18 of the
438 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina are about the
lighting — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
66,826 miles.
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
NHTSA complaint #10454355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesTiconderoga, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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
NHTSA complaint #10454355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 64,352 milesSAN Juan, PR
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
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.
NHTSA complaint #10163726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ST. Paul, MN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THE ONLY ONLE THAT WORK IS THE ONE MOUNTED IN THE REAR WINDOW. THE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK DUE TO BLOWN BULBS. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10119807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tacoma, WA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
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.
at 73,900 milesWhite Plains, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, OUR 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA'S HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT IS THE ONLY ONE TO GO-ON, THE TWO REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WON'T LIGHT; WHEN YOU GENTLY PUSH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER TOWARDS THE DRIVER W/ FOOT APPLIED ON BRAKE PEDAL, ONLY THEN DO ALL THE BRAKE LIGHTS LIGHT-UP...THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, NOW WE HAVE TO PAY A IND. GAS STATION TO REPLACE THE TURN-SIGNAL MODULE W/ LABOR.
NHTSA complaint #10025188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 73,900 milesWhite Plains, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, OUR 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA'S HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT IS THE ONLY ONE TO GO-ON, THE TWO REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WON'T LIGHT; WHEN YOU GENTLY PUSH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER TOWARDS THE DRIVER W/ FOOT APPLIED ON BRAKE PEDAL, ONLY THEN DO ALL THE BRAKE LIGHTS LIGHT-UP...THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, NOW WE HAVE TO PAY A IND. GAS STATION TO REPLACE THE TURN-SIGNAL MODULE W/ LABOR.
NHTSA complaint #10025188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Zwolle, LA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
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
NHTSA complaint #8020923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 69,300 milesRossville, IN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS
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 complaint #8013472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAZARD LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. OWNER MADE REPAIRS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8013473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Athens, GAFire
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE THAT THE VEHICLE MELTED DOWN TO THE FRAME, ALSO CONSUMERS HOUSE BURNED DOWN, IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE FIRE INVESTIGATORS THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY THE FUEL PUMP AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS.
NHTSA complaint #785477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wichita, KS
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO DIM, AND VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT ON BRAKES BUT VEHCILE WOULD NOT STOP. CONSUMER TURNED OFF IGNITION, AND COASTED AND STOPPED. CONSUMEAR FELT SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #892640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Nicholson, GAFire
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #746142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plainville, CT
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT FOR A FEW MINUTES. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #844681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plainville, CT
INTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT FOR A FEW MINUTES. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #844681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cornwall O, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
STOP LAMP SWITCH WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. MJS
NHTSA complaint #604268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pomfret, MD
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DESIGN OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (HEADLIGHTS) DO NOT ALLOW FOR EMERGENCY WARNING, APPLICATION OF THE HIGH BEAMS QUICKLY.
NHTSA complaint #523820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ingleside, IL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING,AND EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF. TO GET IT TO SHUT OFF, CONSUMER HAS TO TAP THE BRAKE PEDAL AFTER THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #833979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.