10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,115 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #18

Apr 162012

Lumina

  • miles
Dashboard cover on passenger side airbag has detached/pulled away and buckled up from the foam air bag casing. GM/Chevrolet was notified of the problem via phone. The response given by GM/Chevrolet representative was that the car was too old to warrant their attention/repair. This does not answer the question, if the air bag will deploy properly. The Chevrolet dealership stated that they would replace and paint it at cost and04/16/2012 labor paid by customer. Auto insurance has referred the problem to the manufacturer. This problem has been progressive in nature, beginning approximately 4 years ago.

- Ocala, FL, USA

problem #17

May 182016

Lumina

  • 165,000 miles
My son was in a bad accident that totaled the car and the air bags did not deploy.

- Boswell, PA, USA

problem #16

Jul 192013

Lumina

  • miles
Lost control of the vehicle driving home. Crashed. Police report is identical to steering recall. Which never was repaired. The VIN number I have at home. Neither airbag deployed even though I smashed into a culvert.

- Springfield, MO, USA

problem #15

Jul 192013

Lumina

  • miles
I was driving home veered off the left side of the road lost control the power steering went out spun in circles until finally hitting a concrete culvert neither airbag deployed. I broke 4 vertebraes 7 ribs and received a traumatic brain injury. Couldn't even recall my parents foe months or even they lived together. Laid in the car til paramedic found me about an hor later. The airbag was designed to prevent head injury. The 1997 Chevy Lumina failed horribly. Plus tendays in a coma lost a $50 K yr job and sent to a nursing home to spend my 33rd, thanksgnd christmas in until I was released from guardianship. 12/30/13 please help! how is the 1997 Malibu different than all the Luminas recalls? same year. GM istrying to cut there costs oh but they messed up.

- Springfield, MO, USA

problem #14

Jul 192013

Lumina 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
I was traveling home. Lost control and could not turn. The steering went out, and fuel system. I was left in a coma for ten days. My airbag did not deploy like it was developed to do. I received a traumatic brain injury because of the lack of it deploying broke 11 bones. 7 ribs and four vertebraes. Spent a month in lester E cox hospital (South), 4 months in the university or Missouri brain injury unit was awarded a state guardian, [xxx], and spent 3 months in maries manor located in vienna Missouri. The state guardian cleaned me out of all assets even though I had two insurances. One cigna and one medicaid. So none of my money went to medical care but to pay his 3 attorney fees. My traumatic brain injury I deal with every day. It does not go away. For life. Your firm covered up nearly 15 years of another recall that does not deploy the airbag in many vehicles. No more! 11 months is too long. Please investigate my accusation. I am a member of thr Missouri brain injury association. And all my medical care can and will be verified. You have my contact info updated 09/05/14 updated 09/12/2014

- Springfield, MO, USA

problem #13

Oct 082003

Lumina 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 97,070 miles
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. Recall#03V527000 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

- Whittier, CA, USA

problem #12

May 242003

Lumina

  • miles
Between November 2002 and May 2003, I have gone through 4 batteries and 3 visits to the dealer for electrical "shorts." Either the antilock brake warning light, or the airbag warning light would come on, and the interior dash lights would become increasingly dim indicating a battery drain. Within a day or two, the battery would be completely drained, and there is no power at all. The dealer reports finding problems in the battery cells and shorts in the harness under the dash each time, but the problem persists.

- Jamaica Plain, MA, USA

problem #11

Apr 082003

Lumina

  • miles
The vehicle was hit on the front passenger side but the air bag did not deploy which caused minor injuries to the consumer. The dealer was notified.

- Hope Mills, NC, USA

problem #10

Apr 092003

Lumina

  • miles
While driving the vehicles air bag light illuminated. The dealer has been notified.

- Duluth, MN, USA

problem #9

Oct 131999

Lumina

  • miles
Air bag lights stays on, the dealer cleared connection, cleared codes and also replaced passenger side module but the lightis still on.

- Lufkin, TX, USA

problem #8

Jan 042002

Lumina

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving air bag light became illuminated. Have not contacted dealership.

- St.Simons Island, GA, USA

problem #7

Oct 131999

Lumina

  • miles
Air bag lights stays on, the dealer cleared connection, cleared codes and also replaced passenger side module but the lightis still on.

- Lufkin, TX, USA

problem #6

Jun 181999

Lumina

  • miles
Vehicle has experienced brake problems, front rotors have been replaced twice, front brake pads have been replaced, rear shoes glazed. Steering gear replaced due to consumer losing power steering while driving, power steering pump was replaced, rack was also replaced. Water pump was leaking and was replaced. Air bag light illuminated, dealer stated sir coil inoperative.

- Massillon, OH, USA

problem #5

Nov 092000

(reported on)

Lumina

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Airbag module failed, the light stayed on after flashing.

- Bedford, VA, USA

problem #4

Jul 262000

(reported on)

Lumina

  • miles
While starting vehicle air bag indicator light would flash seven times and stay on. Dealer has been contacted.

- Merid, AL, USA

problem #3

Oct 281999

Lumina

  • miles
Airbag indicator light on instrument cluster always on, indicating that airbag is non-operational. Dealer cited a technical service bulletin on service order, but repairs quoted to be paid by owner. Problem is related to high resistance in the wiring harness for the airbag. I have talked with other owners of 1997 Lumina's who have had the same problem (people I work with). This is too common of a problem to be left as a tsb. This should be corrected (recall or otherwise). I have a complaint with Chevrolet customer service as well (complaint file #990567661) if the airbag is non-operational because of this, any passenger riding in my vehicle is not protected by a supposed safety feature for which insurance companies provide discounts. I have noticed a single airbag tsb across many 1997 Chevrolet models in my online searches. I think this is an extremely widespread problem that should be addressed.

- Citrus Heights, CA, USA

problem #2

Dec 311996

Lumina

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Air bag light continually on, consumer took vehicle in for repair and while in for repair false deployment of air bag causing damage to vehicle's interior.(attorney for consumer).

- Valley Gro, WV, USA

problem #1

Apr 211998

Lumina

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Anti lock brakes failed resulting in an accident, no deployment of air bag during collision.

- Blue Sprin, MO, USA