NHTSA Complaint #10341270 — 1999 CHEVROLET LUMINA

WE OWN A 1999 CHEVROLET LUMINA LTZ WITH THE NATURALLY ASPIRATED L36 3.8L V6. THE VEHICLE HAS THE PROBLEM THAT IT LEAKS BOTH OIL AND ENGINE COOLANT INTERNALLY. IT HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT BY PROFESSIONALS AND HAS BEEN PROVEN TRUE. THE PROFESSIONAL DISCOVERED THE ENGINE IS LEAKING ALONG ABOUT THREE SEALS, TWO ON THE FRONT AND ONE ON THE REAR OF THE MOTOR. WE MUST POUR COOLANT INTO THE RESERVOIR ONCE EVERY COUPLE WEEKS OR EVEN SOONER. THE OIL IS BURNED OFF AND USUALLY NEEDS FILLED BY THE TIME IT NEEDS AN OIL CHANGE (ABOUT ONCE EVERY 3000 MILES). ALL SYSTEMS ARE WORKING PROPERLY IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING, ONE CAN SMELL THE FUMES FROM BURNING OIL AND COOLANT. GENERAL MOTORS DID RECALL THIS ENGINE RECENTLY FOR ENGINE FIRES TO ONLY PREVENT THE SPREAD BY REMOVING A SPARK PLUG CHANNEL AND REPLACING TWO SPARK PLUGS. GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS WHAT'S CAUSING THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. GENERAL MOTORS CORP. HAS ALSO PLACED A RECALL FOR THE L67, WHICH IS THE "SUPERCHARGED" VERSION OF THE L36, FOR SIMILAR ISSUES SUCH AS ENGINE SEALS LEAKING. THIS MAKES FOR A VERY AGGRAVATING SITUATION. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT REPAIR OF THIS ISSUE COULD COST AT LEAST $1600. FROM LISTENING TO OTHERS WITH THE SAME MOTOR, THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, SO IT'S NOT JUST OUR VEHICLE. GM MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ACTION TO HELP OWNERS OR COMPLETELY PAY TO REPLACE THEIR MOTOR SEALS. *TR