1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA Recalls, Complaints & Safety

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A RECURRING FAILURE WITHIN THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WHICH WOULD SUDDENLY STOP FUNCTIONING, CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO STOP WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES AND WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 308,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHO REPLACED THE ENGINE EGR VALVES. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AND REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS CLEANED, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO A LOUD SQUEAKY NOISE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW MECHANISM WAS INOPERATIVE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000. UPDATED 04/24/09. *LJ THE EGR VALVES WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/28/09.*JB

IN AUGUST 2008 I PURCHASED A CLEAN WHITE 1996 CHEVY LUMINA WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON THE DASH. IT SEEMED TO BE RUNNING PRETTY WELL AT FIRST BUT I NOTICED THE CAR HAD A LITTLE SKIP EVERY NOW AND THEN IN DEEP CURVES. THEN ON NOVEMBER 1, 2008 THE FRONT LEFT AXLE BROKE A LOOSE FROM THE MAIN PORT AS I WAS LEAVING MY YARD WHICH WAS STRANGE AND UNCOMMON. ON NOVEMBER 8, 2008 A LICENSED MECHANIC WAS HIRED AND FIXED THE BROKEN AXLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. AFTER THE REPAIR THE CAR WAS TEST DRIVEN AND SEEMED TO BE RUNNING AS GOOD AS NEW. LATER ON THAT NIGHT WHILE MY SON WAS GOING THROUGH A CURVE THE CAR LOSS CONTROL AND STARTED FISHTAILING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CURVE. AS HE WAS STRAIGHTENING THE CAR BACK OUT INTO HIS LANE SOMETHING MALFUNCTIONED IN THE REAR AND SENT THE CAR SPINNING SIDEWAYS AND OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR STOPPED ITSELF AFTER RUNNING IN A DITCH AND SMASHING IT'S SIDE INTO AN EMBANKMENT INJURING HIM AND TOTALING THE CAR. REAR RIGHT SIDE WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF FROM WHERE TRACTION BAR BROKE. *TR

Crash 1 injured

I LOVE MY CAR BUT THE ENGINE HAS BEEN GOING OUT FOR SOME TIME NOW AND THE PERSON WHOM I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM HE KNEW OF THIS SITUATION AND HE DIDN'T TELL ME. THIS CAR IS MY FIRST CAR AND MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION SO CAN YOU ALL PLEASE HELP ME. *TR

OIL LEAK 1996 3.4 DOHC CHEVY LUMINA I DID MY RESEARCH THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE CARS THEN ITS COSTS A PRETTY GOOD PENNY TO FIX BY THE DEALERSHIP LIKE $2000. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND CAME UP TO A INTERSECTION WHERE I HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY. THE OTHER PERSON HAD A STOP SIGN. THIS PERSON THOUGHT THAT I HAD A STOP SIGN ALSO SO SHE PROCEEDED INTO THE INTERSECTION AND I SMASHED INTO HER MAKING HER TRUCK FLY ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND FLIPPING OVER. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND BECAUSE OF THAT I FEEL THAT I WAS INJURED MORE THAN IF MY AIRBAG WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

Crash 2 injured

PURCHASED 1996 CHEVY LUMINA W/3.1 LITER ENGINE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND CURRENTLY HAS 115,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE CAMSHAFT HAS BROKEN. WHY WOULD A VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM? IT SEEMS AN EXTREME PROBLEM FOR A WELL-CARED FOR VEHICLE. THIS WAS A FORMER POLICE VEHICLE (FIRST 96,000 MILES). MY SON'S GIRLFRIEND ALSO OWNS A LUMINA (1999, NO VIN AVAILABLE) AND SHE TOO HAS HAD THE CAMSHAFT REPLACED IN HER VEHICLE AT 170,000. *TR

EXTERIOR PAINT , PEELING , FLAKING , RUSTING . I REALIZE THIS CAR IS NOW 11 YEARS OLD , BUT THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY ABOUT 5 YEARS OLD . THE PAINT HAS PEELED OFF IN LARGE PATCHES IN MANY AREAS OF THE CAR , REVEALING THE DULL GRAY PRIMER . *JB

BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T ALWAYS WORK ON 1996 LUMINA DUE TO FAULTY TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, I'VE NOTICE THIS ON SEVERAL OTHER 1995 -2001 LUMINAS AS WELL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HAS THREE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE LOWER TWO LIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. WHEN HE CHANGED THE BULBS, THEY ILLUMINATED BRIEFLY AND THEN QUICKLY BURNED OUT AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 135,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

THE PAINT JOB IS HORRIBLE. THE PAINT IS COMPLETELY PEELING OFF OF MY LUMINA. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE'S INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. THE NON SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE TOP OF THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER.

I TURNED ON MY CAR AND PUT IT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. I HAD FOUR FRIENDS IN THE CAR. I WAITED FOR MY FRIENDS TO GET SITUATED IN THE CAR AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THE CAR DID NOT ROLL BACK AS IT NORMALLY DID WHEN IN GEAR. SUDDENLY, THE CAR LURCHED BACKWARD AND STARTING ACCELERATING TOWARD A CONCRETE WALL THAT WAS ABOUT 45 FEET BEHIND US. I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. I QUICKLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO TRIED TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. NOTHING HAPPENED, SO I QUICKLY TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, JUST IN CASE I HAD ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TOWARDS THE WALL. I REMEMBER PICKING UP BOTH MY FEET JUST TO MAKE SURE I WAS NOT TOUCHING THE PEDALS. WE HIT THE WALL GOING ABOUT 25-30 MPH. FOUR OF US WERE FINE, BUT MY FRIEND IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BROKE HER CHEEKBONE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYONE WILLING TO INSPECT THE CAR TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CAR WAS SALVAGED FOR PARTS. *JB

Crash 1 injured

1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA, BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING EXCEPT FOR IN THE REAR WINDOW. IF THAT BULB WERE TO BURN OUT, I WOULD HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS AT ALL. I HAVE DISCOVERED, AND I AM SURE, THAT YOU ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN CORRECTED? *JB

THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AROUND 100K MILES AND GETTING WORSE EVER SINCE. THE PISTON PIN IS GOING BAD. I FOUND OUT THAT GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BY A CERTIFIED GM TECHNICIAN. HE TOLD ME THAT ALL 3.1L ENGINES HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND GM WONT FIX IT. I FEEL SHAFTED AND WILL NEVER BY A GM PRODUCT AGAIN. *NM

THE CHEVROLET LUMINA, 1996; POOR PAINT JOB. THE PAINT LASTS APPROXIMATELY FOUR (4) YEARS AND THEN IT STARTS TO CHIP AND PEEL OFF. *NM

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING ON A HIGHWAY, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HEAD GASKET BLEW, MIXING THE OIL WITH THE WATER, CAUSING THE MOTOR TO NEED REPLACING. I HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED AT A COST OF $2680.07. WE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 6 YEARS 50 THOUSAND MILES, THE MOTOR BLEW AT 6.5 YEARS AND 52,091 MILES. NOTHING WAS DONE TO HELP ME THE CONSUMER. I CALLED THE DEALER( BURTNESS CHEVY,303 E.BELOIT ST. ORFORDVILLE,WI.53576), AND THEY SAID IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT TRADING IN THE CAR BEFORE THE WARRANTY WAS UP. THEN I CALLED GM(CENTRAL OFFICE P.O.BOX 33170, DETROIT, MI.48232-5170)AND THEY SAID A WARRANTY IS A WARRANTY. I JUST NOW CAME ACROSS YOUR WEB SIGHT, AND I FEEL I NEED TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HOPE THEY CAN COME UP WITH A BETTER REASON IN THE FUTURE FOR OTHER CONSUMERS. THANKS YOU, CHERYL PHILLIPS. *JB

1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT DAMAGING THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER AND DOOR (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE FRAME CAME OUT AROUND THE BOLTS. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FALL ONTO THE GROUND AND THE STEERING TO PULL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY HAVE NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS SUPPOSE TO SEND OUT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE.*AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM

TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IN CHEVROLET LUMINA CAUSING BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT WORK. (EXCEPT 3RD BRAKE LIGHT) FROM MY RESEARCH, THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE. FOR WHATEVER REASON THE MAIN BRAKE LIGHTS GO THROUGH THAT SWITCH. THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH IS CAUSING THEM NOT TO WORK. THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT IS NOT AFFECTED BECAUSE IT'S NOT WIRED THROUGH THAT SWITCH. I KNOW SWITCHES GO BAD, BUT THIS SWITCH HAS WENT BAD ON A LOT OF VEHICLES CAUSING NO MAIN BRAKE LIGHTS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE FRAYED. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. UPON INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CABLE WAS FRAYED AND UNRAVELING. THE MECHANIC WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER SEVERAL TIMES. THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN WAITING THREE WEEKS FOR THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PART. CURRENTLY, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT IS POSSIBLE TO OPEN IT FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, BUT WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. SHE IS AFRAID THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AND SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN IT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAME OPEN WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND PRIOR TO THE SLIDING DOOR FALLING OFF ITS HINGES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE MECHANIC TOLD HER HE THOUGHT THE WINDSHIELD/WIPER MOTOR WAS BAD.*AK UPDATED 12/7/2005. *NM

THE INTAKE GASKET ROTTED. THEREFORE, ANTIFREEZE LEAKED INTO THE OIL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE. THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *NM

ON 7/20/03 THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED IN MY 1996 CHEVROLET. LUMINA. UPON STARTING THE CAR, WHILE STILL IN PARK, THE GAS PEDAL PULLED TO THE FLOORBOARD & THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD OUT OF CONTROL. THE BRAKES FAILED. WHILE DODGING PEOPLE, HOMES, AND VEHICLES, I TRIED STOPPING THE CAR BY TURNING OFF THE IGNITION TO CUT POWER TO THE MOTOR BUT THIS ONLY OPENED THE THROTTLE. THE LAST THING I REMEMBER WAS A LOUD WHINE, SCREAMING & BLACKING OUT. I AWOKE FROM A CONCUSSION CRASHED INTO A TREE WITH FACIAL, BRAIN, AND SPINAL INJURIES. GM INVESTIGATED AND STATED THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT RELEASE THE INVESTIGATION REPORT TO ME. I CANNOT FIND AN ATTORNEY TO SUE THEM. THIS WAS NOT DUE TO DRIVER ERROR. THE CAR WAS IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER PRIOR TO THE BATTERY BEING CHANGED CORRECTLY. THE 2004 OLDS ALERO WAS RECALLED FOR A STICKING ACCELERATOR. THE MPH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MALFUNCTION OF THE CAR, 0 (ZERO); WHEN THE CAR PLOWED INTO THE TREE SPLATTERING ME INTO THE WINDSHIELD HEAD FIRST LIKE A BUG, 60+ ESTIMATED BY WITNESSES. INSURANCE TOTALED THE CAR & SOLD TO SALVAGE EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE HOLDING IT FOR ME WHILE UNDERGOING EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT. I TRACKED DOWN THE SALVAGE YARD FOR GM AND AN INVESTIGATOR EXAMINED THE CAR BUT WILL NOT TELL ME WHAT HE FOUND OUT. *JB

Crash 1 injured

ON 7/20/03 THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED IN MY 1996 CHEVROLET. LUMINA. UPON STARTING THE CAR, WHILE STILL IN PARK, THE GAS PEDAL PULLED TO THE FLOORBOARD & THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD OUT OF CONTROL. THE BRAKES FAILED. WHILE DODGING PEOPLE, HOMES, AND VEHICLES, I TRIED STOPPING THE CAR BY TURNING OFF THE IGNITION TO CUT POWER TO THE MOTOR BUT THIS ONLY OPENED THE THROTTLE. THE LAST THING I REMEMBER WAS A LOUD WHINE, SCREAMING & BLACKING OUT. I AWOKE FROM A CONCUSSION CRASHED INTO A TREE WITH FACIAL, BRAIN, AND SPINAL INJURIES. GM INVESTIGATED AND STATED THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT RELEASE THE INVESTIGATION REPORT TO ME. I CANNOT FIND AN ATTORNEY TO SUE THEM. THIS WAS NOT DUE TO DRIVER ERROR. THE CAR WAS IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER PRIOR TO THE BATTERY BEING CHANGED CORRECTLY. THE 2004 OLDS ALERO WAS RECALLED FOR A STICKING ACCELERATOR. THE MPH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MALFUNCTION OF THE CAR, 0 (ZERO); WHEN THE CAR PLOWED INTO THE TREE SPLATTERING ME INTO THE WINDSHIELD HEAD FIRST LIKE A BUG, 60+ ESTIMATED BY WITNESSES. INSURANCE TOTALED THE CAR & SOLD TO SALVAGE EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE HOLDING IT FOR ME WHILE UNDERGOING EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT. I TRACKED DOWN THE SALVAGE YARD FOR GM AND AN INVESTIGATOR EXAMINED THE CAR BUT WILL NOT TELL ME WHAT HE FOUND OUT. *JB

Crash 1 injured

DT: HAD A FLAT TIRE, AND THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER HAD DRY ROT, AND SHOULD CHANGE THE TIRES. THEY ARE 70,000 MILES ON THRE TIRES, AND THEY HAVE BEEN USED FOR 3 YEARS AND 28,000 MILES. YOKOHAMA TIRES.

DT: CONSUMER SAYS VEHICLE GETS HOT AND IMMEDIATELY STALLS. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED ENGINE ONCE BEFORE. CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD THE PROBLEM IS THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. VEHICLE IS SERVICED REGULARLY, AND WAS TAKEN IN FOR RECALLS TO THE DEALER. ENGINE IN VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BAD AND IS COSTLY TO REPLACE. *TT

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1996 CHEVY LUMINA. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SOMETIMES THEY WILL WORK AND SOMETIME THEY WILL NOT. SHE HAS ALSO NOTICED THIS ON SEVERAL OTHER LUMINAS. THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT SHE HAS CHANGED THE BULBS ON THE BRAKE LIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES AND SHE STILL NOTICES THIS PROBLEM FROM TIME TO TIME. *JB

DT: THE BRAKES LIGHT ONLY WORKED EVERY NOW AND THEN, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER LUMINAS. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BULBS AND FUSE HAVE BEEN CHECKED. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. *JB

WHILE STARTING UP THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER,THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE VACUUM HOSE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

MY DAUGHTER BROUGHT A USED 1996 LUMINA.SHE DROVE IT ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE IT STARTED ACTING UP. SHE LOST HEAT AND CAR WOULD GO TO OVERHEAT AND STALL. WHEN SHE GOT IT CHECKED SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE INTAKE GASGET WAS SHOT. THIS ALLOWED THE ANTIFREEZE GO INTO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT THE SELLER WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY MORE THAN SHE PAID FOR IT TO REPAIR IT. SO WE ARE VERY DISSAPOINTED WITH THE CAR. I WOULD NEVER BUY ONE AGAIN AS I FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON THINK IN LUMINAS FOR SEVERAL YEARS RUNNING.

CAR SEEMED TO BE OVERHEATING AND RUNNING OUT OF ANTIFREEZE MUCH TOO OFTEN. TOOK IT INTO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME MY ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO MY OIL, AND THAT MY HEAD GASKETS WERE CRACKED AND LEAKING. WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE, OR THE PROBLEM WOULD JUST KEEP OCCURRING. *JB

MY CHEVROLET LUMINA REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICHLE AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. SUBSTANTIAL FRONT END DAMAGE, BUT NO INJURIES.*AK

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WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE BELTWAY VEHICLE'S SECURITY SYSTEM FAILED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST HIM $1400.00 TO REPAIR IT. *AK

AT LOW SPEED THE STEERING LOCKS. IF FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF.

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. *MR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AS WELL. *SC *JB

A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE LOCKS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED ON THEIR OWN. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE DOOR PROBLEM. HOWEVER, MECHANIC REPLACED THE SHOCKS ON BOTH DRIVER 'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH VEHICLE DROVE OVER A PIPE IN THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. PASSENGER'S SIDE SHATTERED THE WINDOW, SENDING GLASS INTO THE VEHICLE. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR BURNS TO THE ARM AND NECK. *AK

Crash 1 injured

WATER LEAKED INTO THE CRANK CASE BECAUSE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DEFECTIVE. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WERE FOUND. *AK

NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR CAUSES MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TO FAIL. THIS CAUSES SAFETY PROBLEMS. A SMALL TRUCK WAS BEHIND ME A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AND SLAMMED HIS BRAKES ON BEHIND ME. HE THEN PULLED NEXT TO ME AND TOLD ME MY TWO REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, BUT THE THIRD (TOP) ONE DOES. ALSO, REAR TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK. RIGHT SIGNAL WORKS MOST OF THE TIME, BUT SWITCH WILL NOT SIGNAL A LEFT TURN. ALL BULBS ARE FINE. IN RESEARCHING JUST IN A COUPLE HOURS, I FOUND ABOUT 40 OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH REPLACEMENT IS THE REPAIR MOST REPORTS CITE AS WORKING. THE REPAIR IS COSTLY, REQUIRING DISASSEMBLY OF STEERING COLUMN.*AK

ON 7/20/03 THE BATTERY WAS GETTING WEAK SO I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY COMPATIBLE WITH THE CAR. ON THE FIRST START WITH THE NEW BATTERY THE CAR BEHAVED NORMALLY. HOWEVER, WHEN I STARTED IT THE SECOND TIME AND WAS BACKING UP A SLIGHT SLOPE OF A DRIVEWAY, THE CAR DIED. I PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK AND RESTARTED THE CAR. WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL WITH MY FOOT, THE GAS PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE CAR RACED FORWARD WITH THE GEAR SHIFT STILL IN PARK. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. I STEERED THE CAR TRYING TO LOCATE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES BUT THEY WERE TOO FAR AWAY FOR ME TO REACH AND STILL MAINTAIN THE RACING CAR. I THOUGHT TURNING OFF THE ENGINE WOULD STOP THE CAR SINCE THE BRAKES HAS FAILED BUT EVEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, IT RACED EVEN FASTER AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW I HAD CRASHED INTO A TREE TOTALLING OUT THE CAR. I CRACKED MY HEAD INTO THE WINDSHIELD BREAKING MY NOSE. LUCKILY, THE VISOR WAS DOWN AND PROTECTED MY FACE. I ALSO SUSTAINED BRUISING AND BACK INJURIES ALONG WITH THE CONCUSSION. ALSO, THE AIR BAG DID NOT ACTIVATE. THANKFULLY, AS I AM SHORT AND IF IT HAD, THEN I WOULD HAVE BEEN DECAPITATED OR KILLED FROM IT. MY INSURANCE ONLY GAVE BLUE BOOK VALUE TO THE CAR AS IT WAS UNREPAIRABLE AND HAD TO BE TOTALLED. I AM WANTING TO SEEK LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER. IS THERE ANY CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM ON THE LUMINA'S? I FEEL IT WAS COMPUTER PROBLEM THAT SHUT DOWN THE CAR MADE IT BEHAVE LIKE IT WAS POSSESS. NO LIGHTS CAME ON INSIDE THE CAR TO INDICATE THERE WAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM OR ANY OTHER PROBLEM. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO PUT IN A BATTERY SO IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE BATTERY. DEBRA K. OLIVER

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