IllustrationWHILE AT A STOP SIGN TRIEDTO TURN RIGHT AND CRADLE BOLTS BROKE AND BUSTED STEERING. CONSUMER COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
1991 Chevrolet Lumina
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Lumina years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Chevrolet Lumina are substantially higher than the model-year median of 126.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Lumina years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 22 of 352 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 178 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
21 crash reports9 fire reports9 injury reports
Structure complaints
52 reportsWHILE DRIVING, FRONT SUBFRAME FAILED DUE TO CORROSION, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL AND VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH, CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A RECALL, 00V189, REGARDING THIS, HOWEVER VIN IS NOT INCLUDED, CONSUMER HAS THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. *SLC
THERE IS A RECALL FOR 1991 LUMINAS FOR THIS EXACT INCIDENT BUT THEY CLAIM MY MOTHER'S CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE OF HER VIN NUMBER THUS SUGGESTING THAT THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BROADER IN SCOPE SINCE THEY OBVIOUSLY DID NOT INCLUDE ALL OF THE CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM.*AK
REAR CRADLE MOUNTS BROKE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH,CAUSING RACK AND PINION TO SEPARATE, AND RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING.*AK *JB
SAME PROBLEM AS IN RECALL 00V189000/CRADLE BOLTS. WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN ROAD, THERE WAS A SCRAPING SOUND, CONSUMER TURNED WHEEL WITH NO RESPONSE.*AK
VEHICLE WAS MIRRORING PROBLEMS STATED IN RECALL 00V18900. DEALERSHIP INFORMED HER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. CONSUMER DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH LOST CONTROL, AND HEARD A LOUD METAL SCAPING SOUND. FRONT SUBFRAME FELL OFF VEHICLE, DAMAGING STEERING BOX/ TIE RODS, ANDMOTOR MOUNTS, ETC. PLEASE PROVIDE AN…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE WAS MIRRORING PROBLEMS STATED IN RECALL 00V18900. DEALERSHIP INFORMED HER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. CONSUMER DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH LOST CONTROL, AND HEARD A LOUD METAL SCAPING SOUND. FRONT SUBFRAME FELL OFF VEHICLE, DAMAGING STEERING BOX/ TIE RODS, ANDMOTOR MOUNTS, ETC. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS, AND PLEASE FILL IN VIN FOR THE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY BOLTS PULLED OUT OF FRONT CRADLE. VEHICLE DRIFTED TO RIGHT, AND THAN LEFT ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND DRIFTED TO A STOP.SAME AS RECALL 00V189000. *AK
RECALL 00V189000 CONCERNING ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS FAILURE. DEALER NEVER HAD PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK
FRONT CRADLE BOLTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-189 CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, UPON INSPECTION THE CONSUMER SAW THE FRAME ON THE GROUND WITH PART OF THE ENGINE RESTING ON IT, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT.
CONSUME R WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH AND ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS WERE RUSTED AND FRAME FELL APART. HE HAD NO STEERING ON THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE, AND TMECHANIC FIXED THE PROBLEM.*AK REAR RIGHT STEERING COLLUMN WAS INOPERATIVE BECAUSE THE CRADLE WASHERS WERE RUSTED AND THE CRADLE BROKE AS THE RESULT OF RUSTING. *YH
Official recalls
300V189000 · Structure
Jul 11, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HEAVY. A CONDITION WHERE ONE OR BOTH FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS CAN PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINERS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
97V058000 · Structure
Apr 8, 1997
VEHICLE 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, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NOT LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
92V003000 · Seat Belts
Jan 10, 1992
THE FRONT DOOR SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOPS MAY BE CRACKED AND ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 208.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SEAT OCCUPANT FACES INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THEEVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL REINFORCING PLATES ON THE CRACKED SHOULDER BELT GUIDES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
9RP01001 · Structure
Opened Nov 28, 2001 · Closed Jun 13, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
EA00011 · Engine Cradle Separation
Opened Apr 10, 2000 · Closed Jan 12, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
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
RQ97017 · Cradle Bolt Failures
Opened Oct 2, 1997 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE94063 · Corroded Rear Disk Brakes
Opened Aug 12, 1994 · Closed Dec 21, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE93085 · Wheel Failures
Opened Sep 29, 1993 · Closed Feb 28, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
EA92024 · Sticking Throttle
Opened Jun 26, 1992 · Closed Jan 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE92052 · Apv Fuel Line Fires
Opened Jun 4, 1992 · Closed Oct 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA91049 · Jack Failure
Opened Nov 26, 1991 · Closed Oct 28, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
===
PE91072 · Steering Wheel Separation
Opened May 1, 1991 · Closed Jul 8, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available