Complaints
276
Crashes
12
Fires
6
Injuries
17
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1
Worst 1998 Chevrolet Lumina Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#120 complaints
Steering Defects
Avg mileage:68,743 mi
#220 complaints
Steering:Rack And Pinion
Avg mileage:102,641 mi
#313 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Chevrolet Lumina.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Defects | 20 | — | — | 68,743 mi | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 20 | — | — | 102,641 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 13 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 11 | — | 1 | 91,000 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 11 | — | — | 65,744 mi | |
| Airbags | 10 | 1 | — | 70,003 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 10 | — | 2 | 363,957 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 | — | — | 84,740 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 9 | 2 | — | 145,150 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 6 | — | 1 | 105,299 mi | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 6 | — | — | 35,000 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 | 4 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 5 | — | — | 66,632 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Horn | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 3 | — | — | — |
Steering Defects
20
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
68,743
Steering:Rack And Pinion
20
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
102,641
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
13
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
91,000
Automatic Transmission
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
65,744
Airbags
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
70,003
Engine Problems
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
363,957
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
84,740
Unintended Acceleration
9
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
145,150
Engine & Cooling
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
105,299
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
35,000
Air Bags:Frontal
5
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
66,632
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Horn
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Chevrolet Lumina. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~1,003,556 vehicles.
15V701000Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
~1,003,556 affectedGeneral 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.
Other Chevrolet Lumina Years
1998 Chevrolet Lumina — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Chevrolet Lumina reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 1998 Chevrolet Lumina has 276 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 20 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Lumina?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (20 complaints, avg 68,743 mi); Steering:Rack And Pinion (20 complaints, avg 102,641 mi); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (13 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Chevrolet Lumina?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 108,850 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Chevrolet Lumina?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Lumina include 12 crash-related reports, 6 fire reports, 17 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Chevrolet Lumina have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,003,556 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 1998 Chevrolet Lumina?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Lumina reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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