NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
103 reports52,916 miles · Apr 4, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
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…
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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
71,000 miles · Jan 6, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK. THE SEAM WHERE THE TOP OF THE TANK AND THE BOTTOM COME TOGETHER ARE RUSTED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE A LOT OF GASOLINE. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL TANK REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10106909
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
87,000 miles · Jun 23, 2004
Visibility
THE HEATING SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE ANTIFREEZE. *AK *SC
NHTSA ODI #10072188
50,150 miles · Jun 14, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
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…
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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
60,000 miles · Mar 1, 2004
Power Train
VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK UNTIL IT HAD WARMS UP. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10061058
Official recalls
2Oct 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
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: 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
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: 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.
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 ↗