IllustrationREAR BRAKES DO NOT WORK, PUTTING ALL THE WORK ON THE FRONT BRAKES AND CAUSING THEM TO WEAR DOWN QUICKLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TO DEALER MANY TIMES FOR REPAIRS, PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. ON NEWER MODELS THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED. *AK *ML
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.
21 crash reports9 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
352 reportsDRIVERSIDE SHOULDER SEATBELT DOES NOT FULLY RETRACT BACK INTO DOOR AFTER FASTENING SEATBELT, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION. *AK
ENGINE DAMAGE. MJS
NO SUMMARY
EVERY 6 MONTHS BRAKES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT ANCHORS BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO ROCKS BACKWARD AND FOWARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON & OFF.WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL WHEN COASTING OR MAKING A TURN, CAR SHUTS OFF. *AK
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S DOOR HINGES ARE CORODED AND FALLING APART WHICH MAY CAUSE INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE SHOULDER BELT RETRACTORS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR HAVE FAILED. CHEVROLET HAS REFUSED TO HELP FIX THEM, AS THEY SAY THEIR BELTS ARE ONLY GOOD FOR 36,000 MILES, BUT THEY ARE REQUIRED BY LAW. I HAVE REPLACED THE PASSENGER BELT AT AN OUT OF POCKET COST OF $160. THESE BELTS WERE SUBJECTED TO NORMAL USE AND WEAR…
Read full complaint
THE SHOULDER BELT RETRACTORS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR HAVE FAILED. CHEVROLET HAS REFUSED TO HELP FIX THEM, AS THEY SAY THEIR BELTS ARE ONLY GOOD FOR 36,000 MILES, BUT THEY ARE REQUIRED BY LAW. I HAVE REPLACED THE PASSENGER BELT AT AN OUT OF POCKET COST OF $160. THESE BELTS WERE SUBJECTED TO NORMAL USE AND WEAR, AND I FEEL THE RETRACTOR IS DEFECTIVE. THE BELTS ARE USELESS WITHOUT A RETRACTOR AS THEY HANG LIMP DURING DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURED GRADUALLY OVER ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND THEN THE RETRACTOR STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW A LAW REQUIRED SAFETY DEVICE CAN BE MADE SO BADLY THAT CHEVROLET ONLY GUARANTEES IT FOR 36,000 MILES OR 3 YEARS. A CAR LASTS A LOT LONGER THAN 3 YEARS, AND ITS SEAT BELTS SHOULD ALSO. I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND I HAVE A FILE #990294288 FOR THIS CASE WITH THEM. THEY REFUSED TO HELP IN ANY WAY. THEY SIMPLY GAVE ME A RUN AROUND AND THEN SAID WE WILL NOT HELP. I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $160 TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE BELT. I WAS LUCKY IN THAT MY BELTS FAILED WHEN I WAS JUST GETTING IN THE CAR, BUT WHAT IF IT HAD BEEN A CRASH. I DO NOT HAVE AIR BAGS AND AM DRIVING A FRIEND'S CAR UNTIL I CAN GET THIS MATTER RESOLVED. MY CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY BELT RETRACTORS. THANK YOU FOR TIME AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN HELP ME. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A SHORT IN ALTERNATOR WIRES AND OTHER ELECTRICAL WIRING. *AK
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