Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Chevrolet Lumina owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Lumina. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking oil. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the valve cover gasket failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 102,000. Updated 08/16/16 updated 08/17/16
Tl contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Lumina. While driving 25 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming out of the vents in the passenger compartment. She stopped the vehicle, opened the hood, and noticed flames coming from the engine. The fire occurred without warning. The fire department was called and they extinguished the fire and filed a report. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. There were no injuries. The failure mileage was 180,375.
My starter recently went on my 1999 Chevrolet, Lumina, upon repair it was found the failure was due to a short created by a seal failure in my engine. The antifreeze is leaking out my engine block from the manifold/seal and onto my starter. This was saidd to be due to the plastic seal used on the aluminum engine. It is said to not be "chemically compatible" causing "inevitable warping of the seal". The cost for repair is be $600 just for a new seal. But at 54,000 miles they suggest to due the standard maintainance while the engine is out like tune up, transmission flush, etc. Looking at a cost of $950. This has been told to me by several mechanics to be a "manufactures defect" but it has been overlooked due to the overwhelming numbers of Lumina's that have beeen sold. …
I have a 1999 Chevy Lumina purchase new in 1999. The intake gasket has ben serviced on 3/14/03 at $216, on 12/15/03 car smoking and fluid leaking again and this was $737. Now I have been faced with the same problems. For several weeks I was adding coolant on a weekly basis until it started to be every 2-3 days. Then the car started smoking and I panic and took it to the nearest shop on my way to work. The manager told me that it was a intake gasket manifold problem. When they were done it had cost me $763 dollars. I was told that there were other vehicles in their shop with similar problems. However, after leaving that same day, the car begun hesitating when accelerating as though it was not getting any gas. That made no since because I had 3/4 of a tank of gas. …
I began having problems with my car overheating. I changed the thermostat and all the radiator hoses in order to fix the problem. Thinking that this corrected the problem because my mechanic could not find a leak I continued to drive the car. It was not until I had to start using the heater in oct 09 when the problem recurred. I then used radiator flush and cleaner and still my mechanic was unable to find the leak. I was having to put antifreeze in the car several times in order to make it to work (usually a 15 min drive). One cold morning I noticed the car was smoking from under the hood and was able to make it to the mechanic shop. It was at this time that he showed me the leak at the intake manifold. He was able to fix the problem, but informed me that this is a recurring problem with this car. The fix is only temporary. …
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. I contacted the closest dealer robbins Chevrolet and who told me to call GM because the car had already caught on fire. I proceeded to contact GM where I received claim number 7[phone] and was then told it would take 7 to 10 business days before they could get back to me and let me know if they would even pay for serving or even authorize a dealer to check the vehicle for cause. …
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.
Dt*: the contact stated the passenger compartment intermittently fills with fumes after the engine has been running for 30 minutes. The vehicle was taken to the service dealer on three occasions, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem because the fumes were never present at the time of inspection. During the last inspection the dealer determined a plastic grocery bag was trapped over the catalytic converter. The bag was almost completely disintegrated from the heat of the converter. The dealer determined this could be a possible cause of the fumes and the bag was removed. Apparently this was not the cause of the problem as the fumes returned again yesterday, but the vehicle was not returned to the dealer for inspection while the fumes were present.
Related recalls
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.
Engine complaints in other Lumina years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1999 Chevrolet Lumina?
NHTSA has 45 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1999 Chevrolet Lumina, 44% of the model year's 103 complaints. The component named most often is exhaust system › manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Chevrolet Lumina engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-701 (manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe, Oct 26, 2015); NHTSA recall 09V-116 (engine and engine cooling, Apr 8, 2009). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Chevrolet Lumina engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 63,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.