10 of the 438 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina are about the suspension — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 51,000 miles.
10
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
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.
NHTSA complaint #10079355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10067707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
THE FRONT SUSPENSION MADE A POPPING NOISE, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10008950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
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 complaint #889933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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.
NHTSA complaint #882261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT END OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING VEHICLE PULLING AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEMS. MJS
NHTSA complaint #604268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
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 complaint #705354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
ALIGNMENT MALFUNCTION MAKES VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. PROBLEM INTENSIFIES WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ABOVE 60 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #538937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, CAUSING GRINDING/RATTLING NOISES, REPAIRS HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #526069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #527084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.