RoadVitals

1997 Chevrolet Lumina Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
12
Latest Apr 6, 2012
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.
3%
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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 12 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 exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 6, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION WAS EXTREMELY LOW DIM. THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS IN ORDER TO SEE THE ROADWAY. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMALL FRACTURES IN THE HEADLIGHT LENS. THE CONTACT CLEANED THE HEADLIGHT LENS BUT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE LOW VISIBILITY AND WOULD HAVE TO ACTIVATE THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 5/11/12 *CN

NHTSA ID
10454355
Incident
Dec 15, 2010
Mileage
60,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 5, 2003

TURN SIGNAL WAS INOPERATIVE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. OWNER MADE REPAIRS. *AK THE BLACK PLASTIC ACTUATOR BUTTON FOR THE HAZARD FLASHERS CRACKED DOWN IN THE SHROUD AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE BROKEN PIECE MOVED DOWN INTO THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY FOR THE HAZARD/TURN SIGNAL FLASHER AND BECAME WEDGED. AS A RESULT NEITHER THE HAZARD LIGHTS NOR THE FLASHERS COULD BE ACTIVATED. THE CONSUMER CONSIDERED THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHT SYSTEM IS CONTROL THROUGH THE SAME SWITCH. *PH *NLM

NHTSA ID
8013472
Incident
Jun 8, 2002
Mileage
69,300 mi
ElectricalFuel systemExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Oct 26, 2003

VEHICLE'S TENSIONER AND POWER STEERING FAILED.*MR THE TENSIONER FAILED IN THE DRIVEWAY. OTHER FAILED PARTS INCLUDES FUEL GAUGE, TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, AND ALTERNATOR ( NEW BATTERY REQUIRED AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED). THESE PARTS FAILED BETWEEN 36,500 MILES AND 42,000 MILES. CONSUMER DISAPPOINTED WITH THE LOW MILEAGE FAILURES OF HIS VEHICLE. *PH *NLM

NHTSA ID
10044846
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
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
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 9, 2002

HAZARD LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. OWNER MADE REPAIRS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8013473
Incident
Jun 8, 2002
Fuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Aug 24, 2001
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE THAT THE VEHICLE MELTED DOWN TO THE FRAME, ALSO CONSUMERS HOUSE BURNED DOWN, IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE FIRE INVESTIGATORS THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY THE FUEL PUMP AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS.*JB

NHTSA ID
785477
Incident
Oct 29, 2000
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 12, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO DIM, AND VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT ON BRAKES BUT VEHCILE WOULD NOT STOP. CONSUMER TURNED OFF IGNITION, AND COASTED AND STOPPED. CONSUMEAR FELT SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
892640
Incident
Jul 11, 2001
Fuel systemExterior lighting
Filed May 30, 2001
Fire reported

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
746142
Incident
Oct 29, 2000
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Aug 9, 1999

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT FOR A FEW MINUTES. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
844681
BrakesExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Nov 12, 1997

STOP LAMP SWITCH WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. MJS

NHTSA ID
604268
Incident
Sep 22, 1997
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 24, 1997

DESIGN OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (HEADLIGHTS) DO NOT ALLOW FOR EMERGENCY WARNING, APPLICATION OF THE HIGH BEAMS QUICKLY.

NHTSA ID
523820

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

Steering88Engine53Fuel system50Brakes41Airbags36Electrical25Visibility19Transmission16Body & structure14Driver assistance12Suspension10Seat belts8Interior & seats8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .