Chevrolet Lumina Steering Problems
Owners have filed 192 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Chevrolet Lumina across 7 model years. The 1997 model year has the most (88). The words owners use most often: “rack pinion” (27% of reports).
- 192steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 14mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 18%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.
- Rack pinion: mentioned in 52 of 192 complaints (27%)
- Making turn: mentioned in 17 of 192 complaints (9%)
- Steering gear: mentioned in 14 of 192 complaints (7%)
- Wheel locked: mentioned in 11 of 192 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 71 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 192 complaints, 14 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 6 an injury.
Chevrolet Lumina steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Lumina | 1 | 100% | 250,000 |
| 2000 Lumina | 3 | 10% | 84,000 |
| 1999 Lumina | 7 | 7% | 79,528 |
| 1998 Lumina | 56 | 25% | 81,400 |
| 1997 Lumina | 88 | 25% | 93,500 |
| 1996 Lumina | 19 | 8% | 139,000 |
| 1995 Lumina | 18 | 4% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Steering:rack and pinion
Model years: 1997, 1998
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These retainers could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
Risk: If this occurs, the pinion shaft can be forced upward during left turns and back down as the steering wheel is moved back and to the right. If the pinion shaft moves further, the driver will need to exert more effort to turn the steering wheel, similar to a vehicle without power assisted steering. If the pinion shaft moves even further, the driver will require much higher effort to turn left and may not be able to turn the wheel as much as intended. With the maximum pinion shaft movement, which requires internal gear component damage, the driver can encounter high resistance to turning left, followed by unintended power assist to the right. In any of these conditions, a crash could occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began on february 5, 2004. Owners should contact buick at 1-866-608-8080; chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537; or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Model years: 1995
Problem: The four (4) steering column support bracket attaching bolts were under torqued during assembly.
Risk: Inadequate torque can cause these bolts to vibrate, loosen, or fall out resulting in loss of steering control and increase the potential for a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will retorque the steering column support bracket attaching bolts to the correct specifications.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet Lumina. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering became inoperable and the steering wheel would unexpectedly pull to the side with the service engine warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that the seat belts…
I'm driving and my steering is tight and when turning while in motion and while its park. You can also smell like some thing burning
My steering wheel has been locking up while driving and i have almost crashed into other vehicles and buildings.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet lumina. The contact stated that there was a random power steering leak. The previous owner had to replace the fluid constantly. When a mechanic replaced the steering pump, the failure continued. The mechanic informed the previous owner that the steering rack…
Key stuck in on position will not allow engine to be turned off in either park or neutral. Will turn towards start. Car will drive but unable to turn car off unless power is unplugged from steering column. Was at work with no way to turn car off had to leave running till power was disconnected…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Luminas have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 192 owner complaints about steering 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 steering?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Chevrolet Lumina?
The most frequent phrase is “rack pinion”, in 52 of 192 complaints, followed by “making turn” (17).
Other Chevrolet Lumina problems
See all Chevrolet Lumina problems.