1997 Chevrolet Lumina Airbags Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

10935984

Incident

Apr 16, 2012

MY SON WAS IN A BAD ACCIDENT THAT TOTALED THE CAR AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID

10865723

Incident

May 18, 2016

Mileage

165,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10619285

Incident

Jul 19, 2013

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10616176

Incident

Jul 19, 2013

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*LJ UPDATED 09/12/2014 *JS *TR

NHTSA ID

10606844

Incident

Jul 19, 2013

Mileage

100,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DURING PRE-IMPACT BRAKING THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE LOWERED AND WENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE HOOD AND RADIATOR WERE PUSHED BACK HOWEVER THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER. ALTHOUGH SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE, HEAD AND CHEST INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED AT THE SCENE. THE MANUFACTURER AND INSURANCE COMPANY ARE SENDING REPRESENTATIVES TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10158117

Incident

May 22, 2006

Mileage

100,000 mi

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING CRASH. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED AT CRASH IMPACT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10155105

Incident

Mar 23, 2006

Mileage

174,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10053986

Incident

Oct 8, 2003

Mileage

97,070 mi

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT TURN STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS NOT HURT. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SHAFT INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10057781

Incident

Feb 9, 2004

I HAVE A 97 CHEVROLET LUMINA AND STARTED EXPERIENCING STEERING TIGHTNESS WHEN TURNING LEFT. I HEARD ABOUT A RE-CALL SO I TOOK MY CAR TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER FOR HELP. I ASKED THEM IF THEY COULD CHECK THE LOWER PINION BEARING TO SEE IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT ANY RECALL AND SAID THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP WAS OUT. THEY COULDN'T GET THE PART FOR A WEEK. I WAS AFRAID TO CONTINUE DRIVING IT THE WAY IT WAS SO MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE PUMP. THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE IN THE STEERING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THE PUMP WAS FINE BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO FLUSH THE SYSTEM BECAUSE PARTS FROM THE PUMP PROBABLY GOT INTO THE RACK. I AGAIN EXPLAINED TO THEM ABOUT THE UPCOMING RECALL AND THEY TOLD ME IT COULDN'T BE THE PROBLEM. IT WAS GOING TO BE A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THEY COULD GET MY CAR IN TO FLUSH OUT THE SYSTEM AND I ASKED THEM IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE IT THE WAY IT WAS AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM. THAT NEXT DAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY CAR THE STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT. THE STEERING WHEEL JUST STARTED SPINNING. I THINK I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THEM.THEY TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE AND THAT IT STILL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY RECALL. THEY ARE CHARGING 600.00 FOR WHAT THEY FIXED. I ASKED THEM IF I COULD HAVE THE OLD RACK TO HAVE THE LPB CHECKED OUT TO SEE IF IT WAS BAD BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART ANY MORE, THEY SENT IT TO WHERE EVER THEY HAVE THEM RE-BUILT. THEY ARE GOING TO TRY AND GET IT BACK. WHEN THEY TOOK MY CAR FOR A TEST DRIVE AFTER REPLACING THE RACK THEY SAID THAT THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW WANT TO CHARGE ME ANOTHER 325.00 TO FIX THAT. OF COURSE AGAIN, NOTHING TO DO WITH CHANGING THE RACK. CAN YOU TELL ME IF ANY OF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE LPB? I AM AT A LOSS, I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS AND TO ME THIS SOUNDS ABOUT THE SAME. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043299

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

Mileage

163,950 mi

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. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10019263

Incident

May 24, 2003

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. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10015901

Incident

Apr 8, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10015546

Incident

Apr 9, 2003

THE VEHICLE HIT A DEER, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CONSUMER WAS INJURED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10011180

VEHICLE HIT A DEER AT 35-40 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. BUMPER WAS CRACKED AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS DESTROYED. DAMAGE WAS $ 450.00. *AK

NHTSA ID

8008877

Incident

Apr 14, 2002

ON SUNDAY JANUARY 27, 2002 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT TO A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA LS MODEL 4-DOOR SEDAN THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. ABOUT A WEEK AND HALF BEFORE THE ACCIDENT I KNEW I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE STOPPING AND I BROUGHT IT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT HURD BUICK-CHEVROLET-PONTIAC-GMC TRUCKS LOCATED IN JOHNSTON, RI 02919, AND HAD THEM LOOK AT THE BRAKE SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM THAT WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TROUBLE STOPPING AND I HAD TO APPLY A GREAT FORCE ON THE PEDAL AND ALLOW MORE TIMING TO STOP THAN NORMAL. THE AUTO TECHNICIAN SAID NOTHING HE COULD FIND WRONG BUT ADJUSTED THE BRAKES AND CLEANED THEM. A WEEK AND HALF LATER WHILE TRAVELING TO A DRUG STORE I APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE EXCEPT A CONCRETE LIGHT POLE BASE THAT I HIT. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMP, HOOD, AND LIGHTS AND RIGHT FENDER AND THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR IS $3,500.00. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT AND BOTH THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG AND PASSENGER AIRBAG DID NOT DISPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AUTOBODY GARAGE AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR I FELT THE VEHICLE LOST HALF OF ITS BRAKE POWER TO FULLY STOP. I HOPE THIS INCIDENT CAN BE PREVENTED FROM HAPPENING AGAIN  NEXT TIME IT MAY BE FATAL. *AK

NHTSA ID

757962

Incident

Jan 27, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT BECAME ILLUMINATED. HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

8001767

Incident

Jan 4, 2002

THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR HAS 2 HALF DOLLAR SIZE HOLES IN IT ONE BURNT LOOKING AND THE OTHER RIPPED BOTH ON EVEN SIDES THE DRIVERS SIDE ONE DEPLOYED RIGHT BECAUSE HE HAD TO SHOVE MINE OUT OF MY FACE HIS WENT FLAT AUTOMATICALLY THROWING HIM INTO THE WIND SHIELD AND ALSO HIS SEATBELT BROKE FROM THE PLASTIC PART FROM THE DOOR NOT HELPING THE MATTER ANY. *AK

NHTSA ID

756010

Incident

Dec 15, 2001

FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A PHONE POLE AT APPROXIMATELY 15 OR MORE MPH,ESTIMATED DAMAGES WAS $4,700.00. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID

899638

Incident

Nov 15, 2001

THERE IS A ROAR IN THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

562988

AFTER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON.

NHTSA ID

9004401

Incident

Jul 15, 2001

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. *SLC

NHTSA ID

561955

Incident

Jun 18, 1999

AIRBAG MODULE FAILED, THE LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER FLASHING. *SLC

NHTSA ID

557185

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH SEVEN TIMES AND STAY ON. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

866021

IGNITION TURNED ON AND VEHICLE FAILED TO START, HEARD NOISE UNDER DASH AND WHEN VEHICLE FINALLY STARTED THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON, THE AIR BAG EJECT HARNESS SHORTED OUT CAUSING INCIDENT. *ET

NHTSA ID

552939