1996 Chevrolet Lumina

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/1998· SEAT BELTS

  REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT,CAUSING SEAT BELT TO BE INOPERATIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR BECAUSE OWNER DID NOT BUY THE CAR FROM THEM. OWNER OBTAINED THE NECESSARY PARTS AND REPAIRED HIMSELF, COST OF PARTS REIMBURSED BY CHEVROLET. *AK *ML

• 12/30/1996· WHEELS

  FOUR STUDS/NUTS ON DRIVERS FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF, CAUSING WHEEL TO COME OFF/LOSS OF CONTROL.

• 12/28/2005· STRUCTURE

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE FRAME CAME OUT AROUND THE BOLTS. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FALL ONTO THE GROUND AND THE STEERING TO PULL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY HAVE NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS SUPPOSE TO SEND OUT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE.*AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM

• 12/22/2005· TIRES

  1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT DAMAGING THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER AND DOOR (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

• 12/19/1997· STRUCTURE

  BACK DOORS HARD TO CLOSE DUE TO MISALIGNMENT.

• 12/17/1996· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE LEFT TURN, VEHICLE HIT DRIVER ON FRONT RIGHT SIDE, DOOR FLEW OPEN AND SLAMMED SHUT, CATCHING DRIVVER'S FINGERS AND CUTTING OFF THREE FINGERS. THINKS THE LATCH CAME LOOSE. *AK

• 12/15/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  OWNER OF REPAIR SHOP NOTICED THAT WIRING WHICH LED TO FUEL PUMP MELTED WITHIN FUEL TANK. *AK

• 12/14/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

• 12/12/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ALTERNATOR FAILURE. *AK

• 12/10/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE APPLYING ABS BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS DONE ON BRAKE SYSTEM AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. VEHICLE HAS AN EXTREME EXTENEDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

• 12/08/2005· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IN CHEVROLET LUMINA CAUSING BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT WORK. (EXCEPT 3RD BRAKE LIGHT) FROM MY RESEARCH, THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE. FOR WHATEVER REASON THE MAIN BRAKE LIGHTS GO THROUGH THAT SWITCH. THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH IS CAUSING THEM NOT TO WORK. THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT IS NOT AFFECTED BECAUSE IT'S NOT WIRED THROUGH THAT SWITCH. I KNOW SWITCHES GO BAD, BUT THIS SWITCH HAS WENT BAD ON A LOT OF VEHICLES CAUSING NO MAIN BRAKE LIGHTS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *NM

• 12/06/2000· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash

  UPON IMPACT SEAT BELTS DID NOT TIGHTEN, NOR DID AIR BAGS DEPLOY. *AK

• 12/05/2005· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE FRAYED. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. UPON INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CABLE WAS FRAYED AND UNRAVELING. THE MECHANIC WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER SEVERAL TIMES. THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN WAITING THREE WEEKS FOR THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PART. CURRENTLY, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

• 12/04/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AT OWNER EXPENSE OF $750.DOLLARS. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

• 12/04/1996· VISIBILITY

  EXTREME OVERHEATING OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR WHEN SMALL LIGHTS ON THE MIRROR ARE ON FOR MORE THAN TEN MINUTES.

• 12/04/1996· POWER TRAIN

  THE 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH THE OPTION CALLED SKIP SHIFT, DISTRACTS FROM THE DRIVER.

• 12/04/1996· STEERING

  WHEN PUT THE CHILD SAFETY SEA TIN, IT DID NOT FIT BECAUSE THE SEAT BELTS IN THE REAR/MIDDLE POSITION ARE DESIGNRD TOO FAR DOWN ON THE SEAT. *AK

• 12/03/1997· STEERING

  VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING WHEN DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. DEALER CLAIMS THIDS HAPPENS TO ALL LUMINAS AND CAMAROS, AND THERE IS NOTHING HE COULD DO TO FIX PROBLEM. *AK

• 12/02/1996· VISIBILITY,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  HORN COMMUNICATION SYSTEM IS ASSEMBLED INCORRECTLY, CAUSING THE HORN NOT TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY, LOSS OF SOUND. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN THE WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN AFTER A CAR WASH OR RAIN THE WATER COMES DOWN FREELY ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. DEALER ADVISED THAT THE HORN IS N THE PROXIMITY OF THE AIR BAG WHICH KEEPS IT FROM SOUNDING AND THAT WAS THE WAY VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT.*JB

• 11/27/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED, CONSUMER HIT THE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. *SLC

• 11/25/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  HORN IS VERY HARD TO PRESS DUE TO DESIGN.

• 11/24/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,VISIBILITY

  VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ABOUT 2 YRS AGO BECAUSE IT STARTED LOSING POWER AND WAS RUNNING ROUGH. THE POWER WINDOW ON DRIVER SIDE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. BRAKES GRIND WHEN WET EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED. NOTICED AROUND THIS TIME THAT THE CAR TEMPERATURE GAUGE SOMETIMES CREEPED UP ABOVE NORMAL. IT SEEMED TO BE LOSING ANTI-FREEZE. THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING. I REFILLED THE ANTI-FREEZE. IT SEEMED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IT SLOWLY RETURNED. VEHICLE WAS ALSO VERY SLOWLY LOSING OIL. LAST MONTH (10/02) I STARTED HOME FROM WORK. THE CAR SUDDENLY OVERHEATED. STRONG FUMES CAME INTO THROUGH THE VENTS, BURNING MY EYES. I HAD TO STOP REPEATEDLY TO LET THE CAR COOL SO THAT I COULD GET HOME. I WORK ONLY 3 MILES FROM HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME, THE OIL STICK CONTAINED OIL HALFWAY UP THE STICK. STARTED OVER FLOWING FROM THE OIL CAP WHEN I RESTARTED. SMOKE WAS HEAVY FROM THE BACK. HAD SOMEONE CHECK THE CAR. THE CAR IS NOT FUNCTIONABLE. WILL NOT TURN OVER. REPLACED THE STARTER BUT DIDN'T HELP. THERE IS OIL IN THE RADIATOR, WATER IN THE OIL. SEEMS TO BE FUEL IN THE ANTI-FREEZE. APPEARS TO BE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET OR MORE. HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS MAKE AND MODEL YEAR WAS RECALLED FOR MOTOR PROBLEMS PREVIOUSLY PARALLELING THESE SAME PROBLEMS. DT

• 11/21/2008· SUSPENSIONCrash

  IN AUGUST 2008 I PURCHASED A CLEAN WHITE 1996 CHEVY LUMINA WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON THE DASH. IT SEEMED TO BE RUNNING PRETTY WELL AT FIRST BUT I NOTICED THE CAR HAD A LITTLE SKIP EVERY NOW AND THEN IN DEEP CURVES. THEN ON NOVEMBER 1, 2008 THE FRONT LEFT AXLE BROKE A LOOSE FROM THE MAIN PORT AS I WAS LEAVING MY YARD WHICH WAS STRANGE AND UNCOMMON. ON NOVEMBER 8, 2008 A LICENSED MECHANIC WAS HIRED AND FIXED THE BROKEN AXLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. AFTER THE REPAIR THE CAR WAS TEST DRIVEN AND SEEMED TO BE RUNNING AS GOOD AS NEW. LATER ON THAT NIGHT WHILE MY SON WAS GOING THROUGH A CURVE THE CAR LOSS CONTROL AND STARTED FISHTAILING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CURVE. AS HE WAS STRAIGHTENING THE CAR BACK OUT INTO HIS LANE SOMETHING MALFUNCTIONED IN THE REAR AND SENT THE CAR SPINNING SIDEWAYS AND OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR STOPPED ITSELF AFTER RUNNING IN A DITCH AND SMASHING IT'S SIDE INTO AN EMBANKMENT INJURING HIM AND TOTALING THE CAR. REAR RIGHT SIDE WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF FROM WHERE TRACTION BAR BROKE. *TR

• 11/17/2005· VISIBILITY,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT IS POSSIBLE TO OPEN IT FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, BUT WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. SHE IS AFRAID THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AND SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN IT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAME OPEN WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND PRIOR TO THE SLIDING DOOR FALLING OFF ITS HINGES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE MECHANIC TOLD HER HE THOUGHT THE WINDSHIELD/WIPER MOTOR WAS BAD.*AK UPDATED 12/7/2005. *NM

• 11/13/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE INTAKE GASKET ROTTED. THEREFORE, ANTIFREEZE LEAKED INTO THE OIL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE. THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *NM

• 11/13/2002· TIRES

  CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE ALSO STATED THAT HIS WIFE HAD A FLAT TIRE AND THE SPARE TIRE DID NOT FIT THE HUB ON THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE CONSUMER WAS TALKING ABOUT. MR

• 11/12/2007· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PURCHASED 1996 CHEVY LUMINA W/3.1 LITER ENGINE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND CURRENTLY HAS 115,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE CAMSHAFT HAS BROKEN. WHY WOULD A VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM? IT SEEMS AN EXTREME PROBLEM FOR A WELL-CARED FOR VEHICLE. THIS WAS A FORMER POLICE VEHICLE (FIRST 96,000 MILES). MY SON'S GIRLFRIEND ALSO OWNS A LUMINA (1999, NO VIN AVAILABLE) AND SHE TOO HAS HAD THE CAMSHAFT REPLACED IN HER VEHICLE AT 170,000. *TR

• 11/12/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ACTIVATE THE HORN/ WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A COLLISION BECAUSE DRIVER COULD NOT LOCATE THE HORN. *AK

• 11/09/1999· SEAT BELTS

  MIDDLE ROW SEAT BELT AND FRON T PASSENGER SEAT BELT AREN'T RETRACTING, AND WON'T PULL OUT IN ORDER FOR OCCUPANTS TO USE THE SEAT BELTS. DEALER CAN'RT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 11/07/2002· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUNM. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. TS

• 11/07/1996· AIR BAGS

  EXPRESSES A DESIRE THAT A SOLUTION SHOULD BE FOUND TO MAKING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS SAFE FOR SMALL WOMEN AND CHILDREN. *AK

• 11/06/1998· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION KEEPS SLIPPING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO IN TO REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING . *AK

• 11/05/1998· STRUCTURE

  VEHICLE STRUCTURE HAS HAD HOLES WHICH ALLOWED FOR ODOR TO ENTER VEHICLE.

• 11/04/1999· POWER TRAIN

  DURING ACCELERATION VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM 2ND TO DRIVE. DRIVE GEAR WAS NOT ENGAGED AND ENGINE RACED FREELY. UPON INSPECTION TRANS FLUID WAS OK. VEHICLE CONTINUED NOT GO INTO DRIVE BUT COULD BE DRIVEN IN 2ND. AFTER SEVERAL MILES VEHICLE BEGAN TO PERFROM NORMALLY. DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION AND INDICATED MIGHT BE WITH SOLINODES IN TRANS. PROBLEM MAY GET WORSE OVER TIME. HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T FAIL ON 2 LANE ROAD DURING PASSING MANUEVER!!

• 11/04/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HORN INTERMITTENTLY GOING OFF FOR NO REASON. DEALER REPAIRED HORN APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRED A YEAR LATER, GIVEN A DAY OR TWO. *AK

• 10/31/1999· STEERING

  I FEEL VERY VERY VERY ANGRY THAT THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE2 SMALL CHILDREN AND I 'M GLAD THEY WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. MY HUSBAND TURNED THE CORNER ONTO OUR STREET AND THE TIRE FELL OFF TO THE SIDE, NOW WHAT IF HAD THE KIDS IN THE CAR AND ON THE EXPRESSWAY DOING 70MPH?! THE RESULTS COULD BE FATAL! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES. THIS REALLY DISGUSTS ME! SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED!

• 10/30/1996· VISIBILITY

  UPON PURCHASING VEHICLE, OWNER WASN'T AWARE THAT REAR WINDOW HAS NO SYSTEM TO DEFROST AND WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. OWNER HAS REPEATED DIFFICULTY WITH CLEARING FOG. *AK *SLC

• 10/29/2002· SEAT BELTS

  THE SEATBELT RETRACTOR WILL NOT HOLD WHEN HE PUT THE TOP PART INSIDE OF THE BELT. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

• 10/29/1996· AIR BAGS

  WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY REASON.*AK CONSUMER STATED HE TRAVELED ABOUT 300- 400 FEET WHEN PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, THERE WAS SOME FLOODING ON THE INTERIOR OF FLOOR. DEEALER NOT WILLING TO HELP CONSUMER*JB

• 10/28/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  SLOAN CHEVROLET HAS HAD VEHICLE FOUR TIMES ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE LOW PEDAL. BRAKE ROTORS WERE CUT WHICH DID RAISE THE PEDAL SLIGHTLY; BRAKE SYSTEM WAS BLED. *AK

• 10/27/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  SPARK PLUG FAILED.

• 10/27/1997· SEATS

  REAR SEAT LATCH LOCKED IN CLOSED POSITION.

• 10/27/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  BATTERY FAILED.

• 10/27/1997· SEATS

  ARM REST FAILED CAUSING IT TO INTERMITTANTLY FALL OFF.

• 10/27/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BURNING ODOR WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

• 10/23/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE'S INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. THE NON SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE TOP OF THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER.

• 10/23/2000· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH FAILED TO OPERATE DURING A HEAVY RAINSTORM AT HIGH SPEED. WIPER BECAME JAMMED AND FAILED TO WORK. ONLY WORKED AT LOW SPEED WHICH WAS NOT SUFFICIENT. REPAIRED AND PAID FOR PART MYSELF.*AK

• 10/22/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  PCM COMPUTER FAILED.

• 10/22/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED.

• 10/18/2007· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  EXTERIOR PAINT , PEELING , FLAKING , RUSTING . I REALIZE THIS CAR IS NOW 11 YEARS OLD , BUT THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY ABOUT 5 YEARS OLD . THE PAINT HAS PEELED OFF IN LARGE PATCHES IN MANY AREAS OF THE CAR , REVEALING THE DULL GRAY PRIMER . *JB