Check a VIN

Chevrolet Lumina knocking problems

23 of the 2,945 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Lumina describe engine knocking or ticking, most of them for the 1996 model year.

owner complaints
23
worst model year
1996
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2001
    2
  • 2000
    1
  • 1998
    5
  • 1997
    1
  • 1996
    6
  • 1995
    4
  • 1993
    2
  • 1990
    2

What owners say

Filed Mar 23, 2016 · Body, Electrical · 211,591 miles · MO

Tl* the contact owns a 1990 chevrolet lumina. The contact stated that the floor panels on the front driver and passenger sides were exposed. Also, the front passenger side door failed to open on from outside and inside the vehicle. The contact had to apply force to get the front passenger side door to open and close. The contact also indicated that all of the seat belts failed to work except the rear driver side seat belt. Additionally, the vehicle stalled more than once and the steering wheel was extremely tight upon making a turn. The vehicle was unable to be safely driven and a knocking noise was heard. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 91v005000 (seat belts) and 90v054000 (seat belts). An independent dealer was notified of the failures and indicated that the vehicle needed to be inspected, but did not confirm that an inspection was completed before selling the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 211,591.

Filed Jul 22, 2006 · Engine · WI

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.

Filed Apr 27, 2006 · Suspension · 90,000 miles · TX

Right rear roaring sound. Tire wear on inside tread. Tire rotation and 4 wheel alignment required. Evidently caused by driving through pothole in street and knocking rear torsion bars out of alignment on right side. Very cheaply built.

Filed May 4, 2005 · Engine · PA

Contact states: contact had the car for a total of six days and the first three days had a head gasket replaced. Now the car is in the shop again, and they do not know what is wrong with the vehicle. It is running, and making a knocking noise from the engine. Dealer told contact to put motor honey in the vehicle to quite down the engine, and he refused to put the motor honey in the engine.

Filed Sep 2, 2004 · Locks, Suspension · VA

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.

Filed Jun 24, 2004 · Suspension · OH

While driving consumer heard a knocking noise coming from the front end. Dealership inform edthe consumer that the problem pertained to the front right ball joint failure, and the problem was not resolved.

Filed Jun 22, 2004 · Suspension · 50,000 miles · OH

There was a knocking sound coming from the front end when the car was moving slowly or turning. Super lube replaced the lower right ball joint because it had cracked. There was a recall involving this part on some lumina's, but when I contacted chevrolet and the dealer, both claimed there was no recall.

Filed Apr 1, 2003 · Engine · 25,000 miles · NY

There was a knocking noise in the engine. The dealership stated it was caused by a pin going into first the cylinder, and it can go out at anytime. The dealership will either replace the part or the entire engine. There was a tsb 030601002 for this problem.

Filed Jul 2, 2002 · Suspension · MO

There is a constant knocking in front end when driving. Dealer replaced the front struts, did not remedy problem.

Filed Oct 9, 2001 · Suspension · MA

Whenever driving on uneven pavement or on highway there is a knocking sound coming from vehicle. Consumer took vehicle to dealer, and they said that ball joints were severely damaged. Please provide any further information.

Related recalls

Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipeReported October 26, 2015 · 1,003,556 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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 engine’s 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.

Recall number 15V701000 · Recall details

Engine and engine coolingReported April 8, 2009 · 1,497,516 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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 engine’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine’s 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.

Recall number 09V116000 · Recall details

Questions about the Chevrolet Lumina knocking

Which Chevrolet Lumina years have engine knocking or ticking problems?

The model years with the most reports are 1996 (6 complaints), 1998 (5 complaints) and 1995 (4 complaints).

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used Chevrolet Lumina?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history