31 of the 312 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina are about the electrical system — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 71,000 miles.
31
Complaints
3
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA, BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING EXCEPT FOR IN THE REAR WINDOW. IF THAT BULB WERE TO BURN OUT, I WOULD HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS AT ALL. I HAVE DISCOVERED, AND I AM SURE, THAT YOU ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN CORRECTED?
NHTSA complaint #10165369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
ON 7/20/03 THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED IN MY 1996 CHEVROLET. LUMINA. UPON STARTING THE CAR, WHILE STILL IN PARK, THE GAS PEDAL PULLED TO THE FLOORBOARD & THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD OUT OF CONTROL. THE BRAKES FAILED. WHILE DODGING PEOPLE, HOMES, AND VEHICLES, I TRIED STOPPING THE CAR BY TURNING OFF THE IGNITION TO CUT POWER TO THE MOTOR BUT THIS ONLY OPENED THE THROTTLE. THE LAST THING I REMEMBER WAS A LOUD WHINE, SCREAMING & BLACKING OUT. I AWOKE FROM A CONCUSSION CRASHED INTO A TREE WITH FACIAL, BRAIN, AND SPINAL INJURIES. GM INVESTIGATED AND STATED THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT RELEASE THE INVESTIGATION REPORT TO ME. I CANNOT FIND AN ATTORNEY TO SUE THEM. THIS WAS NOT DUE TO DRIVER ERROR. THE CAR WAS IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER PRIOR TO THE BATTERY BEING CHANGED CORRECTLY. THE 2004 OLDS ALERO WAS RECALLED FOR A STICKING ACCELERATOR. THE MPH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MALFUNCTION OF THE CAR, 0 (ZERO); WHEN THE CAR PLOWED INTO THE TREE SPLATTERING ME INTO THE WINDSHIELD HEAD FIRST LIKE A BUG, 60+ ESTIMATED BY WITNESSES. INSURANCE TOTALED THE CAR & SOLD TO SALVAGE EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE HOLDING IT FOR ME WHILE UNDERGOING EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT. I TRACKED DOWN THE SALVAGE YARD FOR GM AND AN INVESTIGATOR EXAMINED THE CAR BUT WILL NOT TELL ME WHAT HE FOUND OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10136850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON CAR STOPPED WORKING, AND I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE ALTERNATOR. WHAT A HASSLE.
NHTSA complaint #10030388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT CRANK, OTHER TIMES IT WILL HESITATE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE NOT BEING OPERABLE. MECHANIC HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND STATED COULD NOT FIND CAUSE, REPORTED BY OWNER OF VEHICLE.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8007605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
CONSUMER HAD NOTICED SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH ALTENATOR WICH HAD TO BE REPLACED ONES A YEAR. DEALER WA CONTACTED, PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8005357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE PARKED CONSUMER TRIED TO START VEHICLE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ALTERNATOR WENT OUT TWICE WITHIN TWO YEARS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR, WHICH WAS THE SECOND ONE TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #896305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
AIR BAG MODULE WIRING TRAPPED BEHIND MODULE PREVENTING HORN TO WORK PROPERLY. WIRING NOT IN CLIP ON BACK OF AIR BAG TO PREVENT THIS.
NHTSA complaint #743331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
OWNER OF REPAIR SHOP NOTICED THAT WIRING WHICH LED TO FUEL PUMP MELTED WITHIN FUEL TANK.
NHTSA complaint #876569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT THE ALTERNATORS LAST IS SHORTENING EACH TIME. I HAVE SEARCHED THE GM WEBSITE FOR A POSSIBLE SOLUTION AND DISCOVERED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IT HAD 29, 179 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST ALTERNATOR WENT OUT AT 34,000 MILES (THE DEALER REPLACED IT). THE SECOND ALTERNATOR WENT OUT AT 65,000 (AT A COST OF $265). THE MOST RECENT REPLACEMENT WAS AT 97,000+ MILES. THERE WAS A POSSIBLE FIX POSTED ON THE GM WEBSITE SUGGESTING THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW.
NHTSA complaint #726071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
ORIGINAL BATTERY FAILED 8/29/97, REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ON 5/10/00 REPLACEMENT LEAKED ACID ON CABLE, STARTER AND ENGINE. FLORIDA DEALER CHARGED $410.12 TO REPLACE BATTERY, CABLE AND CLEAN STARTER. SUSPECTED CAUSE, OVERHEATING. BATTERY IS MOUNTED OVER LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL WITH COVER ALLOWING LITTLE IF ANY COOLING.
NHTSA complaint #724504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
ORIGINAL BATTERY FAILED 8/29/97, REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ON 5/10/00 REPLACEMENT LEAKED ACID ON CABLE, STARTER AND ENGINE. FLORIDA DEALER CHARGED $410.12 TO REPLACE BATTERY, CABLE AND CLEAN STARTER. SUSPECTED CAUSE, OVERHEATING. BATTERY IS MOUNTED OVER LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL WITH COVER ALLOWING LITTLE IF ANY COOLING.
NHTSA complaint #724504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEELWHILE HE WAS TURNING AROUND THE CURB. VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER TWICE. CONSUMER CRAWLED OUT OF VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THEN CAR BURSTED INTO FLAMES, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER WASN'T HURT.
NHTSA complaint #861082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
VEHICLE HAD STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED THE ALTERNATOR CAUSED THE STALLING. NO INDICATION OF WHY ALTERNATOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #854965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION KEY FREEZES IN THE IGNITION SWITCH DURING FREEZING WEATHER ONLY RELEASING WHEN THAWED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #544052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
THE STARTER MOTOR HAS A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH AND THE SOLENOID IS ATTACHED, AND EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE WILL GO DEAD/WILL NOT START. HAD TO BE TOWED. THE VEHICLE NOW MAKES A HISSING NOISE WHEN STARTING UP. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. POSSIBILITY IT HAS TO DO WITH THE KEYS OR JUST THE MOTOR.
NHTSA complaint #824307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
PCM COMPUTER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #605351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SPARK PLUG FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #603574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HORN INTERMITTENTLY GOING OFF FOR NO REASON. DEALER REPAIRED HORN APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRED A YEAR LATER, GIVEN A DAY OR TWO.
NHTSA complaint #830085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
RECALL WORK TO INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS IN THE FUEL PUMP'S ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CAN NOT BE DONE DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY OF PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #514124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SPARK PLUG CRACKED.
NHTSA complaint #532738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED IN THE DASHBOARD DUE TO SHORTED OUT COMPONENT.
NHTSA complaint #530647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN IS VERY HARD TO PRESS DUE TO DESIGN.
NHTSA complaint #525390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
COMPUTER FAILURE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.
NHTSA complaint #602757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #512186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN COMMUNICATION SYSTEM IS ASSEMBLED INCORRECTLY, CAUSING THE HORN NOT TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY, LOSS OF SOUND. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN THE WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN AFTER A CAR WASH OR RAIN THE WATER COMES DOWN FREELY ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. DEALER ADVISED THAT THE HORN IS N THE PROXIMITY OF THE AIR BAG WHICH KEEPS IT FROM SOUNDING AND THAT WAS THE WAY VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT.
NHTSA complaint #805793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #505145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ACTIVATE THE HORN/ WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A COLLISION BECAUSE DRIVER COULD NOT LOCATE THE HORN.
NHTSA complaint #511169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
COMPUTER/BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THREE WARNING LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH, AS WELL AS AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #508556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
IN WET AND DRY WEATHER THE BRAKES DON'T STOP CAR, IT SLOWS IT DOWN . *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE GLIDES TO A STOP. STARTER MAKES STRANGE NOISE. MOUNTING BOLT MISSING FROM RADIO CAUSING RATTLING NOISE. DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY WORKS IMPROPERLY. WINDOW STICKING, DEALER ADJUSTED UPPER DOOR AND WINDOW MOLDINGS ALONG TRACK. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #800577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.