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 1997 record →
STEERING LOCKED-UP MAKING A LEFT TURN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE LAST OF WHICH WHEN MY WIFE AND 3 KIDS WERE IN THE CAR. LOCK-UP EVEN OCCURED TO THE GM SERVICE MAN WHEN HE DROPPED ME OFF AT WORK BEFORE COMPLETING THE REPAIR. GM CLAIMS THAT IT IS A PART THAT MUST HAVE BEEN WORN OUT SINCE THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED DUE TO YEARS. ONLY 36,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE, EVEN THE CAVALIER STEERING RACKS LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART THAT GM NEEDS TO FIX. NLM
THERE WAS GAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN DEFECT, SNOW SAND AND ROAD SALT WAS ALLOWED TO ACCUMULATE ON THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK CAUSING IT TO RUST AND DEGRADE. *YH
AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE LEFT AND ITS HARD TO STEER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WITH NO WARNING AND AT ANY SPEED,. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION. *AK *NLM
STARTED HAVING STIFF LEFT TURNS AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTERED POSITION...STAYED LEFT. NOW IT IS DIFFICULT TO TURN BOTH DIRECTIONS. I'M REPORTING THIS BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE MORE THAN MEERLY THE RACK AND PINION 'WEARING OUT'.*AK
FUEL LINE IS TOO CLOSE TO TRANSMISSION, IF VEHICLE IS HIT FROM RIGHT FENDER, IT WILL CAUSE FUEL LINE TO RUPTURE, RESULTING IN A FIRE.*AK
HAZARD LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. OWNER MADE REPAIRS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED OR BEING DRIVEN, THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE GAS ODOR PRESENT. DEALER SAYS THAT GAS IS SEEPING FROM GAS TANK DUE TO TANK RUSTING. DEALER INSISTS FUEL TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.*AK THE TANK IS RUSTED ALL AROUND THE TANK WHERE THE SEAM IS. *JG
BRAKES MAKE VERY LOUD NOISE WHEN APPLIED, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY BRAKE LINNING BEING COATED OVER. CONSUMER FEELS IF THIS KEEPS HAPPENING, THE VEHICLE CAN LOOSE BRAKE POWER AT ANYTIME.CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *SCC
INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE ENGINE HAD A HOLE WHERE THE DISTRIBUTOR USED TO BE AND THE HOLE WAS CAPPED WITH O? RING AND A PLUG. THE HARDENING OF THE O'RING WAS DUE TO HEAT CAUSEING THE OIL TO LEAK. *YH
THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY LUMINA CRACKED AT THE PLACE WHERE THE TOP ROUND PART OF THE WHEEL MEETS THE SPOKES FROM THE CENTER. THIS CAUSED THE TOP OF THE WHEEL TO BECOME "FLOPPY" AS IT IS NOW ONLY BEING HELD ON BY THE COVERING ON THE WHEEL.*AK
WHILE COASTING AND APPLY GAS, VEHICLE WILL DOWNSHIFT INTO NEUTRAL INSTEAD OF ANOTHER GEAR. DEALER CONTACTED.*JB THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A STICKING TRANSMISSION VALVE. *YH
WHEN CONSUMER PUTS VEHICLE IN DRIVE IT WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK. *JB
VEHICLE HIT A DEER AT 35-40 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. BUMPER WAS CRACKED AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS DESTROYED. DAMAGE WAS $ 450.00. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BOTTOM SECTION ON ALL FOUR DOORS HAS STARTED TO RUST. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. NLM *YH
THE CONSUMER HAS MULTIPLE PROBLEM WITH HER VEHICLE THERE IS COOLIANT LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. NLM
WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH AXLE CAME AWAY FROM TRANSMISSION, CAUSING WHEEL TO COME OFF.*AK
ABOUT FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE ACTUAL SHUT DOWN OF THE CAR, MY DAUGHTER WAS COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL WHEN SHE NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE WAS FLUCTUATING ALL OVER THE PLACE. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE IT CHECKED ASAP, NOT THINKING THAT IT WAS A SEVERE PROBLEM. FOUR DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING ON RIDGE ROAD AT ABOUT 40 MPH, THE CAR SHUT DOWN ELECTRICALLY, NO BRAKES, NO STEERING (POWER) AND FOUGHT TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. A CHEVY DEALER NEARBY RAN DIAGNOSTICS (DOAN CHEVY RIDGE ROAD) AND DETERMINED A FAULTY FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT. MY CONCERN IS I HAD NO AWARENESS OF ANY PROBLEMS ON THIS VEHICLE AND THE WHAT IF SHE WERE ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING 55MPH? I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SITUATION. WHAT CAN BE DONE?*AK
FUEL INJECTORS ARE FAILING; INJECTORS HAVE A CODING THROUGH FUEL SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
VEHICLE HAS A LONG CRANK CYCLE AFTER WARM UP, THESE SYMPTOMS MAY BE INTERMITTENT, CONSUMER HAD COMPUTER UPGRADED, BUT CONDITION STILL EXISTS, DEALER FOUND THE FUEL PRESSURE DROPS AT THE TANK AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING FUEL MODULE/FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND THE FUEL FILTER. *TT
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH ALL STEERING FELL OUT WHEN THE SUB FRAME BROKE COMPLETELY OFF MAIN FRAME. *YD
ON SUNDAY JANUARY 27, 2002 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT TO A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA LS MODEL 4-DOOR SEDAN THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. ABOUT A WEEK AND HALF BEFORE THE ACCIDENT I KNEW I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE STOPPING AND I BROUGHT IT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT HURD BUICK-CHEVROLET-PONTIAC-GMC TRUCKS LOCATED IN JOHNSTON, RI 02919, AND HAD THEM LOOK AT THE BRAKE SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM THAT WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TROUBLE STOPPING AND I HAD TO APPLY A GREAT FORCE ON THE PEDAL AND ALLOW MORE TIMING TO STOP THAN NORMAL. THE AUTO TECHNICIAN SAID NOTHING HE COULD FIND WRONG BUT ADJUSTED THE BRAKES AND CLEANED THEM. A WEEK AND HALF LATER WHILE TRAVELING TO A DRUG STORE I APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE EXCEPT A CONCRETE LIGHT POLE BASE THAT I HIT. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMP, HOOD, AND LIGHTS AND RIGHT FENDER AND THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR IS $3,500.00. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT AND BOTH THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG AND PASSENGER AIRBAG DID NOT DISPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AUTOBODY GARAGE AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR I FELT THE VEHICLE LOST HALF OF ITS BRAKE POWER TO FULLY STOP. I HOPE THIS INCIDENT CAN BE PREVENTED FROM
FOR A LONG TIME, THE HAZARD LIGHTS WILL NOT ENGAGE. ALSO THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT WORK. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE RELATED. WE HAD A "FLASHER SWITCH" REPLACE FOR THE TURN SIGNAL BUT IT DID NOTHING DIFFERENT. *AK
LACK OF ABILITY TO STEER AUTO. *AK CONSUMER STATES POWER STEERING FAILED. *TT
IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY MY MECHANIC,THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM REPORTED IN A SEATTLE AREA NEWSPAPER WITH OTHER GM VEHICALS IN THIS CLASS. I CALLED LEE JOHNSONS AND THE 1-800 TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS WERE ISSUED. NO RECALLS AT THIS TIME. THE NEW PAPER SAID THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED INJURY ACCIDENTS. THE DUST CAP FALLS OF AND CAUSES EXCESSIVE WERE TO THE GEAR BOX. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE HURT. THIS IS TO IMPORTANT OF A PART TO NOT HAVE ATTENTION DRAWN TO IT. I FEEL A RECALL IS NESSARY.*AK
STEERING FAILED TO TURN LEFT, BUT WOULD TURN RIGHT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT BECAME ILLUMINATED. HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP.*AK *SLC
THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR HAS 2 HALF DOLLAR SIZE HOLES IN IT ONE BURNT LOOKING AND THE OTHER RIPPED BOTH ON EVEN SIDES THE DRIVERS SIDE ONE DEPLOYED RIGHT BECAUSE HE HAD TO SHOVE MINE OUT OF MY FACE HIS WENT FLAT AUTOMATICALLY THROWING HIM INTO THE WIND SHIELD AND ALSO HIS SEATBELT BROKE FROM THE PLASTIC PART FROM THE DOOR NOT HELPING THE MATTER ANY. *AK
VEHICLE BOUNCED AND RAN ROUGHLY. ALSO ,HAD LOW IDLE. ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON ,AND VEHICLE STALLED. SEEMED LIKE FUEL WAS NOT GETTING INTO VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE FUEL INJECTOR ON DECEMBER 6, 2001. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT MIGHT BE FUEL INJECTOR.PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DIRECTED WHEN POWER STEERING FAILED, THIS OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS AND MAKING A TURN, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK AND PINION WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *AK *SLC
FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A PHONE POLE AT APPROXIMATELY 15 OR MORE MPH,ESTIMATED DAMAGES WAS $4,700.00. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK
ALTERNATOR FAILED AT 26,302 WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR, CAUSING A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR FAILED IN THE SAME WAY AT 50,461 WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 70 MILES AN HOUR. LOSING YOUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING IS DANGEROUS. BOTH REPAIRS WERE DONE BY CHEVROLET DEALERS. THE ORIGINAL ALTERNATOR WAS AS DEFECTIVE AS THE REPLACEMENT THE DEALER PUT ON.*AK
VEHICLE OVERHEATED. INDEPENDANT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT RADIATOR WAS PLUGGED, AND FLUSHED RADIATOR. ONE WEEK LATER, VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN. CONSUMER CHECKED ANTI FREEZE, IT WAS LOW, SO HE ADDED ANTI FREEZE. NEXT DAY VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND CONSUMER NOTICED WATER IN OIL. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER DETERMINED THAT FACTORY ANTI FREEZE WAS EATING THROUGH T GASKETS, AND CAUSING INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. VEHICLE NEEDS NEW ENGINE.*AK
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKEY BLEW OUT... DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD ALOT OF THE 3.1 ENGINES DOING THIS? RAN ME ALMOST $800.00 TO GET IT FIXED AT DEALER.WANTED TO SEE IF YOU HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS?
THE TIRE LOST IT TREAD AND DID NOT BLOW OUT. THE TIRES HAD LESS THE 10K MILES. THE TREAD SEPERATED IN RATON NEW MEXICO FOR MY DAUGHTER (600 MILES FROM HOME). SHE OBTAIN A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURE TIRE AND I DON'T HAVE THE ORGINAL. THE OTHER 3 TIRES HAVE THE CODES 31824UR BM19735 AND 32746URBM199735. I COULD NOT FIND THE DOT NUMBER ON THE SIDE IT MUST HAVE BEEN ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE.*AK (TIRESIZE: P225/60R16)
FRONT STEERING LOCKED-UP COULD TURN FRONT TO LEFT, CAR JURKED TO LEFT SO STRONG ON ITS OWN YOU COULD HAVE BROKEN YOUR WRIST. DUE DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION AND ALTERNATOR, REPLACE
STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT TURNING PROPERLY. WHILE TURNING LEFT STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN BACK TO RIGHT. CONSUMER COULD ONLY STEER IN ONE DIRECTION. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
AIR BAG LIGHTS STAYS ON, THE DEALER CLEARED CONNECTION, CLEARED CODES AND ALSO REPLACED PASSENGER SIDE MODULE BUT THE LIGHTIS STILL ON .
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE THAT THE VEHICLE MELTED DOWN TO THE FRAME, ALSO CONSUMERS HOUSE BURNED DOWN, IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE FIRE INVESTIGATORS THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY THE FUEL PUMP AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS.*JB
AFTER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON.
REAR WHEEL CYLINDER FAILED TWICE, CAUSING UNEQUAL BRAKE PRESSURE. ONE CYLINDER LASTED 1 1/2 YEAR, AND REPLACEMENT PART LASTED ONLY 2 1/2 YEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
FUEL GAUGE DID NOT READ ACCURATELY. INDICATED FULL WHEN IT WAS EMPTY. *AK
GAS GAUGE READS INACCURATELY, INDICATES FULL WHEN IT'S EMPTY. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO DIM, AND VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT ON BRAKES BUT VEHCILE WOULD NOT STOP. CONSUMER TURNED OFF IGNITION, AND COASTED AND STOPPED. CONSUMEAR FELT SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS, FRONT ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, REAR SHOES GLAZED. STEERING GEAR REPLACED DUE TO CONSUMER LOSING POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING, POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED, RACK WAS ALSO REPLACED. WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER STATED SIR COIL INOPERATIVE. *SLC
HAD ALTERNATOR THAT WAS REBUILD. ALTERNATOR WENT OUT WHILE VEHICLE WAS GOING 70MPH WITH A/C BLOWING. ALSO, 5-6 MILES MOTOR KEPT CUTTING ON AND OFF, FINALLY STOPPING.. NO ELECTRICITY WAS GETTING TO FUEL PUMP. ONCE VEHICLE CUT OFF PUMP AND BRAKES NO LONGER WORKED. CONSUMER HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO HELP STOP VEHICLE.*AK
I COULD NOT GET THE CAR OUT PARK. THE SHIFT LOCK CABLE AND THE PARK/NEUTRAL SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH RIGHT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE, CAUSING MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL ALSO, DRIVESHAFT DISCONNECTED FROM TRANSMISSION. DEALER / MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK GM ENDED UP PAYING FOR ALMOST OF THE REPAIR BILL, CONSUMER STATES IF VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELLING ANY FASTER, VEHICLE COULD HAVE ROLLED OVER CAUSING INJURIES OR FATALITIES. *SLC
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
AT 28-31 MPH VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOSS OF HIGHWAY SPEED, WHICH CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT OF GEAR. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. *AK CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MANUFACTURER THAT THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE,CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE.*JB
POWER STEERING PUMP SEAL IS LEAKING FLUID. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE.*AK *JB
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.
Full record for the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina → · Every Lumina year → · How the figures are calculated →