IllustrationPROBLEMS WITH STEERING EVEN AFTER RECALL REPAIR.*MR AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR THE VEHICLE HAD SIGNIFICANT STEERING AND FRONT END ISSUES THAT WERE NOT PRESENT AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO HER SATISFACTION. *NM
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 reportsWHEN APPLYING THE BRAKESS VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. *AK THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN PULLING INTO PARKINGP LACES, WHEN YIELDING TO PEDESTRIANS AND WHEN PULLING INTO THE GARAGE*NM
THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE FUEL TANK IS 25% FULL WHEN I RAN OUT OF GAS WHILE DRIVING IN AN UNSAFE AREA OF DETROIT AT APPROXIMATELY 10 PM ON AUGUST 14, 2004. *JB
NHTSA RECALL 03V527000 CONCERNIN STEERING GEAR BEARING. A WEEK AFTER THE LOWER PINION BEARING WAS REPLACED THE PROBLEM RECURRED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LOWER PINION BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK
DEALERSHIP REPLACED TWICE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT WAS LEAKING COOLANT INSIDE THE ENGINE. ALSO, TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE WEAR EVERY 3000 TO 4000 MILES. DEALER HAD FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION ALIGNED. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED, BUT EXCESSIVE WEAR STILL PERSISTED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A BRAKE PROBLEM. *AK
THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER SUDDENLY CAME OUT OF THE HOLE ALONG WITH THE SMALL BOLT THAT WAS INSERTED. *MR *SC *JB
NHTSA RECALL 03V527000, WHILE DRIVING FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED. CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL TEMPORARILY. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE RECALL ONCE, BUT CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS IN THIS AREA. TEAM CHEVROLET, 626-449-3333. *AK
THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY ON 10-2003. IT WILL SHOW FULL WHEN EMPTY. IN CHECKING THE WEB, I HAVE FOUND MANY OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, SINCE SOMEONE CAN RUN OUT OF FUEL IN A BUSY INTERSTATE, OR LOCAL ROAD AND CAUSE A SERIOUS OR DEADLY ACCIDENT.*AK THIS IS A SERIO…
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THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY ON 10-2003. IT WILL SHOW FULL WHEN EMPTY. IN CHECKING THE WEB, I HAVE FOUND MANY OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, SINCE SOMEONE CAN RUN OUT OF FUEL IN A BUSY INTERSTATE, OR LOCAL ROAD AND CAUSE A SERIOUS OR DEADLY ACCIDENT.*AK THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT I THINK NHTSA SHOULD LOOK INTO AND HAVE GM RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND REPAIR THESE DEFECTS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANY SAFETY RECALLS ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM.
ON JUNE 8, 2004 MY DAUGTER INFORMED ME THAT SHE AND HER MOM HAVE BEEN SMELLING A STRONG ODER OF GAS IN THE CAR. WHEN I CHECKED THE CAR I FOUND LARGE PUDDLE OF GAS UNDER THE CAR. I MOVED THE CAR AND TOUCHED IT, SMELLED IT AND IT WAS GAS, I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND FOUND THE GAS TANK WAS DRIPPING. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED AN…
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ON JUNE 8, 2004 MY DAUGTER INFORMED ME THAT SHE AND HER MOM HAVE BEEN SMELLING A STRONG ODER OF GAS IN THE CAR. WHEN I CHECKED THE CAR I FOUND LARGE PUDDLE OF GAS UNDER THE CAR. I MOVED THE CAR AND TOUCHED IT, SMELLED IT AND IT WAS GAS, I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND FOUND THE GAS TANK WAS DRIPPING. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED AND FOUND A ROUND RUSTED AREA ABOUT THE SIZE OF DIME. BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION, IT APPEARED TO BE LOCATED RIGHT UNDER THE FUEL PUMP. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE EXTERIOR DAMAGE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS FROM THE OUTSIDE. TODAY, JUNE JUNE 12, 2004 I DISCONNECTED THE FUEL LINES REMOVED THE TANK AND PUMPED THE GAS OUT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FILTER, WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE FUEL PUMP, HAS CAUSED THE PROBLEM. IT RUSTED WHERE THE BRASS FILTER SCREEN HAS BEEN RUBBING ON THE TANK.*AK THE REASON IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL PUMP, ONCE THE PUMP IS DROPPED IN THE FUEL TANK THE PUMP IS HELD UNDER SPRING PRESSURE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. IN TIME THE CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE, AS WELL AS FUEL, SLOSHING IN THE TANK HAS CAUSE THE FILTER TO RUB AGANIST THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK AND HAS DAMAGED THE SPECIAL COATING THAT G.M. LITERATURE SAYS THE TANK IS COVERED WITH. ONCE THIS COATING WORE OFF, THE TANK BEGAN RUSTING AND THE BRASS FUEL FILTER SHOWS THE DISCOLORATION FROM THE ELECTROLISIS CREATED BY THE CONTACT WITH THE STEEL TANK. THIS IS ALSO A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, WHICH CAN LEAD TO AN EXPLOSION. IN FACT MY WIFE WAS GLAD YESTERDAY THAT SHE WAS DRIVING WITH OUR DAUGHTER IN OUR CONVERSION VAN WHEN SHE WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT TWO DAYS AGO. SHE FELT THAT THE CAR COULD HAVE EXPLODED IF SHE HAD BEEN REAR ENDED IN THIS CAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT I THINK NHTSA SHOULD LOOK INTO AND HAVE GM RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND REPAIR THESE DEFECTS PLEASE LET ME KNOW IS THERE IS ANY SAFETY RECALL ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM.
REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL REPAIRS MADE TO 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA.*MR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE. ALMOST THREE YEARS LATER THE CONSUMER RECEIVES A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE SHE EXPERIENCED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUF…
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REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL REPAIRS MADE TO 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA.*MR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE. ALMOST THREE YEARS LATER THE CONSUMER RECEIVES A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE SHE EXPERIENCED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE PART THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED WAS NOT THE PART COVERED BY RECALL 03V527000. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP ND FRONT BRAKES. *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.