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1991 Chevrolet Lumina

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Lumina years

Owner complaints for the 1991 Chevrolet Lumina are substantially higher than the model-year median of 126.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 22 of 352 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 178 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

21 crash reports9 fire reports9 injury reports

Structure complaints

52 reports
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75,000 miles · Dec 22, 2010
SteeringStructure

I WAS DRIVING AT A RATE OF SPEED OF 35 MPH WHEN I HEARD SOMETHING BREAK UNDER THE CAR AND AT THAT POINT I LOST ALL STEERING AN WAS TRAVELING TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BUT STILL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, WHEN I HAD THE CAR TOWED...WE FOUND OUT THAT THE REAR SUB-FRAME MOUNTS HAD BROKEN AND SNAPPED THE STEERING. THIS WA…

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I WAS DRIVING AT A RATE OF SPEED OF 35 MPH WHEN I HEARD SOMETHING BREAK UNDER THE CAR AND AT THAT POINT I LOST ALL STEERING AN WAS TRAVELING TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BUT STILL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, WHEN I HAD THE CAR TOWED...WE FOUND OUT THAT THE REAR SUB-FRAME MOUNTS HAD BROKEN AND SNAPPED THE STEERING. THIS WAS A 1991 CHEVY 2 DOOR LUMINA AND WHEN I LOOKED IT UP... THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. SOMEHOW THE NHTSA AND GENERAL MOTORS MISSED MY VIN NUMBER IN THE RECALL. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR..WE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY ONLY SOME VEHICLES WERE IDENTIFIED IN THIS SAFETY RECALL WHEN SO MANY MORE ARE EFFECTED? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10372095

131,000 miles · Aug 18, 2010
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE REAR CRADLE RETAINER PULLED THROUGH AND THE STEERING DISCONNECTED. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE SUB FRAME DROPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED BY THE CONTAC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE REAR CRADLE RETAINER PULLED THROUGH AND THE STEERING DISCONNECTED. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE SUB FRAME DROPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT. HE WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V189000- STRUCTURE) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 131,000.

NHTSA ODI #10350364

168,000 miles · Jun 18, 2007
Structure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA. DURING AN INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME BUSHING WAS MISSING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC REFERENCED RECALL # 00V189000 (STRUCTURE) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE SERVICED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE MANUFACTURE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA. DURING AN INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME BUSHING WAS MISSING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC REFERENCED RECALL # 00V189000 (STRUCTURE) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE SERVICED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 168,000.

NHTSA ODI #10193614

127,000 miles · Apr 12, 2007
Structure

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT LOST POWER STEERING WHILE AT A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS HAVING OCCURRED DUE TO A MISSING CRADLE BOLT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECALL 097V05800 & RECAL…

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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT LOST POWER STEERING WHILE AT A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS HAVING OCCURRED DUE TO A MISSING CRADLE BOLT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECALL 097V05800 & RECALL 00V189000 WERE ISSUED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WHEN SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER THEY ADVISED HER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT APART OF THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10187682

127,000 miles · Dec 14, 2006
SteeringStructure

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING GEAR. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 00V18…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING GEAR. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 00V189000 INDICATING THE VEHICLES WHO OPERATED IN SALT BELT STATES WERE AFFECTED DUE TO CORROSION. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE OPERATED IN MICHIGAN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED, WHO CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE REMAINED INOPERABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10176149

127,000 miles · Dec 14, 2006
Structure

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH, THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING GEAR. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #00V189000, REGARDING THE STRUCTURE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE REMAINED INOPERABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10176144

170,000 miles · Nov 29, 2005
Structure

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V058000 CONCERNING THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULLING THROUGH THE RETAINER DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. THIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10143948

170,000 miles · Jun 20, 2005
Structure

DT: CONSUMER HAS A PRINTOUT OF THE NHTSA RECALL SHEET AND WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF A RECALL. THE BACK ENGINE CRADLE RETAINERS CAME OFF THE BOLTS. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND ALMOST HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE. HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GM AND THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF A REC…

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DT: CONSUMER HAS A PRINTOUT OF THE NHTSA RECALL SHEET AND WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF A RECALL. THE BACK ENGINE CRADLE RETAINERS CAME OFF THE BOLTS. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND ALMOST HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE. HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GM AND THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF A RECALL. CONSUMER WAS TOLD AFTER PROVIDING THE VIN, THAT THERE WERE NO RECALL THAT CAME UP ON THERE SCREEN. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. THE CAR IS SITTING AT A GM/CHEVEROLET DEALER RIGHT NOW. THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL, BUT TURNED AND OFFERED A $1,000.00 CASH OR TOWARDS ANOTHER VEHICLE. YESTERDAY, ONE OF THE SALES PEOPLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP CALLED AND OFFERED TO SALE CONSUMER ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THE BOLTS IN THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE, IT IS THE RETAINERS THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10120130

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2005
Structure

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA. HE STATES THAT THERE WAS RECALL 00V189000 CONCERNING ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS. THE SAME PROBLEM CONTACT ENCOUNTERED. THE RECALL STATED, THAT ONE OR BOTH FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS CAN PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINERS. THE PROBLEM THE CONTACT HAD WAS THAT H…

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DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA. HE STATES THAT THERE WAS RECALL 00V189000 CONCERNING ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS. THE SAME PROBLEM CONTACT ENCOUNTERED. THE RECALL STATED, THAT ONE OR BOTH FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS CAN PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINERS. THE PROBLEM THE CONTACT HAD WAS THAT HIS RETAINERS ACTUALLY FELL OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ALMOST CAUSED A HEAD ON COLLISION BECAUSE HIS WIFE LOST CONTROL OF STEERING. THE CONTACT CALLED CHEVROLET, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10123847

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2005
Structure

CRADLE WHICH HOLD THE CRADLE. *JB LOOSE RETAINERS AND BOLTS AROUND THE ENGINE CRADLE. REAR CRADLE BOLTS/WASHERS/BUSHINGS WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER CAUTIONED CUSTOMER NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10089297

Official recalls

3

00V189000 · Structure

Jul 11, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HEAVY. A CONDITION WHERE ONE OR BOTH FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS CAN PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINERS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

97V058000 · Structure

Apr 8, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NOT LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

92V003000 · Seat Belts

Jan 10, 1992

THE FRONT DOOR SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOPS MAY BE CRACKED AND ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 208.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE SEAT OCCUPANT FACES INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THEEVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL REINFORCING PLATES ON THE CRACKED SHOULDER BELT GUIDES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

9

RP01001 · Structure

Opened Nov 28, 2001 · Closed Jun 13, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

EA00011 · Engine Cradle Separation

Opened Apr 10, 2000 · Closed Jan 12, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE CRADLE FRONT BOLTS AND/OR RETAINERS MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE CRADLE TO FALL, POSSIBLY SEPARATING THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR, WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL

RQ97017 · Cradle Bolt Failures

Opened Oct 2, 1997 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

PE94063 · Corroded Rear Disk Brakes

Opened Aug 12, 1994 · Closed Dec 21, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

PE93085 · Wheel Failures

Opened Sep 29, 1993 · Closed Feb 28, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available

EA92024 · Sticking Throttle

Opened Jun 26, 1992 · Closed Jan 31, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE92052 · Apv Fuel Line Fires

Opened Jun 4, 1992 · Closed Oct 30, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

EA91049 · Jack Failure

Opened Nov 26, 1991 · Closed Oct 28, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment

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PE91072 · Steering Wheel Separation

Opened May 1, 1991 · Closed Jul 8, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available