no report yet
Steering: rack and pinion
Risk. IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT.
1997 Chevrolet LuminaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 347 owner complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina, most often about the steering. It is covered by 1 safety recall.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 13, 2019. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina has problems
347 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
88Steering12 crash/fire/injury
52Engine and engine cooling2 crash/fire/injury
42Fuel system, gasoline4 crash/fire/injury
36Service brakes, hydraulic5 crash/fire/injury
36Air bags23 crash/fire/injury
26Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
21Power train
19Visibility
15Exterior lighting
7314 other systems11 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 88 | 12 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 52 | 2 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 42 | 4 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 36 | 5 |
| Air bags | 36 | 23 |
| Electrical system | 26 | 3 |
| Power train | 21 | 0 |
| Visibility | 19 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 15 | 2 |
| 14 other systems | 73 | 11 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
1997 Chevrolet Lumina recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
92kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 38 steering complaints. 55% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 23% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
1under 30k miles21under 100k miles17100k miles or more
Best & worst years
1997 vs. every other Lumina year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Lumina median. How we score
'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'08
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
1997 Chevrolet Lumina safety ratings
1997 Chevrolet Lumina 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina, and the recalls they led to.
- POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURELed to recall 03V-527
- POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURENo recall
In owners' words
What Lumina owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I'M DRIVING AND MY STEERING IS TIGHT AND WHEN TURNING WHILE IN MOTION AND WHILE ITS PARK. YOU CAN ALSO SMELL LIKE SOME THING BURNING
KEY STUCK IN ON POSITION WILL NOT ALLOW ENGINE TO BE TURNED OFF IN EITHER PARK OR NEUTRAL. WILL TURN TOWARDS START. CAR WILL DRIVE BUT UNABLE TO TURN CAR OFF UNLESS POWER IS UNPLUGGED FROM STEERING COLUMN. WAS AT WORK WITH NO WAY TO TURN CAR OFF HAD TO LEAVE RUNNING TILL POWER WAS DISCONNECTED.…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE…
Own a 1997 Lumina?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.