IllustrationCONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING THAT WAS CAUSING THE LIGHTS NOT TO GO OFF, THE DEALER ALSO DISCONNECTED THE RADIO TO TRY AND REMEDY THE SHORT IN THE WIRING, ALSO THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED.*JB
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 reportsI WOULD LIKE TO SAY I KNOW OF OTHER OWNERS OF THE CHEVORLET/LUMINA MAKE AND MODEL THAT HAS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. IT IS MY CONCERN AS A BUYER WHEN SAFETY IS OF CONCERN. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO ME BY CREDIBLE RESOURCES I WOULD NOT BE DOING THIS. SAFETY IS A FACTOR. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS THAT 1ST GE…
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I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I KNOW OF OTHER OWNERS OF THE CHEVORLET/LUMINA MAKE AND MODEL THAT HAS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. IT IS MY CONCERN AS A BUYER WHEN SAFETY IS OF CONCERN. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO ME BY CREDIBLE RESOURCES I WOULD NOT BE DOING THIS. SAFETY IS A FACTOR. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS THAT 1ST GEAR SLIPS. YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO DRIVE WHEN YOU STOP TO GET FIRST GEAR TO DEPLOY. CURRENTLY MY VEHICLE IS IN A DEALERSHIP AT THIS MOMENT AND HOPE THAT THEY WILL WORK WITH ME ON THIS. IF THERE IS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT I CAN RETRIEVE...CAN YOU PLEASE SEND ME THE INFORMATION? I...AS A CONSUMER...WOULD LIKE TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THIS SAFETY DEFECTS.*AK
CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 10-20 MPH, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, NO BRAKING ACTION. MECHANIC STATED BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS TOO CLOSE TO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THIS CAUSED BRAKE FLUID IN BRAKE LINE TO GET HOT, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE.*AK THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED BECAUSE OF FLUID LOSS. *JG
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STEER PROPERLY DUE TO BROKEN ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS. THE DEALER REPAIRED IT AND REPLACED THE BROKEN SWITCH, RECONNECTING THE STEERING RACK ALSO. *YH
CRADLE BOLTS ARE DEFECTIVE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALLS 00V189000 AND 97V058000. *AK
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY DEFECTS IN THIS CAR INCLUDING: A DRIVER'S SEAT BELT THAT FAILED, FRONT HOOD ASSEMBLY FAILED, NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES--MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN, REAR STRUTS FAILED, SPEEDOMETER IS FAULTY AND READS 5-10MPH UNDER ACTUAL SPEED. *AK
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ENGINE FELL OUT OF ITS CRADLE DUE TO FAULTY BOLTS. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
MY DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR A WHILE NOW BECAUSE I CANNOT FIX IT. I HAVE TO TIE THE SEAT BELT INTO A NOT TO HOLD THE EXTRA PART OF THE BELT IN PLACE FOR IT TO BE SAFE TO WEAR. IT HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN AUG 2000 ALONG WITH THE CALPERS WHICH I REPLACED. THE WHOLE CAR HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS: THE…
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MY DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR A WHILE NOW BECAUSE I CANNOT FIX IT. I HAVE TO TIE THE SEAT BELT INTO A NOT TO HOLD THE EXTRA PART OF THE BELT IN PLACE FOR IT TO BE SAFE TO WEAR. IT HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN AUG 2000 ALONG WITH THE CALPERS WHICH I REPLACED. THE WHOLE CAR HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS: THE HEATING SYSTEM, THE JUMPINESS FROM THE BELTS ON THE MOTOR, REAR SUSPENSION. OVER $1000.00 HAS BEEN PUT IN IT FOR THE PAST 1.5 YRS I HAVE HAD IT.
WHEN TURNING AT 10MPH ENGINE MOUNT BROKE, ENGINE DROPPED, SNAPPED STEERING COLUMN, WHICH CAUSED STEERING WHEEL TO COMPLETELY AROUND, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK
CRADLE BOLTS ON VEHICLE ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, BOLTS CAN BREAK OFF WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *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
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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