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
What owners actually said
347 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2001
Electrical System
ALTERNATOR FAILED AT 26,302 WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR, CAUSING A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR FAILED IN THE SAME WAY AT 50,461 WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 70 MILES AN HOUR. LOSING YOUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING IS DANGEROUS. BOTH REPAIRS WERE DONE BY CHEVROLET DEALERS. THE OR…
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ALTERNATOR FAILED AT 26,302 WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR, CAUSING A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR FAILED IN THE SAME WAY AT 50,461 WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 70 MILES AN HOUR. LOSING YOUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING IS DANGEROUS. BOTH REPAIRS WERE DONE BY CHEVROLET DEALERS. THE ORIGINAL ALTERNATOR WAS AS DEFECTIVE AS THE REPLACEMENT THE DEALER PUT ON.*AK
NHTSA ODI #754086
Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
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
NHTSA ODI #898163
Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKEY BLEW OUT... DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD ALOT OF THE 3.1 ENGINES DOING THIS? RAN ME ALMOST $800.00 TO GET IT FIXED AT DEALER.WANTED TO SEE IF YOU HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS?
NHTSA ODI #753398
Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2001
Tires
THE TIRE LOST IT TREAD AND DID NOT BLOW OUT. THE TIRES HAD LESS THE 10K MILES. THE TREAD SEPERATED IN RATON NEW MEXICO FOR MY DAUGHTER (600 MILES FROM HOME). SHE OBTAIN A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURE TIRE AND I DON'T HAVE THE ORGINAL. THE OTHER 3 TIRES HAVE THE CODES 31824UR BM19735 AND 32746URBM199735. I COULD NOT FIND THE DOT NUMBER …
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THE TIRE LOST IT TREAD AND DID NOT BLOW OUT. THE TIRES HAD LESS THE 10K MILES. THE TREAD SEPERATED IN RATON NEW MEXICO FOR MY DAUGHTER (600 MILES FROM HOME). SHE OBTAIN A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURE TIRE AND I DON'T HAVE THE ORGINAL. THE OTHER 3 TIRES HAVE THE CODES 31824UR BM19735 AND 32746URBM199735. I COULD NOT FIND THE DOT NUMBER ON THE SIDE IT MUST HAVE BEEN ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE.*AK (TIRESIZE: P225/60R16)
NHTSA ODI #753213
Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2001
Electrical SystemSteering
FRONT STEERING LOCKED-UP COULD TURN FRONT TO LEFT, CAR JURKED TO LEFT SO STRONG ON ITS OWN YOU COULD HAVE BROKEN YOUR WRIST. DUE DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION AND ALTERNATOR, REPLACE
NHTSA ODI #9004043
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2001
Steering
STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT TURNING PROPERLY. WHILE TURNING LEFT STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN BACK TO RIGHT. CONSUMER COULD ONLY STEER IN ONE DIRECTION. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #896370
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2001
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
AIR BAG LIGHTS STAYS ON, THE DEALER CLEARED CONNECTION, CLEARED CODES AND ALSO REPLACED PASSENGER SIDE MODULE BUT THE LIGHTIS STILL ON .
NHTSA ODI #562988
Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2001
Exterior LightingFuel System, GasolineFire
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE THAT THE VEHICLE MELTED DOWN TO THE FRAME, ALSO CONSUMERS HOUSE BURNED DOWN, IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE FIRE INVESTIGATORS THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY THE FUEL PUMP AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS.*JB
NHTSA ODI #785477
Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2001
Air Bags
AFTER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON.
NHTSA ODI #9004401
Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REAR WHEEL CYLINDER FAILED TWICE, CAUSING UNEQUAL BRAKE PRESSURE. ONE CYLINDER LASTED 1 1/2 YEAR, AND REPLACEMENT PART LASTED ONLY 2 1/2 YEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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.
1997 Chevrolet Lumina Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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