1997 Chevrolet Lumina Problems

I'M DRIVING AND MY STEERING IS TIGHT AND WHEN TURNING WHILE IN MOTION AND WHILE ITS PARK. YOU CAN ALSO SMELL LIKE SOME THING BURNING

KEY STUCK IN ON POSITION WILL NOT ALLOW ENGINE TO BE TURNED OFF IN EITHER PARK OR NEUTRAL. WILL TURN TOWARDS START. CAR WILL DRIVE BUT UNABLE TO TURN CAR OFF UNLESS POWER IS UNPLUGGED FROM STEERING COLUMN. WAS AT WORK WITH NO WAY TO TURN CAR OFF HAD TO LEAVE RUNNING TILL POWER WAS DISCONNECTED. UPON RESEARCH FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE REPORTED FOR THE 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED COMPLETELY LOSING ALL POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TIRE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE, THE ENGINE MOUNTS HAD FALLEN OUT, AND THERE WERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE TIE ROAD AND ENGINE MOUNT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 199,876.

ENGINE FIRE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BURN COMPLETELY. *TR

I NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE. INITIAL SEARCHES FOR THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, BUT AFTER1 - 2 WEEKS IT GOT WORSE AND I WAS ABLE TO FIND IT EASILY. THE PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS LEAKING. I CHECKED FOR A RELATED RECALL AND FOUND THAT UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR'S) PRODUCED AFTER 1/9/07 HAD BEEN RECALLED, BUT MINE, I BELIEVE, IS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT PRESSURE REGULATOR. NEVERTHELESS, IT MAY HAVE A DESIGN DEFECT. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 161,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT FAILURE OF A PART WITH THAT MANY MILES ON IT WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SAFETY-RELATED FAILURE. I SOUGHT OUT THE NHTSA SITE TO TRY TO FIND OUT IF THAT IS THE CASE, OR NOT. THE "INCIDENT DATE" NOTED BELOW IS THE DATE I FOUND THE LEAK. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE, AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *TR

CONSUMER STATED FUEL LEAKED. DEALER INDICATED THAT FUEL TANK RUSTED WHICH PRODUCED A HOLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT FUEL LEAKED CONSTANTLY FROM THE VEHICLE. MOVING OR PARKED THE CONSUMER NOTICED A PUDDLE OF GAS UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO LACK OF DRIVING THE FUEL TANK RUSTED OUT. *TC

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

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

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.

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED COMPLETELY LOSING ALL POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TIRE RODS WERE DEFECTIVE, THE ENGINE MOUNTS HAD FALLEN OUT, AND THERE WERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE TIE ROAD AND ENGINE MOUNT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 199,876.

THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN ON THE CHEVROLET LUMINA 4DR. I HAD THE WINDOW FIXED FOR ABOUT $400.00 AND 90 DAYS LATER THE WINDOW DID NOT ROLL DOWN AGAIN, JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY ON THE WORK WAS OVER. *NM

REAR DEFROSTER FAILED TO CLEAR REAR WINDOW. DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR WINDOW SHOULD BE REPLACED BUT AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. VEHICLE WAS NOW AT ITS SIXTH REPAIR. *AK *LA

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

WHILE COASTING AND APPLY GAS, VEHICLE WILL DOWNSHIFT INTO NEUTRAL INSTEAD OF ANOTHER GEAR. DEALER CONTACTED.*JB THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A STICKING TRANSMISSION VALVE. *YH

WHILE DRIVING HOME ONE DAY ANOTHER DRIVER HIT THE SIDE OF THE CAR CLOSE TO THE HEADLIGHT ON THE DRIVER SIDE THIS HIT CAUSED ME TO NO LONGER BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY.

I KNOW OF SEVERAL OWNERS OF CHEVY LUMINA WHERE PAINTS IS PEELING AND ENGINE FAILURE IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO START AN INVESTIGATION. *TR

I'M DRIVING AND MY STEERING IS TIGHT AND WHEN TURNING WHILE IN MOTION AND WHILE ITS PARK. YOU CAN ALSO SMELL LIKE SOME THING BURNING

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

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

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 RECALL 03V527000, WHILE DRIVING FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED. CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL TEMPORARILY. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE RECALL ONCE, BUT CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS IN THIS AREA. TEAM CHEVROLET, 626-449-3333. *AK

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA SEDAN (WHICH WE HAVE OWNED SINCE NEW WITH NO PRIOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE) ON HER WAY TO WORK ON A LOCAL EXPRESSWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE SHOCK TOWER DRAGGED THE GROUND, THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE THRUST LEFT INTO A CONCRETE CENTER MEDIAN DIVIDER AFTER CROSSING 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC, CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AND DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THIS WAS DURING THE MORNING RUSH HOUR, NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED. UPON INVESTIGATION OF THE SEPARATED WHEEL, THE SPINDLE HAD FAILED. THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE STILL NICELY GREASED AND FREE. THE BRAKE DRUM WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE HUB WITH ALL OF THE LUG NUTS COMPLETELY TIGHTENED. MY WIFE LOST HER JOB AND WAS OFF WORK FOR OVER 4 MOS. FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED FROM THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS BY OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER TO THIS POINT HAS REFUSED AND COMPENSATION STEMMING FROM THE INCIDENT.*AK

UPON HEAD ON IMPACT THE REAR SEATBACK BENT FORWARD AND CRUSHED MY DAUGHTER BETWEEN THE SEATBELT AND THE REAR SEAT. DT

THE SEATBELT BECAME VERY TIGHT ON MY DAUGHTER, I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE SHOULDER BELT TO RELEASE (IT SHOULD WHEN THE BELT IS FED INTO THE UPPER PART0 IT WOULD NOT RELEASE, AND BECAME TIGHTER. MY DAUGHTER WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT SO WE CUT THE BELT TO GET HER REMOVED FROM THE SEAT BELT. THE OPPOSITTE SIDE WORKS CORRECTLY. WE WERE TOLD THERE IS NO WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THE MILAGE ON THE CAR. I ASKED ABOUT IT BEING A SAFETY FEATURE OF THE CAR, THEY SAID IT DIDN'T MATTER. COST APPROX. $130.00. *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT KEEPS RECLINING.*AK

WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP SEAT BROKE FROM TRACK AND ANCHOR. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD BECOME FLAT. HE BEGAN CHANGING THE TIRE AND NOTICED THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS DEFECTIVE. A WEEK PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE REPAIRED FOR THE SAME DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000. UPDATED 07/08/08. *BF FOUR TIRES AND VALVE STEMS WERE REPLACED IN MAY 2006. THEY HAVE SINCE BEEN REPLACED AGAIN IN JUNE 2008. UPDATED

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

THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER SUDDENLY CAME OUT OF THE HOLE ALONG WITH THE SMALL BOLT THAT WAS INSERTED. *MR *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH AXLE CAME AWAY FROM TRANSMISSION, CAUSING WHEEL TO COME OFF.*AK

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN AN ELK RAN OUT INFRONT OF HIM. HE SWERVED LEFT TO AVOID THE ELK, THE CAR OR WHEELS OR STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE CAR WAS THROWN TO THE RIGHT CAUSING IT TO ROLL 4 TO 5 TIMES. *TR

ALL FIVE BOLTS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE BROKE AT THE SAME TIME, CAUSING MY ENTIRE WHEEL TO FALL OFF. PART OF THE BOLTS REMAINED ON THE CARE AND THE OTHER HALF OF THE BOLTS ROLLED DOWN THE STREET ON THE WHEEL. THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS A DEFECT.*AK

THERE IS A ROAR IN THE ENGINE.