28 of the 438 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina are about the electrical system — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 65,245 miles.
28
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #10619285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #10325427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TWICE NOW WHEN TRYING TO START MY 1997 LUMINA LIGHTS COME ON AND CAR WON'T TURN OVER. SOMETHING MUST BE GOING ON WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE CAR AND LEAVING THE KEY ON, THE CAR KICKED OVER. ANY REASON FOR THIS TYPE FOR BEHAVIOR. GRANTED I KNOW THE CAR IS GETTING OLDER, BUT AT 87K MILES IT MAKES ME UNEASY TO GO ON ANY LONG JAUNTS.
NHTSA complaint #10259288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ONE DAY, AND WHEN SHUTTING IT OFF BRIEFLY IN A FRIENDS DRIVEWAY, IT REFUSED TO START. I HAD ACCESSORY POWER, BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT CRANK. AFTER CHECKING THAT THERE WAS A GOOD CONNECTION WITH THE BATTERY, THERE WAS STILL NO ABILITY TO CRANK. AFTER TRYING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES MULTIPLE TIMES, THE CAR FINALLY TURNED OVER AND STARTED. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT HOME, WHICH TOOK ABOUT 1 HOUR, BUT THE SECURITY LIGHT KEPT INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON AND TURNING OFF. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS WAS THAT I ALMOST STRANDED AN HOUR AWAY FROM HOME, AND NOW I CANNOT RELY ON MY VEHICLE TO START, AND SO I FEEL IT CANNOT BE RELIED ON TO DRIVE. WHEN LOOKING IN FORUMS AND SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS TO THIS QUESTION, I HAVE FOUND THAT A LOT OF USERS ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR PASS LOCK SYSTEMS, AND WE DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS SYSTEM SHOULD BE FAILING.
NHTSA complaint #10257336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
I HAVE A 1997 CHEVY LUMINA THE CAR. MY PROBLEM IS THAT I HAVE LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON IT AND NOW IT WONT START. I HAVE CHANGED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR. IT SEEMS TO WORK THEN NOT WORK. AN ARTICLE IN POPULAR MECHANIC S MAGAZINE SAID THAT THEY HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH THE RESISTOR ON THE KEYS AND THAT'S WHAT CASED IT TO NOT START YOUR INPUT ON THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE GLADLY ACCEPTED.
NHTSA complaint #10150074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
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 complaint #10044846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
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 complaint #10044846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
I HAVE 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA:I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR ALITTLE OVE 2 YEARS AND SINCE I GOT THIS CAR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES TWICE THE ALTERNATOR AND 3 FUEL INJECTORS AND THE BOOSTER PUMP I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL THAT HANDLES ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS .BECAUSE THEN MAYBE I COULD GET HELP FROM MY DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10045560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING AND NO NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10022291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BETWEEN NOVEMBER 2002 AND MAY 2003, I HAVE GONE THROUGH 4 BATTERIES AND 3 VISITS TO THE DEALER FOR ELECTRICAL "SHORTS." EITHER THE ANTILOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT, OR THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND THE INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS WOULD BECOME INCREASINGLY DIM INDICATING A BATTERY DRAIN. WITHIN A DAY OR TWO, THE BATTERY WOULD BE COMPLETELY DRAINED, AND THERE IS NO POWER AT ALL. THE DEALER REPORTS FINDING PROBLEMS IN THE BATTERY CELLS AND SHORTS IN THE HARNESS UNDER THE DASH EACH TIME, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10019263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
FRONT STEERING LOCKED-UP COULD TURN FRONT TO LEFT, CAR JURKED TO LEFT SO STRONG ON ITS OWN YOU COULD HAVE BROKEN YOUR WRIST. DUE DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION AND ALTERNATOR, REPLACE
NHTSA complaint #9004043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED AT 26,302 WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR, CAUSING A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR FAILED IN THE SAME WAY AT 50,461 WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 70 MILES AN HOUR. LOSING YOUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING IS DANGEROUS. BOTH REPAIRS WERE DONE BY CHEVROLET DEALERS. THE ORIGINAL ALTERNATOR WAS AS DEFECTIVE AS THE REPLACEMENT THE DEALER PUT ON.
NHTSA complaint #754086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
HAD ALTERNATOR THAT WAS REBUILD. ALTERNATOR WENT OUT WHILE VEHICLE WAS GOING 70MPH WITH A/C BLOWING. ALSO, 5-6 MILES MOTOR KEPT CUTTING ON AND OFF, FINALLY STOPPING.. NO ELECTRICITY WAS GETTING TO FUEL PUMP. ONCE VEHICLE CUT OFF PUMP AND BRAKES NO LONGER WORKED. CONSUMER HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO HELP STOP VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #891511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE FOR ABOUT 6-7 HOURS WHEN A FIRE STARTED BURNING DOWN CONSUMER'S HOME. INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR CLAIMED FIRE STARTED DUE TO DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT WIRES SHORTING OUT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF DEFECT .
NHTSA complaint #874346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED. DEALER INSPECTE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #873160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #733291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
POWER CABLE GROUNDED ITSELF OUT, CAUSED TOTAL FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NO WARNING LIGHTS AND NO INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS, CAR STOPPED ABRUPTLY IN LANE OF TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY, EMERGENCY FLASHERS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING, THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR OCCURRENCES WITH OTHER CHEVROLETS.
NHTSA complaint #724002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #720221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
DESIGN OF HORN ASSEMBLYELOCATED NEA R AIR BAG COVER CAUSES PROBLEM WITH ACTIVATING HORN WHEN NEEDED. ONE MUST PRESS HARD TO GET HORN TO COME ON. THE HORN IS A COMMUNICATION DEVISE NEEDED TO WARN OTHER IN A EMERGENCY SITUATION. NHTSA SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #850776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY FAILED CAUSING COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SHUT DOWN. MJS
NHTSA complaint #547134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY FAILED CAUSING COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SHUT DOWN. MJS
NHTSA complaint #547134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE FUEL GUAGE ALWAYS INDICATES THAT VEHICLE HAS A FULL TANK WHEN IT DOESN'T. ALSO, ONCE BEFORE THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INCORRECT. CURRENTLY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #837284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION SYSTEM DESIGN ALLOWS FOR ALL THE PARKING LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, POSSIBLE DRAIN OF ENERGY PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #523820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
EXTREME PRESSURE IS NEEDED TO APPLY TO THE HORN WHICH COULD BECOME DANGEROUS IN AN EMERGENCY, CAUSE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #828508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
I COMMUTE AN AVERAGE OF 2.5 DAYS A WEEK BECAUSE I CARPOOL. I DO NOT THINK AN ALTERNATOR SHOULD HAVE WENT OUT. THE VEHICLE JUST WENT DEAD WITH NO WARNING AND THE VOLTS LIGHT CAME ON. THE WEATHER HAS BEEN IN THE TRIPLE DIGETS THIS SUMMER BUY MY CARPOOL PARTNERS VEHICLE IS A 1991 FORD TAURUS AND HER VEHICLE IS RUNNING BETTER THAN MINE. THAT IS SPOOKY.
NHTSA complaint #540210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN THERE WAS A NOISE LIKE METAL ON METAL. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER, PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED TO BE A WEAK SPRING IN THE STARTER. THE STARTER HAS BEEN REPLACED. NO PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #821665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT HORN IS DIFFICULT TO OPERATE.
NHTSA complaint #519399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN BUTTON NOT EASILY ACCESSIBLE.
NHTSA complaint #511539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.