Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports4 fire reports8 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

41 reports

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52,916 miles · Apr 4, 2005

Engine And Engine Cooling

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ONLY BY OBSERVING A SLIGHT BUT LESSER COOLANT LEVEL IN THE OVERFLOW JUG OF MY 1999 LUMINA L/S PASSENGER CAR, WERE WE MADE AWARE OF THIS COSTLY DEFECT AT SUCH AN EARLY STAGE. A SUBSEQUENT AND CLOSER LOOK AT THE APPLICABLE AREAS, RESULTED IN CONFIRMATION OF A LEAK AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. AT A COST OF $850.00 TO REPLACE GASKETS AND VITAL FLUIDS, I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO ENCOUNTER SUCH A HEAVY DUTY REPAIR FOR THIS LOW MILEAGE AND VIGILANTLY LOOKED AFTER CHEVY PRODUCT. FORTUNATELY FOR ME THE DISCOVERY WAS MADE PRIOR TO AN ENGINE OVERHEAT, WHICH WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE RESULTED IN MORE SEVER AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. MUCH THANKS TO MY HUSBAND FOR HIS METICULOUS CARE OF OUR CHEVY VEHICLES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10116336

12,500 miles · Jan 18, 2005

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING COOLANT OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO HAVE ANY HEAT, IT ALSO CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT. OWNER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER. *JB...COST OF INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT $689.15 PLUS TAX. CUSTOMER DECLINED REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10107421

63,200 miles · Dec 1, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

(1) OUR '99 LUMINA HAD AN INTAKE GASKET FAILURE AND A WATER PUMP FAILURE WHICH I WAS TOLD IS DUE TO A DESIGN FAILURE OF THE GASKET (2) THANKFULLY WE FOUND THE PROBLEM SOON AND THE ENGINE WASN'T EFFECTED (3) THE SHOP REPLACED THE INTAKE GASKET SET, WATER PUMP, REPLACED COOLANT AND SEALS AT A COST OF $795.13. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10100879

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLANT LEAKING OUT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR, AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKETS NEEDED REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10101319

93,224 miles · Sep 14, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT DUE TO BAD ANTIFREEZE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10088017

50,150 miles · Jun 14, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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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 FIND THIS UNEXCEPTABLE AS A BUYER WHO TRUSTED GM AND CHEVEROLET CONSUMER REPORTS AND ITS OVERALL REPUTATION OF QUALITY. NOW I FEEL LIKE I AM DRIVING A TIME BOMB WHICH CAN'T BE SOLD WITHOUT MY LOSS DUE TO ITS FAULTY SEAL AND THE REQUIRED REPAIR. I HAD TO REPLACE MY BATTERY FIRST BECAUSE I WAS LOOSING POWER ($65) AND THEN HAD TO TRY PROCESS OF ELIMINATION BY THE SUGGESTION OF AUTO ZONE AND THEIR COMPUTER READ OUT. MY CAR WAS STILL NOT STARTING SO THEN AFTER HAVING MY CAR TOWED, DUE TO THE SHORT IN THE STARTE. I HAD TO HAVE MY STARTER REPLACED DUE TO THE LEAK FROM MY ENGINE AND THE COST THEN (FOR A LIFETIME WARRANTY) WAS $182 PLUS THE ANTIFREEZE FLUSH I PAID FOR TO TRY AND STOP THE LEAK. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. HOW CAN SUCH A DEFECT BE ACCEPTED BY SUCH A PROMINENT MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10075362

62,840 miles · Jun 8, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

MANIFOLD LEAK DEVELOPED AT 62,840. MILES, RESULTING IN LOSS OF COOLANT AND A $500. REPAIR BILL. NOW I SEE FROM THIS SITE THAT MANY, MANY OTHERS HAVE SAME PROBLEMS WITH GM 3.1 LITER V6 ENGINES! N.A.H.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10074986

28,000 miles · Feb 9, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

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 ODI #10056884

70,000 miles · Jan 26, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED...GASKETS LEAKING. COOLANT WONT STAY IN ENGINE. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND MANY 1999 LUMINAS (3.1 V-6 ARE HAVING THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM) APPROXIMATELY COST OF REPAIRS $1,000.00 GM IS DEFINITELY AWARE OF THIS HUGE PROBLEM. A TOTAL RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM MUST BE MADE IMMEDIATELY. …

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NHTSA ODI #10054925

55,000 miles · Jan 24, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

LEAKING GASKET ON 1999 CHEVROLET LUMINA WITH ABOUT 55000 MILES. INTERNET LISTS MANY CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT GM USES BAD GASKET MATERIAL. IT COSTS OWNER $650 TO REPAIR. GM SHOULD BEAR THE COST BECAUSE THEY USED BAD GASKETS. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10054823

Official recalls

15V701000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe

Oct 26, 2015

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. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

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 engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

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 engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

09V116000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Apr 8, 2009

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. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINES FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINES PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM OR HTTP:WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA02030 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 9, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

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 SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Fuel System, Gasoline