IllustrationWHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG VIOLENTLY DEPLOYED AND ABOUT 7 TO 10 MINUTES LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG VIOLENTLY DEPLOYED AND SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD.
1996 Chevrolet Lumina
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina do not stand out strongly from 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: 36 of 245 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
24 crash reports2 fire reports24 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
34 reportsAIRBAG LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD AND WILL NOT GO OFF, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT WHILE VEHICLE WAS STORED AT DEALERSHIP, VEHICLE WAS BROKEN INTO. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AND IS EXPECTING ORIGINAL DEALER TO PAY FOR AIRBAG REPAIRS. *TT
VEHICLE WAS GOING 45-50 MPH AND WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISON. CONSUMER AND PASSENGER BOTH HIT STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD. DEALER STATED AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE NOT SENT ANYONE TO LOOK AT TOTALED VEHICLE.*AK THERE WERE FOUR INJURIES IN THE ACCIDENT. *YH
AIR BAG MODULE WIRING TRAPPED BEHIND MODULE PREVENTING HORN TO WORK PROPERLY. WIRING NOT IN CLIP ON BACK OF AIR BAG TO PREVENT THIS. *AK
UPON IMPACT SEAT BELTS DID NOT TIGHTEN, NOR DID AIR BAGS DEPLOY. *AK
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WE TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER TO BE LOOKED AT AND HOPEFULLY CORRECTED. WE RECEIVED A $104 CHARGE TO TELL US THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD COST $710 TO FIX. NO ACCIDENT OR FAST STOP EVER OCCURRED, BUT NOW WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG COULD GO OFF AT ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING OR IF WE NEEDED IT TO, IT WOUL…
Read full complaint
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WE TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER TO BE LOOKED AT AND HOPEFULLY CORRECTED. WE RECEIVED A $104 CHARGE TO TELL US THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD COST $710 TO FIX. NO ACCIDENT OR FAST STOP EVER OCCURRED, BUT NOW WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG COULD GO OFF AT ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING OR IF WE NEEDED IT TO, IT WOULDN'T DEPLOY. THE OTHER PROPLEM IS WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS THAT WE HAD TO HAVE REPLACED AT 41,000 MILES (ABOUT 1 1/2 YRS. AGO) AND ONE IS BAD AGAIN AS WELL AS AN SIS, PCM, AND A SENSING MODULE. WE ARE QUESTIONING THE QUALITY OF THIS PRODUCT IF THESE REPAIRS ARE REQUIRED AT THIS POINT. WE PAID CLOSE TO $800 TO HAVE THE FIRST INJECTORS REPLACED AND ARE NOW FACED WITH A BILL OF $527 FOR ONE INJECTOR, SIS, PCM, AND A SENSING MODULE. THE WARRANTY HAD RECENTLY GONE OFF WHEN THE INJECTORS HAD GONE BAD THE FIRST TIME. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO REPAIR SHOP FOR SOME OTHER WORK , BUT MENTIONED TO DEALER THAT AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT HAS STAYED ON SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. DEALER WILL ONLY DO REPAIR'S AT CONSUMERS EXPENSE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 30 MP, HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT, AND DRIVER'S/ PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AT THE LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER VECHICLE WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, AND CUT IN FRONT OF HER. OTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD AND HIT CONSUMER'S WIFE HEAD . ALSO, DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DRVER SUSTAINED NECK TRAUMA. *AK
Official recalls
296V122000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
Jul 1, 1996
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH ONE OF THE FOUR BRAKE BOOSTER TABS NOT PROPERLY LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF DASH REINFORCEMENT ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION WERE PRESENT IN A SITUATION WHERE STOPPING DISTANCES WERE SMALL, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER BOOSTER INSTALLATION. BOOSTERS FOUND TO BE IMPROPERLY LOCATED WILL BE REMOVED AND REINSTALLED PROPERLY.
96V069000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Apr 19, 1996
THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE CAN CONTACT THE TRANSAXLE MOUNTING BRACKET OR ATTACHMENT BOLT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE BRAKE LINE TO WEAR THROUGH, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF ONE-HALF OF THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE SYSTEM, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR PROPER BRAKE LINE CLEARANCE AND REPOSITION THOSE BRAKE LINES FOUND TO HAVE LESS THAN MINIMAL CLEARANCE. ADDITIONALLY, THOSE BRAKE LINES FOUND TO HAVE AN INDENTATION CAUSED BY THE CONTACT WILL BE REPLACED AND PROPERLY ROUTED.
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
4EA03019 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Sep 15, 2003 · Closed Dec 18, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
RQ03001 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Jan 2, 2003 · Closed Sep 15, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
EA96023 · Inappropriate Air Bag Deployment
Opened Sep 27, 1996 · Closed Feb 13, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
THE FAILURE RATE (1.25/100K) ON THIS ISSUE IS LOW.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITURE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THIS ISSUE.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC FILE.
PE96031 · Inappropriate Air Bag Deployment
Opened Apr 18, 1996 · Closed Sep 27, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
There is no summary currently available