Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
41
Latest Jun 29, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
12%
of 347 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
5
What this page shows
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 41 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming brake
The 25 most recent of 41, in the owner's own words
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
Brakes
Filed Jul 27, 2006
BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE DETECTED BEFORE ANY INCIDENT. CENTER LIGHT FUNCTIONS WHILE SIGNAL/BRAKE COMBINATION LIGHTS FAIL. FAILURE CAUSED BY MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH LOCATED IN STEERING COLUMN. THIS PART CUTS OFF THE BRAKE LIGHT WHEN THE SIGNAL LIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY AT FIRST. THROUGH INTERNET RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND MANY REFERENCES TO THIS PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS 1997, IT ONLY HAS 64K MILES, THUS I WOULD NOT EXPECT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE RELATED TO MODERATE USAGE. IF NOT FIXED, BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE MAY RESULT IN REAR-END COLLISION. *JB
NHTSA ID
10163726
Incident
Jul 26, 2006
Mileage
64,352 mi
Brakes
Filed May 26, 2005
THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THE ONLY ONLE THAT WORK IS THE ONE MOUNTED IN THE REAR WINDOW. THE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK DUE TO BLOWN BULBS. *AK *NM
NHTSA ID
10119807
Incident
Apr 16, 2005
BrakesEngineTires & wheels
Filed Aug 2, 2004
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
NHTSA ID
10084031
Incident
Aug 2, 2004
BrakesSteering
Filed Jun 10, 2004
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
NHTSA ID
10079330
Incident
Mar 12, 2001
Mileage
87,056 mi
BrakesElectricalFuel system
Filed Nov 6, 2003
I HAVE 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA:I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR ALITTLE OVE 2 YEARS AND SINCE I GOT THIS CAR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES TWICE THE ALTERNATOR AND 3 FUEL INJECTORS AND THE BOOSTER PUMP I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL THAT HANDLES ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS .BECAUSE THEN MAYBE I COULD GET HELP FROM MY DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ID
10045560
Incident
Oct 20, 2003
Mileage
55,490 mi
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Jun 30, 2003
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, OUR 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA'S HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT IS THE ONLY ONE TO GO-ON, THE TWO REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WON'T LIGHT; WHEN YOU GENTLY PUSH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER TOWARDS THE DRIVER W/ FOOT APPLIED ON BRAKE PEDAL, ONLY THEN DO ALL THE BRAKE LIGHTS LIGHT-UP...THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, NOW WE HAVE TO PAY A IND. GAS STATION TO REPLACE THE TURN-SIGNAL MODULE W/ LABOR.*AK
NHTSA ID
10025188
Incident
Jun 27, 2003
Mileage
73,900 mi
AirbagsBrakesElectrical
Filed May 25, 2003
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
BrakesEngineExterior lighting+2 more
Filed Oct 16, 2002
CONSUMER STATES ENGINE LOOSES POWER THEN ENGINE DIES, TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REBUILT TRANSMISSION, THE PASSENGER WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN, WATER PUMP FAILED ON JULY 24, FLASHER LEVER BROKE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN, BRAKES INOPERATIVE. MR *NLM
NHTSA ID
8020923
Incident
Mar 15, 2002
Brakes
Filed Oct 16, 2002
Crash reported
BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR SOMETIMES, AND ABS LIGHT ON DASH STAYS ON. MR
NHTSA ID
768513
Incident
Oct 9, 2002
Brakes
Filed Jul 5, 2002
BRAKES MAKE VERY LOUD NOISE WHEN APPLIED, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY BRAKE LINNING BEING COATED OVER. CONSUMER FEELS IF THIS KEEPS HAPPENING, THE VEHICLE CAN LOOSE BRAKE POWER AT ANYTIME.CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *SCC
NHTSA ID
8013328
Incident
Jul 5, 2000
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Feb 8, 2002
Crash reported
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
Brakes
Filed Aug 2, 2001
REAR WHEEL CYLINDER FAILED TWICE, CAUSING UNEQUAL BRAKE PRESSURE. ONE CYLINDER LASTED 1 1/2 YEAR, AND REPLACEMENT PART LASTED ONLY 2 1/2 YEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
893286
AirbagsBrakesEngine+2 more
Filed Jul 9, 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
BrakesElectricalFuel system
Filed Jun 27, 2001
HAD ALTERNATOR THAT WAS REBUILD. ALTERNATOR WENT OUT WHILE VEHICLE WAS GOING 70MPH WITH A/C BLOWING. ALSO, 5-6 MILES MOTOR KEPT CUTTING ON AND OFF, FINALLY STOPPING.. NO ELECTRICITY WAS GETTING TO FUEL PUMP. ONCE VEHICLE CUT OFF PUMP AND BRAKES NO LONGER WORKED. CONSUMER HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO HELP STOP VEHICLE.*AK
NHTSA ID
891511
Incident
Jun 14, 2001
Brakes
Filed Nov 8, 2000
HAVING BRAKES DEFECTS NEEDS TO REPLACE PARTS AFTER THE FIRST 5000 MILES.. *AK
NHTSA ID
736031
Incident
Oct 25, 2000
Brakes
Filed Nov 1, 2000
BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED 3 TIMES IN ONE YEAR & NEED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED. DEALER EVEN REPLACED PADS & TURNED ROTORS FOR PREVIOUS OWNER IN 1997.
NHTSA ID
735548
Brakes
Filed Jul 15, 2000
FRONT BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT ON OUTSIDE, AND INSIDE PADS ARE LIKE NEW, OUTSIDE ROTOR WEARS THIN, INSIDE IS FINE, DEALER SAYS IT IS FINE, CAR HAS 67,000MILES AND BEEN IN 6 TIMES FOR BRAKES, CAR IS DRIVEN 32 MILES A DAY, CONSTANT WEARING OF ROTORS AND PADS. G.M WONT STAND BEHIND THEM. *AK
NHTSA ID
725455
Incident
Oct 16, 1999
Brakes
Filed Jun 8, 2000
HAD FRONT BRAKE PADS INSTALLED DUE TO LIGHT SQUEAL VERY NEXT DAY OF ONSET,ROTORS WERE TURNED,AND BACK BRAKES CLEANED.HAD TO RETURN TO PLACE OF SERVICE DUE TO NOISE COMING FROM REAR BRAKES.WAS TOLD DRUMS NEEDED TO BE TURNED.THEN VIBRATION OF BRAKE PEDAL NOTICED NEXT DAY AGAIN,RETURNED AND WAS TOLD WARPED DRUMS AND WERE RE-TORQUED? STILL VIBRATION WITH PEDAL.WAS TOLD UNSURE WHY.THEN AT SPEEDS OF 40 MILE PER HOUR OR MORE BAD VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING,AND SCREECHING NOISE UPON SUDDEN STOPPING.TOOK TO DEALER WAS TOLD BRAKES PADS ARE FINE WAS TOLD FRONT ROTORS OUT OF ROUND,BUT ADVISED NOT TO RE-TURN THE ROTORS DUE TO LIFESPAN OF ROTORS AFTER HAVING THEM TURNED TWICE?I WAS TOLD THAT IT POSES NO SAFETY THREAT,AND THAT THE SCREECHING NOISE WAS THE FRONT SUSPENSION,THET WITH THESE LUMINAS,THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM,DEALER SAYS WHEN THESE CARS ARE "LIFTED" FOR REPAIR THE "RUBBER" AROUND THEM GIVES OUT AND THEY DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHY.COSTLY REPAIR! DEALER SAID IT IS NOTHING ANYONE DID BUT A RESULT OF HAVING THE CAR "LIFTED" UP IN THE AIR BY THE RACK. I NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING AND AM WONDERING IF THIS HAS EVER BEEN REPORTED,AND ALSO WHY THE ROTORS WOULD BE "OUT OF ROUND" WHEN THE BRAKE PADS WERE NOT WORN COMPLETELY! *AK
NHTSA ID
723763
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
Brakes
Filed May 20, 2000
NO SUMMARY LISTED IN ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
722956
Incident
Feb 20, 2000
Brakes
Filed May 18, 2000
FOR THE LAST YEAR, MOST OF THE TIME, ABS WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. DEALER HAS BEEN CALLED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. MIDAS COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
862122
Incident
Feb 2, 2000
Brakes
Filed Apr 25, 2000
WHILE DRIVING COULD STEP ON THE BRAKES, AND WHEN REVERSING, COULD HEAR A POPPING NOISE FROM THE BRAKES. *AK
TOO LONG BREAKING, VERY DANGEROUS IN EMERGENCY CASES
NHTSA ID
712577
Incident
Sep 9, 1999
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own