IllustrationDRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DO NOT PROPERLY RELEASE FROM RETRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSING SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. DEALER REPLACED RETRACTOR. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
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 reportsCONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON A SIDE STREET, APPLIED BRAKES AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HE ENDED UP INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT, SUBFRAME FELL IN THE STREET.*AK. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME MODEL OF VEHICLE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED, ALSO THE REAR BRAKES WERE I…
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CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON A SIDE STREET, APPLIED BRAKES AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HE ENDED UP INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT, SUBFRAME FELL IN THE STREET.*AK. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME MODEL OF VEHICLE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED, ALSO THE REAR BRAKES WERE INOPERATIVE, A STARTER, 2 ALTERNATORS, 2 WATER PUMPS, A BAD CRANKCASE OIL LEAK, 2 SERPENTINE BELTS, THE LEFT FRONT WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE, A NEW THERMOSTAT, A FUEL PUMP, FUEL INJECTOR, TIE ROD END, THE REAR STRUT FELL APART, THE STEERING JOINT BECAME COMPLETELY DISENGAGED FROM THE SUBGRAME, THE LIGHT SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN WAS INOPERATIVE.*JB
RECALL 00 V 189 000/REAR CRADLE BOLTS: VEHICLE LOST STEERING WHILE TRAVELING, PROBLEM WAS LOSS OF FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE AT A STOP SIGN TRIEDTO TURN RIGHT AND CRADLE BOLTS BROKE AND BUSTED STEERING. CONSUMER COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
BOTH BOLTS PULLED THROUGH AND IT WAS NO LONGER MOUNTED TO THE LOCATIONS AND BROKE THE STEERING SHAFT.*AK
ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS (NOT ALL THE TIME), UPON COMING TO A STOP (I.E., WAITING AT TRAFFIC AND OR WAITING FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT TO TURN GREEN) THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT, AGAIN RESPOND TO "D" POSITION, EVEN UPON PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL (IT JUST REVS UP). THEN SUDDENLY, THE TRANSMISSION WILL ENGAGE TO THE "D" POSITION THUS ENABLING THE …
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ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS (NOT ALL THE TIME), UPON COMING TO A STOP (I.E., WAITING AT TRAFFIC AND OR WAITING FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT TO TURN GREEN) THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT, AGAIN RESPOND TO "D" POSITION, EVEN UPON PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL (IT JUST REVS UP). THEN SUDDENLY, THE TRANSMISSION WILL ENGAGE TO THE "D" POSITION THUS ENABLING THE CAR TO MOVE IN A VERY QUICK AND OR SNAP MOTION. I BELIEVE THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SOME TIME AGO, I HAD THIS PROBLEM CHECKED OUT BY A CAR REPAIR SHOP AND THE ATTENDENT INDICATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS SITUATION IS NOT NORMAL AND MAY REQUIRE FURTHER REVIEW. I WILL GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, FRONT SUBFRAME FAILED DUE TO CORROSION, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL AND VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH, CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A RECALL, 00V189, REGARDING THIS, HOWEVER VIN IS NOT INCLUDED, CONSUMER HAS THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. *SLC
THERE IS A RECALL FOR 1991 LUMINAS FOR THIS EXACT INCIDENT BUT THEY CLAIM MY MOTHER'S CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE OF HER VIN NUMBER THUS SUGGESTING THAT THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BROADER IN SCOPE SINCE THEY OBVIOUSLY DID NOT INCLUDE ALL OF THE CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM.*AK
ALL BRAKE PARTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY 6MONTHS SINCE WE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. *AK
CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR 2 YRS TRYING TO DETERMINE STALLING PROBLEM. ECM AND PROM FAILED, CAUSING CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO ALSO NEED REPLACEMENT. BRAKES HAVE BEEN SERVED EVERY 3000 MILES BECAUSE THEY DO NOT ALLOW CAR TO STOP AT NORMAL STOPPING DISTANCE. BRAKES SEEM TOO SOFT, HAS NEARLY CAUSED A FEW AC…
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CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR 2 YRS TRYING TO DETERMINE STALLING PROBLEM. ECM AND PROM FAILED, CAUSING CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO ALSO NEED REPLACEMENT. BRAKES HAVE BEEN SERVED EVERY 3000 MILES BECAUSE THEY DO NOT ALLOW CAR TO STOP AT NORMAL STOPPING DISTANCE. BRAKES SEEM TOO SOFT, HAS NEARLY CAUSED A FEW ACCIDENTS BECAUSE BRAKES DO NOT STOP THE CAR, NEARLY SLOW IT DOWN. BRAKES HAVE BEEN SERVICED BY CHEVROLET TECHNICIAN. WHY HAVEN'T THESE PARTS BEEN RECALLED IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME DEFECTS?
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