1997 Chevrolet Lumina complaints

WE CAN NOT TELL WHAT GEAR THE TRANSMISSION IS IN, IT KEEPS CHANGING OVER TIME. I CAN NOT TELL WHEN AND IF I AM IN REVERSE UNTIL I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND STEP ON THE GAS. SOMETIMES REVERSE SOMETIMES NOT. TODAY, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE INDICATOR IS IN REVERSE THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL. WHEN THE INDICATOR SHOWS NEUTRAL THE TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE,WE THINK. WHEN I GO TO PARK IT COULD BE REVERSE, NEVER SURE. IN FACT NEVER SURE WHERE REVERSE IS. TODAY MY WIFE ASKED ME TO WRITE OUT HOW TO TELL WHICH GEAR SHE IS IN. SHE DECIDED NOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER ON THIS CAR IS CONFUSING, UNSAFE AND SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM GM OR NHTSA. JOSEPH SPENCER. *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT KEEPS RECLINING.*AK

NOTICED OIL SPOTS ON DRIVEWAY. REPARKED IN DIFFERENT LOCATION AND MORE OIL SPOTS. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT INTAKE GASKETS WERE LEAKING. HAD NO PROBLEM DRIVING.*AK

VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, FUEL PUMP FAILED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. PUMP WAS UNDER WARRANTY FOR 12 MONTHS AND LASTED 13 MONTHS. *AK *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

SUSPENSION MAKES A POPING AND SCRUNCHING NOISE WHILE MAKING A TURN AT LOW SPEEDS. THERE IS A TSB ON SAME PROBLEM. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET.*AK

GAS GAUGE READS INCORRECTLY, MAKING DRIVER UNAWARE OF AMOUNT OF FUEL IN TANK. DEALER CANT FIND CAUSE. *AK

TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC FOR IT'S REGULAR 3000 MILE OIL CHANGE. HE TOLD ME AT THAT TIME THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. I WAS RATHER RELUCTANT TO THIS AS I HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST WITH THIS SAME DEALERSHIP. I HAD TAKEN MY CAR THERE SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THE OIL LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING. I ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND AGAIN THEY COULD FIND NOTHING. THEY DID INSTALL STRUTS ON MY CAR AFTER MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE SHOT (MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTEE), BUT AGAIN I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TWICE AND POINT OUT THE LEAKING THAT WAS COMING FROM THE STRUTS (THEIR MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND IT). SO RELUCTANTLY I TOOK MY CAR THERE. THE SERVICE MANAGER [XXX] ASSURED ME THAT THE WOULD IN FACT WORK WITH ME TO GET IT REPAIRED. HE TOLD ME THAT SOMETIMES CHEVY WOULD PAY AS MUCH AS 75% OF THE COST OF THE REPAIR. HE CALLED ME BACK TO TELL ME THAT HIS MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKING FROM THE HEAD GASKETS, BUT DID IN FACT FIND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING. IT WOULD COST ABOUT $700.00 TO REPAIR BUT THEY WOULD ONLY CHARGE ME $500.00 TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE, BUT CHEVY WOULD PAY FOR THE PARTS. I TOLD HIM AT THAT TIME NO THANK YOU, I COULD HAVE IT DONE AT MY MECHANIC FOR LESS. HE CALLED ME BACK WITHIN MINUTES OF MY HANGING UP THE PHONE AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD DO IT FOR $350.00. I AGRE

ANTIFREEZE WAS SPROUTING OUT. LIGHT HAD CAME ON. DROVE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT ENGINE GASKETS WERE GONE & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS SECOND TIME THAT ENGINE GASKET PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED. *AK

WE NEED ASSISTANTS - MY '97 LUMINA CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED DOWN OUR HOUSE ON 10/29/00. WE LOST THE CAR, WHICH MELTED DOWN TO THE FRAME, THE HOUSE AND CONTENTS. WE WOULD HAVE LOST OUR LIVES IF THIS HAD OCCURRED TWO HOURS LATER. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY THE ATHENS CLARKE COUNTY FIRE INVESTIGATOR AND THE COTTON STATES INVESTIGATOR THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND DAYLIGHT RUNNERS CAUSED THIS FIRE. THIS DEFECT IN MY VEHCILE IS A LIFE SAFTEY ISSUE - WHO WILL BE THE NEXT VICTMS? PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP. *AK

REPORTED TO DEALER CAR WAS LEAKING OIL. DEALER SAID IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE INTAKE. THE DEALER HAD SERVICED THIS CAR EVERY 3 TO 4 THOUSAND MILES AND SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THIS BEFORE THE WARRENTY EXPIRED AND LET ME KNOW.*AK

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *CJ

DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTOR SYSTEM LEAKS FUEL. THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE FUEL INJECTOR SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP SEAT BROKE FROM TRACK AND ANCHOR. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK

AIRBAG MODULE FAILED, THE LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER FLASHING. *SLC

HAVING BRAKES DEFECTS NEEDS TO REPLACE PARTS AFTER THE FIRST 5000 MILES.. *AK

CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE FOR ABOUT 6-7 HOURS WHEN A FIRE STARTED BURNING DOWN CONSUMER'S HOME. INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR CLAIMED FIRE STARTED DUE TO DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT WIRES SHORTING OUT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF DEFECT .*AK

BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED 3 TIMES IN ONE YEAR & NEED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED. DEALER EVEN REPLACED PADS & TURNED ROTORS FOR PREVIOUS OWNER IN 1997.

NOTICED CRACKS DEVELOPING AROUND BASE OF TREADS( DOT NUMBER: )

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED. DEALER INSPECTE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE RUBBER STARTED TO PEEL OFF ONE OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES (P205/70R15), TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL AND CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE ON A STEEP INCLINE THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARDS WHILE CONSUMER TAKES FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. NLM

AT THE MANFACTURER THEY WILL SPRAY A RUST PREVENTION ,WHICH IN TIME WILL GET HARD AND STRIPPED THE WHEEL LUGS: NUTS.*AK

THE CAR CUTS OUT, HAS A MISS OR HESITATION THAT HAS NOT BEEN DETECTED ON MACHINERY.THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED, I WAS TOLD NOT TO USE BP OR SUPER AMERICA GAS, NO HIGHER THAN 87 OCTANE AND I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING RELIGIOUSLY.THE DEALER HAS HAD THE CAR ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS & ADMITS A PROBLEM.I BECAME SO FRUSTRATED THAT I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.AUTOMOBILE COMPLAINTS ARE OUTSOURCED AND "AUTOCAP" HAS BEEN WORKING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.HOWEVER, AFTER A YEAR I REMAIN FRUSTRATED.I HAVE NARROWLY ESCAPED AT LEAST TWO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS HESITATION & THEN PRESSING THE GAS & TAKING OFF WITH A VENGENCE.THIS CAR IS DEFINATELY AN UNSAFE VEHICLE BUT I HAVE COME ACCUSTOMED TO DRIVING IT AS I HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE.HOWEVER, MY YOUNGEST SON JUST RECEIVED HIS DRIVING PERMIT & I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO LET HIM DRIVE THIS CAR.THE DEALER INSTALLED A COMPUTER AT ONE TIME WHICH RECORDED 3 INCIDENTS OF THE PROBLEM.HOWEVER, UPON RETRIEVING THE DATA, THE DEALER CLAIMS THERE WAS DATA.THEY ALSO REPORT PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPUTERS & QUITE FRANKLY I DON'T BELIEVE THEY KNOW HOW TO USE THEM.AT ONE POINT THE DEALER OFFERED TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE OFF MY HANDS & PUT ME IN EITHER ANOTHER '97 FOR AN ADDITIONAL $1000 OR A NEW CAR FOR $349/MO.DUE TO CREDIT PROBLEMS (A LONG STORY BUT I'VE WORKED 2 JOBS FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS AFTER A PLANT CLOSING WHERE MY HUSBAND & I BECAME DISPLACED WORKERS.WE SURVIVED ON MY CREDIT CARDS AS MY HUSBAND HAD PROBLEMS EMOTIONALLY & ME

THE FUEL GUAGE COMPONETS WILL COST OVER 500 FOR PARTS ALONE. ON THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT PROBLEM THE O2 SENSOR AT MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED AND IT DROVE FINE FOR 1.5 MONTHS. IT HAS DONE IT AGAIN. CAN HUMIDITY PLAY A PART. THE CAR RUNS OK AFTER A FEW MINUTES.

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH SEVEN TIMES AND STAY ON. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FRONT BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT ON OUTSIDE, AND INSIDE PADS ARE LIKE NEW, OUTSIDE ROTOR WEARS THIN, INSIDE IS FINE, DEALER SAYS IT IS FINE, CAR HAS 67,000MILES AND BEEN IN 6 TIMES FOR BRAKES, CAR IS DRIVEN 32 MILES A DAY, CONSTANT WEARING OF ROTORS AND PADS. G.M WONT STAND BEHIND THEM. *AK

LUMINA HAD 33698 MILES AND WAS CLATTERING WHEN COLD STARTING, LASTS 3-10 MINUTES, CALLED DEALER WHERE CAR WAS BOUGHT, DEALER SAYS IT IS PISTON SLAP AND IT IS COMMON, NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. GETS WORSE AND WORSE AS THE MILES RACK UP. CAR HAS BEEN IN THREE TIMES FOR ENGINE CLATTER AND HAVE BEEN TOLD EVERYTIME PISTON SLAP VERY COMMON AND UNWARRANTIED. *AK

WHEN WE STOPPED THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE REASON I AM WRITING IS TO FIND OUT IF THERE HAVE BEEN A LARGE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE REPORTED THIS PART'S FAILURE. IT COST NEARLY $800 TO REPLACE THIS ONE ITEM. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS PART HAS FAILED BEFORE. I DO NOT HAVE A HISTORY OF THE CAR. CAN YOU ASSIST ME? NO, SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

IGNITION TURNED ON AND VEHICLE FAILED TO START, HEARD NOISE UNDER DASH AND WHEN VEHICLE FINALLY STARTED THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON, THE AIR BAG EJECT HARNESS SHORTED OUT CAUSING INCIDENT. *ET

POWER CABLE GROUNDED ITSELF OUT, CAUSED TOTAL FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NO WARNING LIGHTS AND NO INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS, CAR STOPPED ABRUPTLY IN LANE OF TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY, EMERGENCY FLASHERS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING, THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR OCCURRENCES WITH OTHER CHEVROLETS. *AK

HAD FRONT BRAKE PADS INSTALLED DUE TO LIGHT SQUEAL VERY NEXT DAY OF ONSET,ROTORS WERE TURNED,AND BACK BRAKES CLEANED.HAD TO RETURN TO PLACE OF SERVICE DUE TO NOISE COMING FROM REAR BRAKES.WAS TOLD DRUMS NEEDED TO BE TURNED.THEN VIBRATION OF BRAKE PEDAL NOTICED NEXT DAY AGAIN,RETURNED AND WAS TOLD WARPED DRUMS AND WERE RE-TORQUED? STILL VIBRATION WITH PEDAL.WAS TOLD UNSURE WHY.THEN AT SPEEDS OF 40 MILE PER HOUR OR MORE BAD VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING,AND SCREECHING NOISE UPON SUDDEN STOPPING.TOOK TO DEALER WAS TOLD BRAKES PADS ARE FINE WAS TOLD FRONT ROTORS OUT OF ROUND,BUT ADVISED NOT TO RE-TURN THE ROTORS DUE TO LIFESPAN OF ROTORS AFTER HAVING THEM TURNED TWICE?I WAS TOLD THAT IT POSES NO SAFETY THREAT,AND THAT THE SCREECHING NOISE WAS THE FRONT SUSPENSION,THET WITH THESE LUMINAS,THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM,DEALER SAYS WHEN THESE CARS ARE "LIFTED" FOR REPAIR THE "RUBBER" AROUND THEM GIVES OUT AND THEY DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHY.COSTLY REPAIR! DEALER SAID IT IS NOTHING ANYONE DID BUT A RESULT OF HAVING THE CAR "LIFTED" UP IN THE AIR BY THE RACK. I NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING AND AM WONDERING IF THIS HAS EVER BEEN REPORTED,AND ALSO WHY THE ROTORS WOULD BE "OUT OF ROUND" WHEN THE BRAKE PADS WERE NOT WORN COMPLETELY! *AK

VEHICLE SURGES WHEN APPROACHING THE SPEED OF 25 TO 45MPH. MOTOR WAS REPLACED 27,000, AND THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 10,000. DEALER HAS WORKED ON THE VEHICLE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. OWNER PLANNING TO FILE FOR LEMON LAW PROTECTION. *AK *ML

CAR HAS JUST QUIT RUNNING ON TWO OCCASIONS,THE LAST TIME IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION ALMOST CAUSING A MAJOR CRASH. PUSHED CAR OUT OF INTERSECTION. IF CAR IS LEFT SETTING FOR 1/2 TO 1 HOUR IT WILL START UP.CAR WILL BE DRIVEN IF IT STARTS IN AM OR TOWED IF NOT TO DEALER.VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. NOTICE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEMN IN CONSUMER COMPLAINT SECTION. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED IN ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FOR THE LAST YEAR, MOST OF THE TIME, ABS WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. DEALER HAS BEEN CALLED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. MIDAS COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 25 MPH HEAD ON COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGERS AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING COULD STEP ON THE BRAKES, AND WHEN REVERSING, COULD HEAR A POPPING NOISE FROM THE BRAKES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. ALSO, PASSENGER HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE SEATBELTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THE LAST GEAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO REACH A TOP SPEED OF 40-45 MPH ON A BUSY ROAD WHERE THE LIMIT IS 55MPH. NLM

THE SEATBELT BECAME VERY TIGHT ON MY DAUGHTER, I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE SHOULDER BELT TO RELEASE (IT SHOULD WHEN THE BELT IS FED INTO THE UPPER PART0 IT WOULD NOT RELEASE, AND BECAME TIGHTER. MY DAUGHTER WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT SO WE CUT THE BELT TO GET HER REMOVED FROM THE SEAT BELT. THE OPPOSITTE SIDE WORKS CORRECTLY. WE WERE TOLD THERE IS NO WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THE MILAGE ON THE CAR. I ASKED ABOUT IT BEING A SAFETY FEATURE OF THE CAR, THEY SAID IT DIDN'T MATTER. COST APPROX. $130.00. *AK

WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION ANOTHER VEHICLE PASSED A RED LIGHT THEN STRUCK CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FROM DOOR TO THE FRONT. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

REAR BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID, CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

FIRESTONE TIRE (P205/70R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND WAS READY TO EXPLODE. *SLC

OIL LEAK ON ENGINE- DEALER SAYS IT IS AT INTAKE