Page 5 of 5 · complaints 201–245 of 245

1996 Chevrolet Lumina complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed May 13, 1997IL

ENGINE NOISE.

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Apr 28, 1997IN

BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Apr 28, 1997CA

POWER WINDOW CONTROL FAILED.

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Pump
Filed Apr 10, 1997CA

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED.

Vehicle Speed Control › Cables
Filed Apr 9, 1997IA

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT (45) MPH THE ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE AND ALL POWER IN VEHICLE BECAME LOST. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STEER VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS REPLACED BY DEALER. *AK

Air Bags5 injured
Filed Apr 1, 1997MA

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG BROKE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD, INSTRUMENT PANEL AND INJURED 5 PEOPLE.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Mar 20, 1997CA

WHEN MAKING SUDDEN OR NORMAL STOP CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES ARE BURNING, CAUSING A VERY BAD ODOR AND EXCESSIVE FRONT BRAKE WEAR. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Mar 20, 1997CA

DESIGN OF VEHICLE WITH AIR BAG IS NOT CONDUCIVE FOR DRIVERS 5.0 FEET TALL.

Wheels
Filed Mar 17, 1997TN

AFTER DRIVING THROUGH A RAIN STORM AND HAVING VEHICLE PARKED OVERNIGHT THE WHEELS FROZE. VEHICLE HAD TO SIT UNTIL THE TEMPERATURE MODERATED. *AK

SeatsCrash
Filed Mar 17, 1997TX

VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM REAR AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX SEAT BUT THE SEAT STILL FALLS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. SO THE DEALER REALLY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Filed Feb 25, 1997CA

COMPUTER FAILURE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Feb 21, 1997CA

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FAILED

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Feb 12, 1997CA

FRONT BRAKES DEFECTIVE.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 27, 1997CT

WHEN THE SUN SHINES THE ANGLE OF THE WINDSHIELD REFLECTS THE DASHBOARD MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE DETAIL THROUGH THE GLASS, DUE TO DESIGN.

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Jan 22, 1997NE

RECALL WORK ON SHOULDER BELTS NOT DONE DUE TO PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE.

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Jan 22, 1997VA

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED AFTER COLLISION, CONSUMER TRAPPED INSIDE.

Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Filed Dec 30, 1996MA

FOUR STUDS/NUTS ON DRIVERS FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF, CAUSING WHEEL TO COME OFF/LOSS OF CONTROL.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch1 injured
Filed Dec 17, 1996TX

SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE LEFT TURN, VEHICLE HIT DRIVER ON FRONT RIGHT SIDE, DOOR FLEW OPEN AND SLAMMED SHUT, CATCHING DRIVVER'S FINGERS AND CUTTING OFF THREE FINGERS. THINKS THE LATCH CAME LOOSE. *AK

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Dec 12, 1996PA

ALTERNATOR FAILURE. *AK

Steering › Linkages › Rod › Relay › Connecting
Filed Dec 4, 1996MO

WHEN PUT THE CHILD SAFETY SEA TIN, IT DID NOT FIT BECAUSE THE SEAT BELTS IN THE REAR/MIDDLE POSITION ARE DESIGNRD TOO FAR DOWN ON THE SEAT. *AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 4, 1996SC

OVERHEATING OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND RADIO DIALS.

Electrical System › Horn
Filed Dec 2, 1996NY

HORN COMMUNICATION SYSTEM IS ASSEMBLED INCORRECTLY, CAUSING THE HORN NOT TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY, LOSS OF SOUND. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN THE WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN AFTER A CAR WASH OR RAIN THE WATER COMES DOWN FREELY ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. DEALER ADVISED THAT THE HORN IS N THE PROXIMITY OF THE AIR BAG WHICH KEEPS IT FROM SOUNDING AND THAT WAS THE WAY VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT.*JB

Electrical System › Horn
Filed Nov 12, 1996CO

EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ACTIVATE THE HORN/ WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A COLLISION BECAUSE DRIVER COULD NOT LOCATE THE HORN. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Nov 7, 1996SC

EXPRESSES A DESIRE THAT A SOLUTION SHOULD BE FOUND TO MAKING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS SAFE FOR SMALL WOMEN AND CHILDREN. *AK

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core
Filed Oct 30, 1996FL

UPON PURCHASING VEHICLE, OWNER WASN'T AWARE THAT REAR WINDOW HAS NO SYSTEM TO DEFROST AND WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. OWNER HAS REPEATED DIFFICULTY WITH CLEARING FOG. *AK *SLC

Air Bags › Frontal1 injured
Filed Oct 29, 1996NJ

WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY REASON.*AK CONSUMER STATED HE TRAVELED ABOUT 300- 400 FEET WHEN PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, THERE WAS SOME FLOODING ON THE INTERIOR OF FLOOR. DEEALER NOT WILLING TO HELP CONSUMER*JB

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Sep 24, 1996FL

TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING AFTER DRIVING THROUGH WATER.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Sep 11, 1996NY

COMPUTER/BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THREE WARNING LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH, AS WELL AS AN ACCIDENT.

Wheels
Filed Sep 3, 1996MI

FAILURE OF THE FRONT CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS, WHEN DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Aug 7, 1996OH

IN WET AND DRY WEATHER THE BRAKES DON'T STOP CAR, IT SLOWS IT DOWN . *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE GLIDES TO A STOP. STARTER MAKES STRANGE NOISE. MOUNTING BOLT MISSING FROM RADIO CAUSING RATTLING NOISE. DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY WORKS IMPROPERLY. WINDOW STICKING, DEALER ADJUSTED UPPER DOOR AND WINDOW MOLDINGS ALONG TRACK. *SLC

Electrical System › Horn
Filed Jul 16, 1996NV

HORN INOPERATIVE.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 8, 1996NY

AFTER DRIVING AT HWY SPEED FOR SEVERAL MILES THEN EXITING, AUTO-TRANS W/OVERDRIVE PERFORMS ERRATICALLY, SLUGGISH. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 25, 1996NY

TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *SD

Service Brakes, Air › Disc › Pads
Filed Jun 11, 1996WA

FAILURE ON THE BRAKE SHOES AND PADS OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE BRAKES FAILED. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Jun 7, 1996LA

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH TWISTED SEAT BELTS, IN FRONT SEATS ONLY. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Head Restraint
Filed Jun 6, 199600

HEAD RESTRAINTS TOO LOW TO PROVIDE PROPER SUPPORT IN CASE OF ACCIDENT.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
Filed May 14, 1996MN

DRIVER KNOCKS TRANSMISSION OUT OF DRIVE WHEN HE BRAKES DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed May 13, 1996CA

EXPERIENCING NOISE, BURNING SMELL AND BRAKE FLUID LEAK; CAUSES JERKING/LOCKING FEELING ON OCCASION. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 13, 1996MI

VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 30 MILES PER HOUR DUE TO TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING UP WHEN IN OVERDRIVE. *DSH

Air Bags › Frontal1 injured
Filed Apr 4, 1996PA

AIR BAGS, THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED (NOTE THE CONSUMER WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT). *AK

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Mar 19, 1996TX

WHILE DRIVING, PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT INCIDENT, COVER TO AIR BAG HIT WINDSHIELD AND SUNROOF. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Mar 12, 1996WA

DASHBOARD REFLECTS ON WINDSHIELD DISTORTING VISIBILITY. *SD

Electrical System › Horn
Filed Feb 1, 1996IN

DESIGN/LOCATION OF HORN MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO LOCATE; ALSO, DIFFICULT TO PUSH HORN; SAFETY HAZARD, COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT. TT

Air Bags › Frontal2 injured
Filed Jan 18, 1996FL

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. *SD

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 5, 1996PA

WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHT OR HILL WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, VEHICLE WILL MOVE BACKWARDS. TT

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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