1991 Chevrolet LuminaUNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION

352 federal complaints (483 component records) · 3 recall campaigns on file · 9 federal investigations · 10 service bulletins · 7 Canadian recalls
See all 14 model years of the Chevrolet Lumina →
Engine
2.5L 4-cyl
Fuel
Regular
Drive
FWD
EPA economy
18 city / 26 hwy
Federal complaints
352
Recall campaigns
3
Specifications show one example EPA configuration for this model year; other engines, drivetrains, and trims exist and the records below cover all of them.
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.

Fault profile

Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.

Brakes
235
Body & structure
52
Engine & cooling
37
Seat belts
29
Electrical system
28
Steering
21
Power train
11
Fuel system
11
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.

When it fails

The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.

Vehicle age when the failure occurred

0 years old: 8 complaints01 years old: 6 complaints2 years old: 7 complaints3 years old: 27 complaints4 years old: 73 complaints5 years old: 37 complaints56 years old: 20 complaints7 years old: 9 complaints8 years old: 15 complaints9 years old: 20 complaints10 years old: 15 complaints1011 years old: 17 complaints12 years old: 8 complaints13 years old: 9 complaints14 years old: 3 complaints15 years old: 4 complaints1516 years old: 1 complaints17 years old: 0 complaints18 years old: 0 complaints19 years old: 2 complaints20+ years old: 1 complaints20+
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 282 of 352 complaints with a usable failure date.

Known issues

The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.

Brakes

235 complaint records9 crash reports
"THE REAR BRAKES HAVE JUST BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE TOTALLY CORRODED, CAUSING EXTRA WEAR ON THE FRONT BRAKES. TT..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse brakes parts in the directory →

Body & structure

52 complaint records3 crash reports
"WHILE DRIVING THE CRADLE BOLT DISENGAGED, CAUSINGTHE ENGINE TO COM DROP OUT. RECALL NUMBER 97V058000/CRADLE WAS ISSUED. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse body & structure parts in the directory →

Engine & cooling

37 complaint records1 fire report
"ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON & OFF.WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL WHEN COASTING OR MAKING A TURN, CAR SHUTS OFF. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse engine & cooling parts in the directory →

Federal defect investigations

Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.

InvestigationStatusComponentSubject
RQ97017
opened Oct 1997
OPENStructureCRADLE BOLT FAILURES - led to recall 97V058000
There is no summary currently available
RP01001
opened Nov 2001
closed Jun 2002StructureSTRUCTURE - led to recall 00V189000
There is no summary currently available
EA00011
opened Apr 2000
closed Jan 2001Engine And Engine CoolingENGINE CRADLE SEPARATION - led to recall 00V189000
THE ENGINE CRADLE FRONT BOLTS AND/OR RETAINERS MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE CRADLE TO FALL, POSSIBLY SEPARATING THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR, WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL
PE94063
opened Aug 1994
closed Dec 1994Service Brakes, HydraulicCORRODED REAR DISK BRAKES
There is no summary currently available
PE93085
opened Sep 1993
closed Feb 1994SuspensionWHEEL FAILURES - led to recall 94V041001
There is no summary currently available
Show 4 more closed investigations
InvestigationStatusComponentSubject
EA92024
opened Jun 1992
closed Jan 1994Vehicle Speed ControlSTICKING THROTTLE
There is no summary currently available
PE92052
opened Jun 1992
closed Oct 1992Vehicle Speed ControlAPV FUEL LINE FIRES
There is no summary currently available
EA91049
opened Nov 1991
closed Oct 1992EquipmentJACK FAILURE
===
PE91072
opened May 1991
closed Jul 1991SteeringSTEERING WHEEL SEPARATION
There is no summary currently available

Recall campaigns

Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.

CampaignComponentSummaryRemedy
00V189000StructureVEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW...Normally free
97V058000StructureVEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK,...Normally free
92V003000Seat BeltsTHE FRONT DOOR SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOPS MAY BE CRACKED AND ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 208.Normally free

Transport Canada recalls

Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.

RecallSystemUnits (CA)Summary
2001028
2001-02-08
Suspension81,828Vehicles located in the high corrosion provinces east of the Manitoba/Ontario border. Certain vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the frame/cradle retainer bolts pull through the retainers due to corrosion of the retainer.
2000080
2000-03-21
Accessories200,580On certain vehicles operated in areas of high salt use, the spare tire hoist cable may corrode and eventually break. This would allow the spare tire to fall off the vehicle possibly resulting in a road hazard for other vehicles.
2000052
2000-03-06
Steering13,717On certain vehicles located in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, extreme levels of moisture and salt can result in corrosion at or near the engine cradle mounts resulting in possible failure of the mounts.
1997094
1997-05-07
Steering10,255THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING SHAFT MAY...
1997028
1997-02-12
Seats And Restraints15,561NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT BUCKET SEATS AND RECLINER MECHANISMS. THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM LOWER BOLTS MAY LOOSEN, FATIGUE AND BREAK.
Show 2 more Canadian recalls
RecallSystemUnits (CA)Summary
1995010
1995-01-31
Steering82,835On certain vehicles, the rear engine cradle bolts may pull through due to corrosion of the retainers. If this should occur, the cradle would no longer be supported at these mounting locations and the steering shaft may separate from the...
1992002
1992-01-09
Seats And Restraints52,782Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 208 - Seatbelt Installations. Front door shoulder belt guide loops may not provide front seat occupants with proper protection in the event of a crash.

Service bulletins and warranty extensions

Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.

BulletinTypeComponentSummary
01880
Jan 2004
Power TrainNO TCC APPLY, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON, TCC SURGE, POSSIBLE P0740, P1870, OR 39 AFTER INSTALLATION OF A REMAN (SRTA) 4T60/4T60E. *TT
990309004
Oct 1999
SuspensionCUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF GRINDING / SCRAPING / GROANING NOISE FROM REAR SUSPENSION. *TT
876002A
Jul 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingSOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED AFTER THE ENGINE'S OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED.TYPICALLY THE ODOR LASTS APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES AFTER THE CHANGE OF OIL AND THEN DOES NOT REAPPEAR UNTIL THE NEXT CHANGE OF OIL. *TT
676001
Feb 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingEXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION (REPLACE PCV HARNESS). *TW
577106A
Feb 1997
Power TrainCOLD START RATTLE NOISE (DIAGNOSIS/SERVICE PROCEDURE). *TW
Show 5 more bulletins
BulletinTypeComponentSummary
577106A
Dec 1996
Power TrainCOLD START RATTLE NOISE. *TW
577106
Feb 1995
Power TrainCOLD START RATTLE NOISE. *TW
435012A
Jan 1995
Service BrakesABS WARNING LIGHT IS ON. *TW
133405
Jan 1995
SuspensionREAR STRUT RELATED THUMPING/SQUEAKING NOISE. *TW
435012
Dec 1994
Service BrakesABS WIRE HARNESS FOR THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL MAY RUB ON THE BRAKE LINE CAUSING THE ABS WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON. *TW

Before you buy this vehicle

A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.

  1. Brake hard once from speed on an empty road.A pull to one side, a pulsing pedal, a pedal that sinks at a stop, or an ABS light that stays lit are the brake complaints on this vehicle presenting themselves.
  2. Walk the body slowly in daylight.Panel gaps, rust at the rockers and wheel arches, and cracked trim are this vehicle's structure complaints. Open and close the liftgate or trunk and look at the latch area.
  3. Cold-start it yourself and listen for the first thirty seconds.Knocking, ticking that fades as it warms, or blue or white smoke on startup are the sounds of this vehicle's engine cluster. Check the oil level and the coolant color, and ask whether the engine or its head gaskets have ever been out.
  4. Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 3 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
  5. Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.

Parts search directory

The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.

Open the parts directory for this Chevrolet Lumina →