CHEVROLET LUMINA · model year

1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA

483 NHTSA complaints, 25 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1991CHEVROLETLUMINA carries 483 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 25 crashes, 11 fires, 18 injuries, and 5 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1991 LUMINA is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper with 62 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc (38) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (33). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1991 LUMINA, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

483
Complaints
25
Crashes
11
Fires
18
Injuries
5
Deaths

Total Complaints

483 filings

Crashes Reported

25 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER62
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC38
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS33
STRUCTURE27
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM22
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS22
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR20
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR17
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP15
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE14
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE12
STEERING10
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR6

Recent Complaints

20110207UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY CAR KEEPS STALLING OR DYING EVERYTIME I TAKE OFF OR APPLY THE BRAKES IT'S ALMOST AS IF IT'S NOT GOING INTO GEAR. IT WILL DIE ON ME GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE IF I HIT MY BRAKES. *LN

Mileage: 98,000

20101222STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I WAS DRIVING AT A RATE OF SPEED OF 35 MPH WHEN I HEARD SOMETHING BREAK UNDER THE CAR AND AT THAT POINT I LOST ALL STEERING AN WAS TRAVELING TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BUT STILL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, WHEN I HAD THE CAR TOWED...WE FOUND OUT THAT THE REAR SUB-FRAME MOUNTS HAD BROKEN AND SNAPPED THE STEERING. THIS WAS A 1991 CHEVY 2 DOOR LUMINA AND WHEN I LOOKED IT UP... THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. SOMEHOW THE NHTSA AND GENERAL MOTORS MISSED MY VIN NUMBER IN THE RECALL. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR..WE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY ONLY SOME VEHICLES WERE IDENTIFIED IN THIS SAFETY RECALL WHEN SO MANY MORE ARE EFFECTED? *TR

Mileage: 75,000

20101222STEERING

I WAS DRIVING AT A RATE OF SPEED OF 35 MPH WHEN I HEARD SOMETHING BREAK UNDER THE CAR AND AT THAT POINT I LOST ALL STEERING AN WAS TRAVELING TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BUT STILL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, WHEN I HAD THE CAR TOWED...WE FOUND OUT THAT THE REAR SUB-FRAME MOUNTS HAD BROKEN AND SNAPPED THE STEERING. THIS WAS A 1991 CHEVY 2 DOOR LUMINA AND WHEN I LOOKED IT UP... THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. SOMEHOW THE NHTSA AND GENERAL MOTORS MISSED MY VIN NUMBER IN THE RECALL. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR..WE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY ONLY SOME VEHICLES WERE IDENTIFIED IN THIS SAFETY RECALL WHEN SO MANY MORE ARE EFFECTED? *TR

Mileage: 75,000

20100818STRUCTURE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE REAR CRADLE RETAINER PULLED THROUGH AND THE STEERING DISCONNECTED. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE SUB FRAME DROPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT. HE WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V189000- STRUCTURE) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 131,000.

Mileage: 131,000

20070618STRUCTURE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA. DURING AN INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME BUSHING WAS MISSING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC REFERENCED RECALL # 00V189000 (STRUCTURE) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE SERVICED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 168,000.

Mileage: 168,000

20070412STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT LOST POWER STEERING WHILE AT A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS HAVING OCCURRED DUE TO A MISSING CRADLE BOLT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECALL 097V05800 & RECALL 00V189000 WERE ISSUED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WHEN SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER THEY ADVISED HER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT APART OF THE RECALL. *AK

Mileage: 127,000

20061214STRUCTURE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH, THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING GEAR. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #00V189000, REGARDING THE STRUCTURE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE REMAINED INOPERABLE.

Mileage: 127,000

20061214STEERING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING GEAR. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 00V189000 INDICATING THE VEHICLES WHO OPERATED IN SALT BELT STATES WERE AFFECTED DUE TO CORROSION. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE OPERATED IN MICHIGAN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED, WHO CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE REMAINED INOPERABLE.

Mileage: 127,000

20061214STRUCTURE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING GEAR. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 00V189000 INDICATING THE VEHICLES WHO OPERATED IN SALT BELT STATES WERE AFFECTED DUE TO CORROSION. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE OPERATED IN MICHIGAN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED, WHO CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE REMAINED INOPERABLE.

Mileage: 127,000

20060823FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *TS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 50 MPH. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. AFTER GETTING BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING IN THROUGH THE PASSENGER WINDOW. THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT BURNED ALONG WITH THE RIGHT REAR BUMPER AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRUNK. *NM

20051129STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V058000 CONCERNING THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULLING THROUGH THE RETAINER DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. THIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Mileage: 170,000

20050601STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA. HE STATES THAT THERE WAS RECALL 00V189000 CONCERNING ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS. THE SAME PROBLEM CONTACT ENCOUNTERED. THE RECALL STATED, THAT ONE OR BOTH FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS CAN PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINERS. THE PROBLEM THE CONTACT HAD WAS THAT HIS RETAINERS ACTUALLY FELL OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ALMOST CAUSED A HEAD ON COLLISION BECAUSE HIS WIFE LOST CONTROL OF STEERING. THE CONTACT CALLED CHEVROLET, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

20050506STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

DT: CONSUMER HAS A PRINTOUT OF THE NHTSA RECALL SHEET AND WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF A RECALL. THE BACK ENGINE CRADLE RETAINERS CAME OFF THE BOLTS. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND ALMOST HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE. HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GM AND THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF A RECALL. CONSUMER WAS TOLD AFTER PROVIDING THE VIN, THAT THERE WERE NO RECALL THAT CAME UP ON THERE SCREEN. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. THE CAR IS SITTING AT A GM/CHEVEROLET DEALER RIGHT NOW. THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL, BUT TURNED AND OFFERED A $1,000.00 CASH OR TOWARDS ANOTHER VEHICLE. YESTERDAY, ONE OF THE SALES PEOPLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP CALLED AND OFFERED TO SALE CONSUMER ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THE BOLTS IN THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE, IT IS THE RETAINERS THAT CAUSE

Mileage: 170,000

20050308FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE 15 MINUTES AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE ALSO DAMAGED ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GARAGE, AND AN UPPER ROOM. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ONE OF TWO THINGS, EITHER FUEL LEAKAGE OR ELECTRICAL. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK VEHICLE HAS HAD FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM REPAIRED IN 2001 AND 2002. RIGHT SIGNAL REPAIRED IN JAN. 2004, HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH REPAIRED IN APRIL FOR TEXAS INSPECTION. THEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN MAY. *BF *NM

Mileage: 199,000

20050308FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE 15 MINUTES AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE ALSO DAMAGED ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GARAGE, AND AN UPPER ROOM. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ONE OF TWO THINGS, EITHER FUEL LEAKAGE OR ELECTRICAL. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK VEHICLE HAS HAD FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM REPAIRED IN 2001 AND 2002. RIGHT SIGNAL REPAIRED IN JAN. 2004, HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH REPAIRED IN APRIL FOR TEXAS INSPECTION. THEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN MAY. *BF *NM

Mileage: 199,000

20050228STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

WHILE DRIVING THE CRADLE BOLT DISENGAGED, CAUSINGTHE ENGINE TO COM DROP OUT. RECALL NUMBER 97V058000/CRADLE WAS ISSUED. *AK

20041027STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

RECALL 00V18 000 CONCERNING CRADLE BOLTS. WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND THEN THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE CONSUMER'S SON, WHO NOTICED THAT THE FRONT CRADLE BOLT BROKE. THE LOCALE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH CONTACTED, AND BOTH CONFIRMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. *AK

Mileage: 147,000

20040913VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING DRIVER'S VIEW WHILE . DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

20040819STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

CRADLE WHICH HOLD THE CRADLE. *JB LOOSE RETAINERS AND BOLTS AROUND THE ENGINE CRADLE. REAR CRADLE BOLTS/WASHERS/BUSHINGS WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER CAUTIONED CUSTOMER NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR. *TT

20040817STEERING

1. STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. 2. LOUD THUD FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE AND TOTAL STEERING LOSS. 3. NOTHING. CAR WAS TOWED TO MY HOME. *JB

Mileage: 256,000

Compare 1991CHEVROLETLUMINA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA have?
The 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA has 483 NHTSA complaints, 25 crashes, 11 fires, 18 injuries, and 5 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA?
The most-complained component for the 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER with 62 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS.
Is the 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.