IllustrationANTIFREEZE WAS SPROUTING OUT. LIGHT HAD CAME ON. DROVE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT ENGINE GASKETS WERE GONE & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS SECOND TIME THAT ENGINE GASKET PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED. *AK
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 reportsREPORTED TO DEALER CAR WAS LEAKING OIL. DEALER SAID IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE INTAKE. THE DEALER HAD SERVICED THIS CAR EVERY 3 TO 4 THOUSAND MILES AND SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THIS BEFORE THE WARRENTY EXPIRED AND LET ME KNOW.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED. DEALER INSPECTE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
THE CAR CUTS OUT, HAS A MISS OR HESITATION THAT HAS NOT BEEN DETECTED ON MACHINERY.THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED, I WAS TOLD NOT TO USE BP OR SUPER AMERICA GAS, NO HIGHER THAN 87 OCTANE AND I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING RELIGIOUSLY.THE DEALER HAS HAD THE CAR ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS & ADMITS A PROBLEM.I BECAME SO FRUSTRA…
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THE CAR CUTS OUT, HAS A MISS OR HESITATION THAT HAS NOT BEEN DETECTED ON MACHINERY.THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED, I WAS TOLD NOT TO USE BP OR SUPER AMERICA GAS, NO HIGHER THAN 87 OCTANE AND I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING RELIGIOUSLY.THE DEALER HAS HAD THE CAR ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS & ADMITS A PROBLEM.I BECAME SO FRUSTRATED THAT I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.AUTOMOBILE COMPLAINTS ARE OUTSOURCED AND "AUTOCAP" HAS BEEN WORKING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.HOWEVER, AFTER A YEAR I REMAIN FRUSTRATED.I HAVE NARROWLY ESCAPED AT LEAST TWO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS HESITATION & THEN PRESSING THE GAS & TAKING OFF WITH A VENGENCE.THIS CAR IS DEFINATELY AN UNSAFE VEHICLE BUT I HAVE COME ACCUSTOMED TO DRIVING IT AS I HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE.HOWEVER, MY YOUNGEST SON JUST RECEIVED HIS DRIVING PERMIT & I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO LET HIM DRIVE THIS CAR.THE DEALER INSTALLED A COMPUTER AT ONE TIME WHICH RECORDED 3 INCIDENTS OF THE PROBLEM.HOWEVER, UPON RETRIEVING THE DATA, THE DEALER CLAIMS THERE WAS DATA.THEY ALSO REPORT PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPUTERS & QUITE FRANKLY I DON'T BELIEVE THEY KNOW HOW TO USE THEM.AT ONE POINT THE DEALER OFFERED TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE OFF MY HANDS & PUT ME IN EITHER ANOTHER '97 FOR AN ADDITIONAL $1000 OR A NEW CAR FOR $349/MO.DUE TO CREDIT PROBLEMS (A LONG STORY BUT I'VE WORKED 2 JOBS FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS AFTER A PLANT CLOSING WHERE MY HUSBAND & I BECAME DISPLACED WORKERS.WE SURVIVED ON MY CREDIT CARDS AS MY HUSBAND HAD PROBLEMS EMOTIONALLY & MENTALLY DEALING WITH BEING UNABLE TO PROVIDE FOR HIS FAMILY.HE MADE LESS THAN $2000 SEVERAL YEARS & I BECAME THE SOLE PROVIDER.I WOULDN'T CALL LIVING IN A $60,000 HOME LIVING LAVISHLY SO YOU CAN SEE WE DIDN'T GET EXTRAVAGENT!)I CANNOT GET A LOAN.HOWEVER, I AM WORKING TO REPAY MY DEBTS & REBUILD MY CREDIT.THE CONSTANT WORRY OF DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE IS DRIVING ME INSANE.ANY ASSISTANCE YOU MAY PROVIDE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THE FUEL GUAGE COMPONETS WILL COST OVER 500 FOR PARTS ALONE. ON THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT PROBLEM THE O2 SENSOR AT MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED AND IT DROVE FINE FOR 1.5 MONTHS. IT HAS DONE IT AGAIN. CAN HUMIDITY PLAY A PART. THE CAR RUNS OK AFTER A FEW MINUTES.
LUMINA HAD 33698 MILES AND WAS CLATTERING WHEN COLD STARTING, LASTS 3-10 MINUTES, CALLED DEALER WHERE CAR WAS BOUGHT, DEALER SAYS IT IS PISTON SLAP AND IT IS COMMON, NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. GETS WORSE AND WORSE AS THE MILES RACK UP. CAR HAS BEEN IN THREE TIMES FOR ENGINE CLATTER AND HAVE BEEN TOLD EVERYTIME PISTON SLAP VE…
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LUMINA HAD 33698 MILES AND WAS CLATTERING WHEN COLD STARTING, LASTS 3-10 MINUTES, CALLED DEALER WHERE CAR WAS BOUGHT, DEALER SAYS IT IS PISTON SLAP AND IT IS COMMON, NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. GETS WORSE AND WORSE AS THE MILES RACK UP. CAR HAS BEEN IN THREE TIMES FOR ENGINE CLATTER AND HAVE BEEN TOLD EVERYTIME PISTON SLAP VERY COMMON AND UNWARRANTIED. *AK
VEHICLE SURGES WHEN APPROACHING THE SPEED OF 25 TO 45MPH. MOTOR WAS REPLACED 27,000, AND THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 10,000. DEALER HAS WORKED ON THE VEHICLE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. OWNER PLANNING TO FILE FOR LEMON LAW PROTECTION. *AK *ML
CAR HAS JUST QUIT RUNNING ON TWO OCCASIONS,THE LAST TIME IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION ALMOST CAUSING A MAJOR CRASH. PUSHED CAR OUT OF INTERSECTION. IF CAR IS LEFT SETTING FOR 1/2 TO 1 HOUR IT WILL START UP.CAR WILL BE DRIVEN IF IT STARTS IN AM OR TOWED IF NOT TO DEALER.VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. NOTICE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS OF TH…
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CAR HAS JUST QUIT RUNNING ON TWO OCCASIONS,THE LAST TIME IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION ALMOST CAUSING A MAJOR CRASH. PUSHED CAR OUT OF INTERSECTION. IF CAR IS LEFT SETTING FOR 1/2 TO 1 HOUR IT WILL START UP.CAR WILL BE DRIVEN IF IT STARTS IN AM OR TOWED IF NOT TO DEALER.VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. NOTICE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEMN IN CONSUMER COMPLAINT SECTION. *AK
OIL LEAK ON ENGINE- DEALER SAYS IT IS AT INTAKE
VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE ENGINE LEAKING. OWNER NOTICED THE LEAKAGE ON GARAGE FLOOR. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AFTER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON VEHICLE. THE HEAD GASKETS/SERVO COVER/ "O" RINGS,INTAKE MANIFOLD/ENGINE VALVES & PAN GASKET WERE CHANGED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO LEAKING. THE DEALER DID ALL REPAIRS. *AK
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.