IllustrationCAR IS DELAMINATING. *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
What owners actually said
347 reportsTEN MONTHS AFTER THE RACK AND PINION BEARING/ STEERING RECALL 03V527000 REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED IT FAILED. WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SPIN AND CRASH INTO A GUARD RAIL. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AFTER THE CRASH AND INDICATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION BRO…
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TEN MONTHS AFTER THE RACK AND PINION BEARING/ STEERING RECALL 03V527000 REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED IT FAILED. WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SPIN AND CRASH INTO A GUARD RAIL. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AFTER THE CRASH AND INDICATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION BROKE. *AK
CONSUMER STATED FUEL LEAKED. DEALER INDICATED THAT FUEL TANK RUSTED WHICH PRODUCED A HOLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT FUEL LEAKED CONSTANTLY FROM THE VEHICLE. MOVING OR PARKED THE CONSUMER NOTICED A PUDDLE OF GAS UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO LACK OF DRIVING THE FUEL TANK RUSTED OUT. *TC
LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THERE WAS A RECALL ON OTHER GM PRODUCTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. CHEVROLET HOWEVER SAYS MY MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED IN THEIR RECALL. I DISAGREE, BECAUSE THE MANIFOLD GASKET IS A CONTINIUING PROBLEM PREVALENT IF NOT ALL, THAN MOST GM VEHICLES IN THIS TIME PERIOD. *AK
1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA WITH 3.1 L ENGINE. LOWER INTAKE GASKET LEAKING INTO ENGINE. COST TO REPAIR $900 US FROM DEALER. PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY CAUSED BY USING GM DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE AND A DEFECTIVE GASKET. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND KNOWS IT EFFECTS ALL 3.1L AND 3.4L ENGINES PRODUCED FROM AROUND THE MID 1990S TO 2000. N…
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1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA WITH 3.1 L ENGINE. LOWER INTAKE GASKET LEAKING INTO ENGINE. COST TO REPAIR $900 US FROM DEALER. PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY CAUSED BY USING GM DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE AND A DEFECTIVE GASKET. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND KNOWS IT EFFECTS ALL 3.1L AND 3.4L ENGINES PRODUCED FROM AROUND THE MID 1990S TO 2000. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED BY GM SINCE THIS SEAMS NOT TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
1997 LUMINA HAS PAINT PEELING ON THE TRUNK AND SIDES OF CAR. I HAVE SEEN THIS ON SEVERAL OTHER WHITE PAINTED LUMINAS AROUND TOWN AND AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A PAINT DEFECT. THIS PEELING PROCESS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME NOW BUT HAS RECENTLY GOTTEN A LOT WORSE. I TOOK MY CARL TO A LOCAL= MACCO PAINTING PLACE AND THEY SAY …
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1997 LUMINA HAS PAINT PEELING ON THE TRUNK AND SIDES OF CAR. I HAVE SEEN THIS ON SEVERAL OTHER WHITE PAINTED LUMINAS AROUND TOWN AND AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A PAINT DEFECT. THIS PEELING PROCESS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME NOW BUT HAS RECENTLY GOTTEN A LOT WORSE. I TOOK MY CARL TO A LOCAL= MACCO PAINTING PLACE AND THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS A LOT IN WITH GM CARS FROM 1997. THEY EVEN HAD ONE GETTING REPAINTED AS WE SPOKE. TOOK THIS TO A GM DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I HAVE A WHITE LUMINA THAT I CANNOT WASH THE CAR AT THE CAR WASH BECAUSE THE PAINT IS STRIPPED. ALSO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT COMES ON EVERY TIME I START THE CAR. IT WILL LAST TWO OR THREE MINUTES. HAD IT CHECKED AT A LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS IN THEIR COMPUTER EVEN THOUGH THEY SAW THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING HAS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
WHILE MAKING LEFT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING LOT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DRIVER HIT A PARKED CAR AND BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK RECALL#03V527000 *SC *JB FOLLOWUP LETTER SENT BY CONSUMER.…
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WHILE MAKING LEFT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING LOT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DRIVER HIT A PARKED CAR AND BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK RECALL#03V527000 *SC *JB FOLLOWUP LETTER SENT BY CONSUMER. CONSUMER STATES THAT GM PURPOSELY DESRTOYED THE DEFECTIVE PARTS BEFORE THEY COULD BE EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDIENT PARTY. THE VEHICLE CRASHED DUE TO A LOW SPEED LEFT HAND TURN STEERING FAILURE WHICH WAS DOCUMENTED BEFORE THE RECALL OCCURRED. LOWER PINION BEARING SEPARATION WAS MENTIONED ON A LOCAL MEDIA CHANNEL AS THE REASON FOR THE RECAL 1997 CHEVY LUMINAS *TC
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
PROBLEMS GETTING POWER STEERING GEAR LOWER PINION BEARING SEPARATION RECALL REPAIRS COMPLETE.*MR THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXHIBITED CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAKE LEFT TURNS BUT HAD NO PROBLEMS MAKING RIGHT TURNS. THE CONSUMER REQUEST A RENTAL UNTIL HER VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOL…
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PROBLEMS GETTING POWER STEERING GEAR LOWER PINION BEARING SEPARATION RECALL REPAIRS COMPLETE.*MR THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXHIBITED CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAKE LEFT TURNS BUT HAD NO PROBLEMS MAKING RIGHT TURNS. THE CONSUMER REQUEST A RENTAL UNTIL HER VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE A RENTAL. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT SHE WAS NOT IN A FINANCIAL POSITION TO RENT A VEHICLE. *NM
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.