999 Chevrolet Lumina have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1999 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 1999 Chevrolet Lumina problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 63,000 miles; 27% 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.