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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 →

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

36 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2001
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

HAD ALTERNATOR THAT WAS REBUILD. ALTERNATOR WENT OUT WHILE VEHICLE WAS GOING 70MPH WITH A/C BLOWING. ALSO, 5-6 MILES MOTOR KEPT CUTTING ON AND OFF, FINALLY STOPPING.. NO ELECTRICITY WAS GETTING TO FUEL PUMP. ONCE VEHICLE CUT OFF PUMP AND BRAKES NO LONGER WORKED. CONSUMER HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO HELP STOP VEHICLE.*A…

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HAD ALTERNATOR THAT WAS REBUILD. ALTERNATOR WENT OUT WHILE VEHICLE WAS GOING 70MPH WITH A/C BLOWING. ALSO, 5-6 MILES MOTOR KEPT CUTTING ON AND OFF, FINALLY STOPPING.. NO ELECTRICITY WAS GETTING TO FUEL PUMP. ONCE VEHICLE CUT OFF PUMP AND BRAKES NO LONGER WORKED. CONSUMER HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO HELP STOP VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #891511

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

HAVING BRAKES DEFECTS NEEDS TO REPLACE PARTS AFTER THE FIRST 5000 MILES.. *AK

NHTSA ODI #736031

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED 3 TIMES IN ONE YEAR & NEED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED. DEALER EVEN REPLACED PADS & TURNED ROTORS FOR PREVIOUS OWNER IN 1997.

NHTSA ODI #735548

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT ON OUTSIDE, AND INSIDE PADS ARE LIKE NEW, OUTSIDE ROTOR WEARS THIN, INSIDE IS FINE, DEALER SAYS IT IS FINE, CAR HAS 67,000MILES AND BEEN IN 6 TIMES FOR BRAKES, CAR IS DRIVEN 32 MILES A DAY, CONSTANT WEARING OF ROTORS AND PADS. G.M WONT STAND BEHIND THEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #725455

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

HAD FRONT BRAKE PADS INSTALLED DUE TO LIGHT SQUEAL VERY NEXT DAY OF ONSET,ROTORS WERE TURNED,AND BACK BRAKES CLEANED.HAD TO RETURN TO PLACE OF SERVICE DUE TO NOISE COMING FROM REAR BRAKES.WAS TOLD DRUMS NEEDED TO BE TURNED.THEN VIBRATION OF BRAKE PEDAL NOTICED NEXT DAY AGAIN,RETURNED AND WAS TOLD WARPED DRUMS AND WERE RE-TORQUED…

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HAD FRONT BRAKE PADS INSTALLED DUE TO LIGHT SQUEAL VERY NEXT DAY OF ONSET,ROTORS WERE TURNED,AND BACK BRAKES CLEANED.HAD TO RETURN TO PLACE OF SERVICE DUE TO NOISE COMING FROM REAR BRAKES.WAS TOLD DRUMS NEEDED TO BE TURNED.THEN VIBRATION OF BRAKE PEDAL NOTICED NEXT DAY AGAIN,RETURNED AND WAS TOLD WARPED DRUMS AND WERE RE-TORQUED? STILL VIBRATION WITH PEDAL.WAS TOLD UNSURE WHY.THEN AT SPEEDS OF 40 MILE PER HOUR OR MORE BAD VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING,AND SCREECHING NOISE UPON SUDDEN STOPPING.TOOK TO DEALER WAS TOLD BRAKES PADS ARE FINE WAS TOLD FRONT ROTORS OUT OF ROUND,BUT ADVISED NOT TO RE-TURN THE ROTORS DUE TO LIFESPAN OF ROTORS AFTER HAVING THEM TURNED TWICE?I WAS TOLD THAT IT POSES NO SAFETY THREAT,AND THAT THE SCREECHING NOISE WAS THE FRONT SUSPENSION,THET WITH THESE LUMINAS,THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM,DEALER SAYS WHEN THESE CARS ARE "LIFTED" FOR REPAIR THE "RUBBER" AROUND THEM GIVES OUT AND THEY DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHY.COSTLY REPAIR! DEALER SAID IT IS NOTHING ANYONE DID BUT A RESULT OF HAVING THE CAR "LIFTED" UP IN THE AIR BY THE RACK. I NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING AND AM WONDERING IF THIS HAS EVER BEEN REPORTED,AND ALSO WHY THE ROTORS WOULD BE "OUT OF ROUND" WHEN THE BRAKE PADS WERE NOT WORN COMPLETELY! *AK

NHTSA ODI #723763

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

NO SUMMARY LISTED IN ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722956

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FOR THE LAST YEAR, MOST OF THE TIME, ABS WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. DEALER HAS BEEN CALLED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. MIDAS COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #862122

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING COULD STEP ON THE BRAKES, AND WHEN REVERSING, COULD HEAR A POPPING NOISE FROM THE BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #860893

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #719621

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID, CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #855152

Official recalls

1

03V527000 · 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

2

EA03019 · 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.