1997 Chevrolet Lumina complaints

RACK & PINION SUDDENLY FAILED, CAUSING CAR TO CONTINUE IN A LEFT TURN; EXTREME EFFORT WAS NEEDED TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR. DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CAR MAY SUDDENLY SWERVE LEFT OR RIGHT, AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO RECOVER FROM THESE TURNS.

AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ALWAYS ON, INDICATING THAT AIRBAG IS NON-OPERATIONAL. DEALER CITED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON SERVICE ORDER, BUT REPAIRS QUOTED TO BE PAID BY OWNER. PROBLEM IS RELATED TO HIGH RESISTANCE IN THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE AIRBAG. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER OWNERS OF 1997 LUMINA'S WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM (PEOPLE I WORK WITH). THIS IS TOO COMMON OF A PROBLEM TO BE LEFT AS A TSB. THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED (RECALL OR OTHERWISE). I HAVE A COMPLAINT WITH CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE AS WELL (COMPLAINT FILE #990567661) IF THE AIRBAG IS NON-OPERATIONAL BECAUSE OF THIS, ANY PASSENGER RIDING IN MY VEHICLE IS NOT PROTECTED BY A SUPPOSED SAFETY FEATURE FOR WHICH INSURANCE COMPANIES PROVIDE DISCOUNTS. I HAVE NOTICED A SINGLE AIRBAG TSB ACROSS MANY 1997 CHEVROLET MODELS IN MY ONLINE SEARCHES. I THINK THIS IS AN EXTREMELY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE ENGINE LEAKING. OWNER NOTICED THE LEAKAGE ON GARAGE FLOOR. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AFTER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON VEHICLE. THE HEAD GASKETS/SERVO COVER/ "O" RINGS,INTAKE MANIFOLD/ENGINE VALVES & PAN GASKET WERE CHANGED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO LEAKING. THE DEALER DID ALL REPAIRS. *AK

WHILE AUTOMOBILE IS IN MOTION IT ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN TO AS MUCH AS 50 MPH. THE AUTOMOBILE DOES THIS AT RANDON. *AK

DESIGN OF HORN ASSEMBLYELOCATED NEA R AIR BAG COVER CAUSES PROBLEM WITH ACTIVATING HORN WHEN NEEDED. ONE MUST PRESS HARD TO GET HORN TO COME ON. THE HORN IS A COMMUNICATION DEVISE NEEDED TO WARN OTHER IN A EMERGENCY SITUATION. NHTSA SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *AK

TOO LONG BREAKING, VERY DANGEROUS IN EMERGENCY CASES

WHEEL ON DRIVER'S LEFT SIDE WAS LOOSE AND MADE A FUNNY NOISE. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. BUT, CONSUMER INSISTED THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE, IT WAS A RAMBLING NOISE. *AK

IF WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE TO BE USED DURING THE RAIN/SNOW, THEY WOULD FAIL TO COME ON. WOULD HAVE TO PLAY AROUND WITH SWITCH BEFORE WIPERS WORK. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO HAVE POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING. ITS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, BUT BECOMING WORSE. WILL BE TAKING TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK

WAS PARKING VEHICLE, WENT TO APPLY BRAKE, AND BRAKES FAILED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NOT EVEN 6K MILES AFTER COMPLETE REPLACE, BRAKES VIBRATE & NEED LONGER STOP DISTANCE DUE TO FAULTY ROTORS

AFTER PUTTING TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AND EXITING VEHICLE, CAR STARTED TO ROLL INTO REVERSE WITHOUT APPLICATION. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE JUST QUITS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT FOR A FEW MINUTES. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SEATBELT RETRACTOR. *AK

ABS LIGHT WOULD STAY ON WHILE TRAVELING, INDICATING THAT ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. *AK *ML

ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY FAILED CAUSING COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SHUT DOWN. MJS

FRONT SEAT BELT TWISTS ALL THE TIME, CAUSING FRAYING OF BELT. *AK

HEARD A POPPING SOUND WHILE TRAVELING 30MPH. THE SPROCKET THAT IS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOCK UP & STOP. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE PROBLEM WAS WITH A DEFECTIVE PART. *AK

FUEL GAUGE ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY, AND THE CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE HOW MUCH FUEL IS LEFT IN VEHICLE. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ,HIT A DEER WITH THE FRONT BUMPER AND THEN RAN INTO A ENBANKMENT HEAD-ON, PASSNEGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY, HIT WINDSHIELD AND DEPLOYED OUTWARD. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG COVER OPENED, BUT DID NOT INFLATE ,IT WAS STILL FOLDED, CAUSING INJURIES. *AK

DURING COLLISION, AIRBAG DEPLOYED - HEAVY COVER ON AIRBAG COMPARTMENT DISLODGED AND STRUCK PASSENGER IN FACE CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES

THE FUEL GUAGE ALWAYS INDICATES THAT VEHICLE HAS A FULL TANK WHEN IT DOESN'T. ALSO, ONCE BEFORE THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INCORRECT. CURRENTLY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 15 MPH. WHEN SUDDENLY A LOUD EXPLOSIVE SOUND WAS HEARD, AND IT WAS THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERING INTO MANY PIECES OVER THE BACK SEAT. MANUFATURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

THE REAR CENTER LAP BELT DOES NOT TIGHTEN WHICH WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. DID NOT NOTIFY THE DEALER. THERE IS A RECALL FOR 1995 LUMINA FOR THE REAR CENTER LAP SEATBELT, BUT NOT FOR THE 1997 LUMINA ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

THE DOOR HAS BEEN PAINTED ONCE BY THE DEALER AND ALREADY AND IT CONTINUES TO PEAL AGAIN. NEEDS TO BE REDONE. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHEN TURNED ON DON'T LIKE TO SHUT OFF, AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE COVER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WENT THOUGH THE WINDOW, CAUSING GLASS TO SHATTER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE AT COLD IDLE IS KNOCKING AGAIN, 7000 MILES SINCE NEW PISTIONS, TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AGAIN AFTER 7000 MILES, FRONT END SUSPENSION DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT 6 TIMES.

I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN APRIL 1997 . A FEW MONTHS AFTER I CONTACTED TH DEALER AND TOLD THEM MY WIFE WAS LOCKED OUT OF HER CAR 3 TIMES , WITH THE CAR RUNNING AND NO WAY TO GET IN BECAUSE THE AUTO DOOR LOCKS LOCK WHEN SHE GETS OUT OF THE CAR. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL DOOR LOCKS AND PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS, THEN IF STARTED AGAIN ABOUT AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY REPLACED THE LOCKS AGAIN. NOW ON XMAS WEEK 1998 IT HAPPENED TO ME, AND ON NEW YEARS DAY 1999. TOOK THE CAR FOR INSPECTION AND TOLD DEALER THAT IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN AND I WAS CONCERNED MY WIFE WILL GET LOCKED OUT AND BE STUCK SOMEWHERE AND COULD GET HURT SINCE WE LIVE IN THE PHILA AREA. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT REPLACE UNLESS THEY COULD DUPLICATE PROBLEM. I CALLED GN TECH ASS. AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING. I CONTACTED MY STATE REP AND HE IS SENDING ME A COPY OF THE LEMON LAW. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING AND YOU GET OUT AND CLOSE THE DOOR. UNFORTUNATLY IT ONLY HAPPENS OCCASIONLY. YOU CAN CLOSE THE DOOR A HUNDRED TIMES AND IT MI

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY GRIND AND MAKE VERY LOUD SQUEALING NOISES. ALSO, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ENGINE LEAKED OIL. NM

DOOR LOCK FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. MJS

# 5 FUEL INJECTOR FAILED. NLM

TRUNK LID HAS TO BE HELD UP OR IT WILL FALL DOWN WHEN RELEASED. YH

WATER PUMP FAILED. YH

BRAKE PADS AND DISC CRACKED AND WORN OUT. YH

PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT COMES ACROSS THE PERSON'S NECK. HAS TO PUT THE BELT UNDER THE ARM, WHICH DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF THE BELT. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML

BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING,AND EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF. TO GET IT TO SHUT OFF, CONSUMER HAS TO TAP THE BRAKE PEDAL AFTER THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NEEDS HELP WITH THIS MATTER. *AK

BELT CONSTANTLY TWISTS IN BUCKLE CAUSING WEAR ON BELT

WHILE DRIVING, TURNING ONTO TRAFFIC THE PEDAL CABLE BROKE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE. CONSUMER INFORMING NHTSA OF DEFECT PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCIED PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE SYSTEM. WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO GET IT SERVICED, THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT HE NEEDED THE WHOLE BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *SLC

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IN WET WEATHER, THE POWER STEERING CUTS OUT CAUSING AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITION. I HAVE BEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A LONG TERM PROBLEM WITH FRONT DRIVE CHEVROLET VEHICLES AND THAT THERE IS NO AVAILABLE CORRECTION. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS PROBLEM CAN BE ALLOWED TO EXIST WITHOUT A RECALL. MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD A FEW NEAR ACCIDENTS AND AVOID DRIVING THE CAR UNLESS IT IS NECESSARY. I GOT IN TOUCH WITH CHEVROLET AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT INTO THE DEALER FOR EVALUATION. SINCE LAST FRIDAY (THE DEALER DID NOT FIX IT) THE CAR HAS LOST POWER STEERING ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP AS I FEEL I AM DRIVING A DEATHTRAP. THANK YOU!

VEHICLE UNDERGOES LOSS OF POWER WHEN TRAVELING AT NORMAL RATE OF SPEED AND ALSO WHEN FIRST PULLING OFF FROM A STOPPED POSITION. SEEMS LIKE A DEAD PEDAL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP SINCE 0CT 7,98 AND DEALERSHIP STILL UNABLE TO DETERMINE PROBLEM. ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 2 SEPERATE OCCASIONS.

EXTREME PRESSURE IS NEEDED TO APPLY TO THE HORN WHICH COULD BECOME DANGEROUS IN AN EMERGENCY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED ITJUST COMPLETELY DIES OUT. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DETECT WHAT THE PROLBEM IS. *AK *NLM

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM: WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APROXIMATELY 63 MPH A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT THE DEER. DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUALLY ON, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AND WHILE IN FOR REPAIR FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE'S INTERIOR.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

GASKET ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF WINDSHIELD SLID DOWN. OIL INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AFTER OIL CHANGE, AND DESPITE FOLLOWING PROPER PROCEEDURES, CAN'T BE TURNED OFF.

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, THE DEALER HAS DONE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK