RoadVitals

1997 Chevrolet Lumina Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension 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.
10
Latest Jun 16, 2004
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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 10 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 suspension

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

Suspension
Filed Jun 16, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10079355
Incident
May 13, 2004
Mileage
50,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 23, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
10067707
Incident
Sep 22, 2003
Mileage
108,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Feb 20, 2003

THE FRONT SUSPENSION MADE A POPPING NOISE, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*JB

NHTSA ID
10008950
Incident
May 3, 1997
Mileage
51,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Jun 6, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH RIGHT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE, CAUSING MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL ALSO, DRIVESHAFT DISCONNECTED FROM TRANSMISSION. DEALER / MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK GM ENDED UP PAYING FOR ALMOST OF THE REPAIR BILL, CONSUMER STATES IF VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELLING ANY FASTER, VEHICLE COULD HAVE ROLLED OVER CAUSING INJURIES OR FATALITIES. *SLC

NHTSA ID
889933
Incident
Jun 6, 2001
Suspension
Filed Mar 6, 2001

SUSPENSION MAKES A POPING AND SCRUNCHING NOISE WHILE MAKING A TURN AT LOW SPEEDS. THERE IS A TSB ON SAME PROBLEM. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET.*AK

NHTSA ID
882261
Incident
Dec 23, 2000
EngineSteeringSuspension+2 more
Filed Apr 7, 1999

ENGINE AT COLD IDLE IS KNOCKING AGAIN, 7000 MILES SINCE NEW PISTIONS, TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AGAIN AFTER 7000 MILES, FRONT END SUSPENSION DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT 6 TIMES.

NHTSA ID
705354
Incident
Apr 1, 1998
Suspension
Filed Jul 26, 1998

ALIGNMENT MALFUNCTION MAKES VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. PROBLEM INTENSIFIES WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ABOVE 60 MPH.

NHTSA ID
538937
Incident
Nov 14, 1997
Driver assistanceSuspension
Filed Dec 23, 1997

DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID
527084
Incident
Jun 1, 1997
Suspension
Filed Dec 11, 1997

SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, CAUSING GRINDING/RATTLING NOISES, REPAIRS HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
526069
BrakesExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Nov 12, 1997

STOP LAMP SWITCH WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. MJS

NHTSA ID
604268
Incident
Sep 22, 1997

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .