IllustrationFRONT AND REAR DISC BRAKES ARE WEARING EXCESSIVELY, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 5 TIMES. MECHANIC HAS REPLACED VARIOUS COMPONENTS IN BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK REAR BRAKES FAILURE CAUSED A LOT OF PROBLEMS. *YH
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 reportsREAR CRADLE MOUNTS BROKE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH,CAUSING RACK AND PINION TO SEPARATE, AND RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING.*AK *JB
LATERAL LINK IN THE REAR SUSPENSION EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MPH, JUST AFTER CROSSING A SET OF RAILROAD TRACKS. VEHICLE'S 'LATERAL LINK' FAILED ON LEFT SIDE, AND PULLED VEHICLE IN THAT DIRECTION. RECALL 97V058000 REPAIRS HAD BEEN DONE ON THIS VEHICLE P…
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LATERAL LINK IN THE REAR SUSPENSION EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MPH, JUST AFTER CROSSING A SET OF RAILROAD TRACKS. VEHICLE'S 'LATERAL LINK' FAILED ON LEFT SIDE, AND PULLED VEHICLE IN THAT DIRECTION. RECALL 97V058000 REPAIRS HAD BEEN DONE ON THIS VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
THE REAR CALIPERS HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES, LOCKING, AND GIVING NO BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL PUMPED. THE CALIPERS LOCK AND BURN. I HAVE INSTALLED 3 SETS OF CALIPERS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN RELEASED AND KEEPS THE REAR BRAKES EMPLOYED. THIS CAUSES THE PADS TO BURN AND THE ROTORS TO WARP. IT ALSO G…
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THE REAR CALIPERS HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES, LOCKING, AND GIVING NO BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL PUMPED. THE CALIPERS LOCK AND BURN. I HAVE INSTALLED 3 SETS OF CALIPERS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN RELEASED AND KEEPS THE REAR BRAKES EMPLOYED. THIS CAUSES THE PADS TO BURN AND THE ROTORS TO WARP. IT ALSO GIVES NO BRAKING WHEN THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, CAUSING BRAKE FADE. IF YOU PUMP THE BRAKES THE PEDEL COMES UP. A NEW EMERGECY CABLE HAS TO BE INSTALLED.*AK
SHIFTER BUMPED WHILE TUNING RADIO-CAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AT 70 MPH. SEVERAL INCIDENTS. *AK
SAME PROBLEM AS IN RECALL 00V189000/CRADLE BOLTS. WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN ROAD, THERE WAS A SCRAPING SOUND, CONSUMER TURNED WHEEL WITH NO RESPONSE.*AK
VEHICLE WAS MIRRORING PROBLEMS STATED IN RECALL 00V18900. DEALERSHIP INFORMED HER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. CONSUMER DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH LOST CONTROL, AND HEARD A LOUD METAL SCAPING SOUND. FRONT SUBFRAME FELL OFF VEHICLE, DAMAGING STEERING BOX/ TIE RODS, ANDMOTOR MOUNTS, ETC. PLEASE PROVIDE AN…
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VEHICLE WAS MIRRORING PROBLEMS STATED IN RECALL 00V18900. DEALERSHIP INFORMED HER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. CONSUMER DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH LOST CONTROL, AND HEARD A LOUD METAL SCAPING SOUND. FRONT SUBFRAME FELL OFF VEHICLE, DAMAGING STEERING BOX/ TIE RODS, ANDMOTOR MOUNTS, ETC. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS, AND PLEASE FILL IN VIN FOR THE VEHICLE. *AK
WE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY COULD REPAIR AT NO COST THEY SAID NO WARRANTY IS ON THE VEHICAL AFTER 3YEARS OR 36,000 MILES AND WE FEEL THAT THE SEATBELT IS A SAFTEY FEATURE AND IT NOT GOING BACK IN AFTER UNBUCKLING IS A SAFTEY ISSUE AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONTROL AND IT IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY BOLTS PULLED OUT OF FRONT CRADLE. VEHICLE DRIFTED TO RIGHT, AND THAN LEFT ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND DRIFTED TO A STOP.SAME AS RECALL 00V189000. *AK
DRIVER SEATBALT RETRACTOR FAILED IN MARCH 2000, AN DPASSENGER'S SIDE FAILED IN JANUARY 2001. *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