IllustrationCONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING OIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH
1997 Chevrolet Lumina
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Lumina years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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: 81 of 347 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.
- Steering. Review the 88 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
34 crash reports8 fire reports18 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
52 reportsCONSUMER STATES ENGINE LOOSES POWER THEN ENGINE DIES, TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REBUILT TRANSMISSION, THE PASSENGER WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN, WATER PUMP FAILED ON JULY 24, FLASHER LEVER BROKE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN, BRAKES INOPERATIVE. MR *NLM
INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE ENGINE HAD A HOLE WHERE THE DISTRIBUTOR USED TO BE AND THE HOLE WAS CAPPED WITH O? RING AND A PLUG. THE HARDENING OF THE O'RING WAS DUE TO HEAT CAUSEING THE OIL TO LEAK. *YH
THE CONSUMER HAS MULTIPLE PROBLEM WITH HER VEHICLE THERE IS COOLIANT LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. NLM
VEHICLE OVERHEATED. INDEPENDANT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT RADIATOR WAS PLUGGED, AND FLUSHED RADIATOR. ONE WEEK LATER, VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN. CONSUMER CHECKED ANTI FREEZE, IT WAS LOW, SO HE ADDED ANTI FREEZE. NEXT DAY VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND CONSUMER NOTICED WATER IN OIL. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER DETERMINED THA…
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VEHICLE OVERHEATED. INDEPENDANT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT RADIATOR WAS PLUGGED, AND FLUSHED RADIATOR. ONE WEEK LATER, VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN. CONSUMER CHECKED ANTI FREEZE, IT WAS LOW, SO HE ADDED ANTI FREEZE. NEXT DAY VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND CONSUMER NOTICED WATER IN OIL. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER DETERMINED THAT FACTORY ANTI FREEZE WAS EATING THROUGH T GASKETS, AND CAUSING INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. VEHICLE NEEDS NEW ENGINE.*AK
AIR BAG LIGHTS STAYS ON, THE DEALER CLEARED CONNECTION, CLEARED CODES AND ALSO REPLACED PASSENGER SIDE MODULE BUT THE LIGHTIS STILL ON .
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS, FRONT ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, REAR SHOES GLAZED. STEERING GEAR REPLACED DUE TO CONSUMER LOSING POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING, POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED, RACK WAS ALSO REPLACED. WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. AIR BAG LIGHT ILL…
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VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS, FRONT ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, REAR SHOES GLAZED. STEERING GEAR REPLACED DUE TO CONSUMER LOSING POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING, POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED, RACK WAS ALSO REPLACED. WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER STATED SIR COIL INOPERATIVE. *SLC
NOTICED OIL SPOTS ON DRIVEWAY. REPARKED IN DIFFERENT LOCATION AND MORE OIL SPOTS. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT INTAKE GASKETS WERE LEAKING. HAD NO PROBLEM DRIVING.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC FOR IT'S REGULAR 3000 MILE OIL CHANGE. HE TOLD ME AT THAT TIME THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. I WAS RATHER RELUCTANT TO THIS AS I HAD PROBLEMS IN THE…
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TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC FOR IT'S REGULAR 3000 MILE OIL CHANGE. HE TOLD ME AT THAT TIME THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. I WAS RATHER RELUCTANT TO THIS AS I HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST WITH THIS SAME DEALERSHIP. I HAD TAKEN MY CAR THERE SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THE OIL LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING. I ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND AGAIN THEY COULD FIND NOTHING. THEY DID INSTALL STRUTS ON MY CAR AFTER MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE SHOT (MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTEE), BUT AGAIN I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TWICE AND POINT OUT THE LEAKING THAT WAS COMING FROM THE STRUTS (THEIR MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND IT). SO RELUCTANTLY I TOOK MY CAR THERE. THE SERVICE MANAGER [XXX] ASSURED ME THAT THE WOULD IN FACT WORK WITH ME TO GET IT REPAIRED. HE TOLD ME THAT SOMETIMES CHEVY WOULD PAY AS MUCH AS 75% OF THE COST OF THE REPAIR. HE CALLED ME BACK TO TELL ME THAT HIS MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKING FROM THE HEAD GASKETS, BUT DID IN FACT FIND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING. IT WOULD COST ABOUT $700.00 TO REPAIR BUT THEY WOULD ONLY CHARGE ME $500.00 TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE, BUT CHEVY WOULD PAY FOR THE PARTS. I TOLD HIM AT THAT TIME NO THANK YOU, I COULD HAVE IT DONE AT MY MECHANIC FOR LESS. HE CALLED ME BACK WITHIN MINUTES OF MY HANGING UP THE PHONE AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD DO IT FOR $350.00. I AGREED AS IT WAS LESS THAN MY MECHANIC WOULD CHARGE. I ALSO QUESTIONED HIM AGAIN ABOUT THE HEAD GASKETS, HE ASSURED ME THEY WERE OKAY. THE CAR WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED ON THE FEBRUARY 15, 2001. I DID NOT USE THE CAR OFTEN, HAVE ACTUALLY PUT ON LESS THAN 50 MILES SINCE THE REPAIR. TODAY IS FEBRUARY 22 AND THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE BECAUSE THE HEAD GASKETS ARE SHOT PER MY MECHANIC. I HAVE MORE TO COMMENT ON, BUT NOT ENOUGH ROOM. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUA
Official recalls
103V527000 · Steering:rack And Pinion
Dec 11, 2003
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
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
2EA03019 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Sep 15, 2003 · Closed Dec 18, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
RQ03001 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Jan 2, 2003 · Closed Sep 15, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.