25 of the
598 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Lumina APV
are about the steering —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1990.
CATASTROPHIC SUB FRAME FAILURE. AFTER 16 YEARS OF SALTED NE OHIO ROADS THE VAN'S FRONT SUB FRAME COLLAPSED AND MADE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT WOULD JOLT FROM LANE TO LANE WHILE SHIFTING, AND HAD LOST MOST STEERING CONTROL. MECHANICS REPLACED OVER $700 OF PARTS TRYING TO FIX THE ISSUE UNTIL A FRIEND FOUND THE REAL CULPRIT OF THE CLUNKING AND LOST STEERING. PLEASE BE VERY WARY OF GM PRODUCTS IN THE RUST BELT. REPLACEMENT OF SUB FRAME SOLVED ALL ISSUES PROCURED FROM INITIAL PROBLEM HOWEVER, AND IT IS FAIRLY INEXPENSIVE TO HAVE A SUB FRAME SHIPPED UP HERE FROM ARIZONA ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE ENGINES/TRANS IN THESE VEHICLES WERE JUST ABOUT BULLET PROOF AND IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO JUNK SUCH A RELIABLE RUNNING VEHICLE. GOOD VEHICLE OTHERWISE AND THE UNIBODY IS GALVANIZED, SO THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS SOUND.
NHTSA complaint #10366248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL ROADWAY, THE STEERING COUPLER OF THE STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE STEERING COUPLER WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
NHTSA complaint #10165674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT OF POWER STEERING, LOST STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. REPLACED RACK AND PINION. *BF THE VEHICELK RACK AND PINION FAIELD PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED, THE ALTERNATOR, AIR CONDITIONING AND WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY ALSO FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10099926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
REAR CRADLE BOLT ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS PULLING THROUGH THE RETAINER AFFECTING STEERING CONTROL. RELATED RECALL 97V058000. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED THAT RECALL HAS EXPIRED AND THEY ARE NO LONGER HONORING IT. PH
NHTSA complaint #10006494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING LEAK, DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION, CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING COOLER WAS MISSING. *SLC ALSO UPON INSPECTION CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS ROTTED OUT AND WAS ADVISED THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. *JG
NHTSA complaint #565229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING LEAK, DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION, CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING COOLER WAS MISSING. *SLC ALSO UPON INSPECTION CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS ROTTED OUT AND WAS ADVISED THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. *JG
NHTSA complaint #565229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE WIPERS WILL JUST QUIT AT RANDOM. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THE HEATER CORE STARTED LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. BOTH BALL JOINTS WENT BAD AROUND 30,000 MILES, ONE UNDER WARRANTY, ONE JUST AFTER 36.000 MILES. THE POWER STEERING PUMP STARTED LEAKING AT THE PUMP SHAFT AND MADE A REAL MESS OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BEFORE IT WAS REPLACED. AND I DIDN'T REPORT YET THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD STARTED LEAKING OIL RECENTLY AND IS UNDER REPAIR RIGHT NOW. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEEDED ALOT OF REPAIRS THAT A QUALITY PRODUCT WOULDN'T HAVE HAD.
NHTSA complaint #764202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE WERE AT A STOPLIGHT AND MADE A RIGHT TURN AND HEARD AN AWFUL CLUNK - WE PROCEEDED ABOUT 1/2 MILE AND TRIED TO PULL INTO OUR PARKING SPACE AND OUR STEERING WHEEL ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD ONLY "SPIN AROUND". WE COULD NOT TURN THE CAR AT ALL - WE HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK - HAD IT TOWED ACROSS THE STREET TO OUR SHOP. THIS COULD HAVE CREATED A TRAGEDY HAD IT BEEN OUT ON THE FREEWAY.
NHTSA complaint #757175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING 25 TO 30 MPH WHEN THE CARRIAGE DROPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE STEERING TO ALSO BE PULLED OUT. THE ENGINE DROPPED APPROXAMATELY 6 INCHES AND THE TIE RODS WHERE ALSO BENT.
NHTSA complaint #748726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL DISANGAGED, AND HAD TO PULL TO SIDE AND WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TOW VEHICLE TO A NEAR SHOP, WHERE GEAR STEERING GEAR BOX BOX WAS REPLACED, BUT NOT UNDER RECALL 97 V 058 000M. CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR IT.
NHTSA complaint #888073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE! THE TILT-STEERING LOCKING MECHANISM DISENGAGED IN A TIGHT STEERING MANEUVER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. LOCKING MECH. THEN WAS TOTALLY INOPERATIVE. STEERING WHEEL TILTED UP AND DOWN FREELY, AND TILTED SLIGHTLY TO LEFT. VEHICLE DID RESPOND TO STEERING, BUT WAS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AS A CAREER RELIABILITY ENGINEER/QUALITY MANAGER, I ASSESS THIS AS A LIFE-THREATENING MAJOR FAILURE THAT NEVER SHOULD HAPPEN. MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER REP IGNORED MY COMPLAINT ON EXCUSE THAT "VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY." I PAID HIGHLY FOR REPAIR; YET CHEVY HAS A SAFETY PROBLEM. PLEASE DO INVESTIGATE THIS TYPE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #736283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE COVER OF THE STEERING WHEEL POPPED OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A LEFT HAND TURN. THE COVER LOCKED BETWEEN THE SPOOKE OF THE STEERING AND THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, AND THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE STRAIGHTENED UP BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #820185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#97VO58000) BACK IN JUNE. CALLED THE CHEVROLET DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THEY HAD NO PARTS. CALLED OTHER CHEVROLET DEALERS IN AREA AND NONE OF THEM HAD PARTS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #816334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN RAINY CONDITIONS OR DRIVING OVER WATER PUDDLES, THE POWER STEERING WHEELS COME LOOSE WHEN DRIVING. THE WATER COMES ON THE POWER STEERING BELT AND CAUSES IT TO SLIP, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROLWHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *A
NHTSA complaint #810237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING VEHICLE AND STEERING TIGHTER THAN USUAL REGARDLESS OF TRAVELING SPEED, CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE ONTO RAMP, CHANGED OIL AND HEARD THUMP NOISE. LOOKED INSIDE STEERING WHEEL COULD BE SPUN IN CIRCLES. DROVE VEHICLE OFF RAMP, REAR PART OF FRONT FRAME HANGING DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #809526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.