1997 Chevrolet Lumina problems
Owners have filed 438 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina with NHTSA. Steering accounts for 20.5% of them — the clear leader, ahead of engine and engine cooling at 12.8%.
Complaints438
Crashes45
Fires11
Injuries39
Deaths7
What owners report breaking
Steering 20.5% · 90
Engine and engine cooling 12.8% · 56
Fuel system, gasoline 10.0% · 44
Air bags 8.7% · 38
Service brakes, hydraulic 8.7% · 38
Electrical system 6.4% · 28
Power train 4.8% · 21
Visibility 4.6% · 20
Severity
Of those complaints, 45 describe a crash, 11 describe a fire, 39 report an injury and 7 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 10 model years of the Chevrolet Lumina in this data, 1997 sits 5th by complaint volume. 1995 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 6 in the last three years against 16 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 82,968 miles.
In owners' own words
Recall notice received for the replacement of the lower pinion of the rack and pinion gear assembly. *Mr recall#03v527000. After the lower pinion was installed, a noise developed in the steering mechanism. The consumer was told that the rack and gear assembly needed to be replaced. *Sc the manufacturer refused to give approval to replace the rack and pinion again due to the high mileage on the vehicle. Steering
Vehicle was missing the steering shaft seal. *Ph shaft seal was missing after a recall repair was performed on the consumer's vehicle. Also, consumer said that no prior repair was done that could have took off the missing steering shaft seal. Component was installed on the vehicle. Consumer felt that part wasn't present in the vehicle when it was assembled. Called general motors (GM) but has no answer. Steering
After the dealership replaced the lower pinion bearing as stated in recall 03v527000 the vehicle had a severe pull to the right and the steering wheel was hard to control. The consumer took the vehicle back to the dealership. The dealership then replaced the steering gear because they indicated the replacement of the lower pinion steering caused the steering gear to fail. The problem still exist. *Nm Steering · reported at 112,801 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…