109 of the
4,007 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Lumina
are about the lighting —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1995.
THIS PROBLEM EXISTS BWHEN THE VEHICLE IS SATIONARY AND IN TRANSIT. IT APPEARS TO BE INTERMITTEN AS WELL. MY BRAKE LIGHTS WORK WHEN I AM BRAKING, BUT THEY SEEM TO INTERMITTENLY BE FAILING WHEN I USE MY DIRECTIONAL SWITCH (4 WAY). I HAVE BEEN ADVISED ON 3 OCCASSIONS, TWICE BY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. BUT THEY DO WORK EXCEPT WHEN THE DIRECTIONALS ARE ON. AFTER SOME RESEARCH WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT REPLACING THE 4 WAY SWITCH WILL RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. MAY I NOTE THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS DEVICE FAIL IN ANY OF MY VEHICLES EVER. THAT REGARDLESS OF THE GES AND MAKES OF MY VEHICLCES THE MANUFACTURERS HAVE HAD THE GOOD SENSE TO MAKE CERTAIN THE 4 WAY SWITCH WAS RELIABLE. MIGHT I ADD LINKING BRAKING WITH THE SWITCH MIGHT BE CONSIDER IRRESPONSIBLE OF THE ENGINEERS. HAS THE 1998 CHEVY LUMINA 4WAY SWITCH BEEN RECALLED!?
NHTSA complaint #11316828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED. AT TIME OF PURCHASE BRAKE LIGHTS APPEARED TO WORK. SAME EVENING, THE TWO REAR/SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK (THE THIRD/MIDDLE LIGHT WORKS). WE DID SOME TROUBLE SHOOTING, REPLACED BULBS, CHECKED FOR SHORTS. IN OUR RESEARCH WE FOUND THAT THIS IS IN FACT A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG GM SEDANS AND IS CAUSED BY FAILURE OF THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SWITCH CONTACTS COMMONLY FAIL WHEN THE SWITCH BEGINS TO LOOSEN/DISINTIGRATE. THIS CAUSES A VARIETY OF ISSUES AMONG THE SYSTEMS THAT PASS THROUGH THAT SWITCH. BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE IS ONE SUCH ISSUE, AND OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUES. YES, I KNOW IT'S AN OLD CAR AND YES I EXPECT TO HAVE TO MAKE REPAIRS TO IT, BUT I DO NOT EXPECT OUR STUDENT DRIVER TO SUDDENLY BE WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY MANUFACTURE OF THIS COMPONENT. A SMALL AMOUNT OF RESEARCH MAKES IT APPARENT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON, VERY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. IT'S EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND BEYOND MOST PEOPLE'S DIY ABILITIES, BESIDES WHICH I WOULD NOT BE COMFORTABLE WORKING WITH ANYTHING THAT AFFECTS THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY GM HASN'T BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE'S NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10971179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WAS BROKEN IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THAT IS CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS TO MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 10/27/10. *LJ UPDATED 2/28/11 *CN UPDATED 03/03/11
NHTSA complaint #10340980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A RECURRING FAILURE WITHIN THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WHICH WOULD SUDDENLY STOP FUNCTIONING, CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO STOP WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES AND WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 308,000.
NHTSA complaint #10331179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE MULTI PURPOSE SWITCH (TURN SIGNAL) ON MY 1998 CHEVY LUMINA DOESN'T WORK EVERYTIME A USE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH MY BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT AND I HAVE TO WIGGLE THE SWITCH UNTIL MY BRAKE LIGHT COME BACK ON. I SWITCHED THE LEVER BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES.
NHTSA complaint #10262687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TURN SIGNAL SWITCH CAUSES REAR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO WORK. I DIDN'T FIND OUT ABOUT IT UNTIL A POLICE OFFICER PULLED ME OVER FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT COMING ON. I WAS LET OFF WITH A WARNING. I DID A SEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME WITH THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE. THIS CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOU ON THE ROAD WILL NOT SEE THAT YOU ARE STOPPING.
NHTSA complaint #10262228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V364000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF UPDATE 09/22/08.
NHTSA complaint #10235967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V364000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF UPDATE 09/22/08.
NHTSA complaint #10235967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
95 LUMINAS AND MONTE CARLOS AS WELL AS OTHER GM W-BODY VEHICLES HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH GOING BAD AND CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10220316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HAS THREE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE LOWER TWO LIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. WHEN HE CHANGED THE BULBS, THEY ILLUMINATED BRIEFLY AND THEN QUICKLY BURNED OUT AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 135,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
NHTSA complaint #10191528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING OR WORKING ON/OFF. FOUND THE CAUSE TO BE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH AFTER REPLACING THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS OF THE CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10166564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING OR WORKING ON/OFF. FOUND THE CAUSE TO BE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH AFTER REPLACING THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS OF THE CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10166564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IN BACK DASH WORKS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK SOMETIMES WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IS USED. BULBS AND FUSES ARE O.K.
NHTSA complaint #10165309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.