AI Damage1999 Chevrolet Lumina: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Chevrolet Lumina filed 103 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 103
- involving a crash
- 10
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 40% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 18% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 7% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 5% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 5% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 41 complaints (40% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 19 complaints (18% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 8 complaints (8% of all).
- Air bags: 7 complaints (7% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 7 complaints (7% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.1 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 3 complaints
- 3.8 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 103 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 41 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 19 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
Without warning accelerator pedal got stuck to the floor while driving driving 22 mph, causing the consumer to lose control of the vehicle and hit a light pole. Upon impact, both frontal airbags did not deploy.
Vehicle ran off the road at 50-60 mph as consumer swerved to avoid a animal. Vehicle hit the ditch, then rolled 2-3 times. Neither airbag deployed. Driver hit his head on the windshield and suffered facial injuries. Vehicle was totalled. Ts
Vehicle accelerated on its own at 35-40 mph, increasing speed to 60 mph. Consumer had to apply brakes hard to stop vehicle. Mechanic stated throttle plate housing needed to be replaced.
During a left front impact both rear doors came open and left rear wheel hub broken off axle no other damage to rear of car.
I went to our garage, entered the lumina, fastened my seat belt, started the car, put my foot on the brake, and put it in reverse. The engine roared and the car took off in reverse while my foot was still on the brake.
This was a rental car from almo rental center. Consumer was traveling about 55mph on highway and a drunken driver hit him from behind. Vehicle went into a slid off the side off an enbankment. Vehicle was rolling in air and landed into a lava field. One of passenger's sustained head injuries from roof.
In the second the car finally stalled out after bucking and roaring as I literally stood on the brake while pulling on the steering wheel for more pressure. This was after backing almost the length of a 200 foot driveway which ends in a busy street.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,497 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Lumina has 198 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 103, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Chevrolet Lumina?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, service brakes, electrical system. Total complaints: 103. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: overheating, coolant loss (8%), smoke, burning smell, fire (6%), A/C or heater (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 Chevrolet Lumina?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1999 Chevrolet Lumina from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1999 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.