MY CAR KEEPS STALLING OR DYING EVERYTIME I TAKE OFF OR APPLY THE BRAKES IT'S ALMOST AS IF IT'S NOT GOING INTO GEAR. IT WILL DIE ON ME GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE IF I HIT MY BRAKES. *LN
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Lumina years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
352 reportsI 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…
Read full complaint
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
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…
Read full complaint
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.
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…
Read full complaint
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.
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…
Read full complaint
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
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…
Read full complaint
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.
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.
1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *TS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 50 MPH. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. AFTER GETTING BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING IN THROUGH THE PASSENGER WINDOW. THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NO…
Read full complaint
1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *TS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 50 MPH. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. AFTER GETTING BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING IN THROUGH THE PASSENGER WINDOW. THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT BURNED ALONG WITH THE RIGHT REAR BUMPER AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRUNK. *NM
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
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…
Read full complaint
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
Official recalls
300V189000 · 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
9RP01001 · 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
===
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
Illustration