Chevrolet Lumina Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 125 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the Chevrolet Lumina across 5 model years. The 1997 model year has the most (36). The words owners use most often: “air bag” (38% of reports).
- 125air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 69mention a crash
- 47mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- 19%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Air bag: mentioned in 47 of 125 complaints (38%)
- Bags deploy: mentioned in 16 of 125 complaints (13%)
- Upon impact: mentioned in 13 of 125 complaints (10%)
- Airbag deployed: mentioned in 12 of 125 complaints (10%)
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 16 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 125 complaints, 69 mention a crash, 47 an injury.
Chevrolet Lumina air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 Lumina | 7 | 7% | — |
| 1998 Lumina | 15 | 7% | 73,000 |
| 1997 Lumina | 36 | 10% | 131,975 |
| 1996 Lumina | 34 | 14% | 102,000 |
| 1995 Lumina | 33 | 7% | 65,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 2001, 2002
Problem: On certain passenger, sport utility vehicles and mini vans, some of these vehicles have a passenger air bag that was manufactured without a check valve pin. An air bag without the check valve pin could produce increased pressure at the onset of the air bag deployment and reduced pressure afterward.
Risk: This could increase the severity of injury to a person who was not properly restrained and who was close to the passenger air bag at the time of deployment. It could also reduce the ab8ility of the air bag to protect a restrained front seat passenger.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag. Owner notification began december 16, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or saturn at 1-800-553-6000, prompt #3.
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 2001
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger, sport utility vehicles and minivans. The passenger air bag inflator modules were built without the correct amount of generant, which produces the gas that fills the air bag. Some were built with a double load of generant and some were built without generant.
Risk: In the event of a crash that would trigger a passenger air bag deployment, a double load of generant can cause the inflator module to explode. If the air bag module explodes, metal and plastic debris could cause severe injury to vehicle occupant. A module with no generant would not inflate the air bag, and the occupants could receive more severe injuries.
Fix: Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module. Telephone calls were made to owners on january 29, 2001. Follow up owner mailing began on april 17, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, or saturn at 1-800-553-6000.
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 2000
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The passenger side air bag modules have an undersized inflator orifice.
Risk: In the event of a crash that would trigger a passenger side air bag deployment, this undersized orifice can cause the inflator module to explode. If an air bag inflator module explodes, metal and/or plastic debris could cause severe injury to the vehicle occupant.
Fix: Dealers will replace the passenger side air bag modules.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet lumina. While driving approximately 28-30 mph, another motorist made an out of turn left turn in front of the contact's vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into the front driver's side of the other vehicle. The air bag indicator illuminated, but the air…
Takita recall airbag may be the cause of passenger side dash expanding outwards. Unsure of cause. Expansion is slowing coming out of sem. Have noticed approximately two years ongoing.
Dash airbag is protruding out. Vechile stationary. See photos.
Dashboard cover on passenger side airbag has detached/pulled away and buckled up from the foam air bag casing. Gm/chevrolet was notified of the problem via phone. The response given by gm/chevrolet representative was that the car was too old to warrant their attention/repair. This does not answer…
My son was in a bad accident that totaled the car and the air bags did not deploy.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Luminas have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 125 owner complaints about air bags for the Chevrolet Lumina. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Lumina air bags?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the Chevrolet Lumina?
The most frequent phrase is “air bag”, in 47 of 125 complaints, followed by “bags deploy” (16).
Other Chevrolet Lumina problems
See all Chevrolet Lumina problems.