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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 →

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

What owners actually said

352 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXHAUST VALVES ARE STICKING, CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO SLIP. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BELT AND THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY RECURRED. GM HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR YEARS, BUT HAS BEEN FAIRLY QUIET ABOUT RESOLVING IT. THEY PRODUCED A NUMBER OF 3.4 ENGINES WITHOUT CHROME PLATED EXHAUST VALVES, AND THE SOFTER VALVES DISTORTING AND S…

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EXHAUST VALVES ARE STICKING, CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO SLIP. WE HAVE REPLACED THE BELT AND THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY RECURRED. GM HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR YEARS, BUT HAS BEEN FAIRLY QUIET ABOUT RESOLVING IT. THEY PRODUCED A NUMBER OF 3.4 ENGINES WITHOUT CHROME PLATED EXHAUST VALVES, AND THE SOFTER VALVES DISTORTING AND STICK, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO JUMP TIMING. THIS IS A SOPHISTICATED DUAL OVERHEAD CAM V-6 AND TOLERANCES ARE CRITICAL. GM ISSUED A DIRECTIVE TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEADS ON THE AFFECTED ENGINES, HOWEVER OURS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS BUILT IN THE PLANT THAT PRODUCED THE ENGINES AND IS IN LINE WITH THE SEQUENCE OF ID NUMBERS. GENERAL MOTORS IS DISAVOWING THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT. THEY HAVE REPLACED A NUMBER OF CYLINDER HEADS AND EXHAUST VALVES, AND I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD ACKNOWLEGE THEIR ERROR IN OUR CAR AND REPAIR OUR ENGINE. BECAUSE OF THE SOFT EXHAUST VALVES, THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO MAKE MAJOR REPAIRS, ALL DUE TO IMPROPER MANUFACTURING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #717036

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 1999
Power TrainCrash

VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARKED WHILE STILL RUNNING. CONSUMER GOT OUT AND WENT TO FRONT DOOR. WITHIN MINUTE LATER, VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND RAN INTO THE REAR END OF A TRUCK. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #854595

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 1999
Unknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716633

Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT INDICATION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, CAN' T DUPLICATE PROBLEM. ALSO,ALTERNATOR/BATTERY/COMPUTER, AND FUEL FILTER LINE FAILED AND WERE REPLACED BY DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852620

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 1999
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, AirService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER NOTICED CORROSION AND RUST ON THE FUEL LINE/BRAKE LINE, AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, IN BOTH FRONT AND REAR. IF PARTS RUST ALL THE WAY THROUGH, IT COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL. ALSO, BOTH REAR CALIPER SLIDE PINS SEIZED, CAUSING PREMATURE BRAKE PAD WEAR. BOTH REAR CALIPERS AND ALL BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLA…

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CONSUMER NOTICED CORROSION AND RUST ON THE FUEL LINE/BRAKE LINE, AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, IN BOTH FRONT AND REAR. IF PARTS RUST ALL THE WAY THROUGH, IT COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL. ALSO, BOTH REAR CALIPER SLIDE PINS SEIZED, CAUSING PREMATURE BRAKE PAD WEAR. BOTH REAR CALIPERS AND ALL BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #853256

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

FRONT ENGINE MOUNTS BROKE WHILE GOING 55MPH. LOST CONTROL ON A 6-LANE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. ALSO, FRONT LEFT TIRES HAD BLOWN OUT. HAD NO WARNING IN THAT REGARD. MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD. VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850448

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat BeltsSteering

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #714763

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 1999
Seat Belts

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT AND MIDDLE SEAT BELT AREN'T RETRO FIT, AND THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO USE THE SEAT BELTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849982

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 1999
Unknown Or Other

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE MFGR. WILL COVER REPAINTING ..BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PRIMER USED ON THESE VEHICLES

NHTSA ODI #712806

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1999
Tires

SPARE TIRE EXPLODED WHILE IN STORAGE AREA (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) MJS.

NHTSA ODI #548809

Official recalls

3

00V189000 · 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

9

RP01001 · 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

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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