Vehicle Data Hub

1997 Chevrolet Lumina steering problems

Owners reported steering problems in 90 complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina, 21% of the complaints on file. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
90 21% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
92,000 miles 39 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
9 and 1
Injuries and deaths
4 and 1

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When steering problems show up

Steering complaints by mileage, 1997 Chevrolet Lumina Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 92,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 1 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 0 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 3 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 9 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 9 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 6 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 4 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 4 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 1 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 1 complaints 200k+ miles: 1 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 92,000 miles
Based on 39 complaints that include mileage. 10% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles1
20k to 40k miles0
40k to 60k miles3
60k to 80k miles9
80k to 100k miles9
100k to 120k miles6
120k to 140k miles4
140k to 160k miles4
160k to 180k miles1
180k to 200k miles1
200k+ miles1

What the data shows

Of the 39 steering complaints that report mileage, the median is about 92,000 miles, and 10% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 9 crashes, 1 fire, 4 injuries, 1 death.

What owners wrote

Ltr FWD wmail FM (tx) re recall of a 1997 chevrolet lumina for defective steering column. The consumer's daughter was involved in an accident which resulted in fatal injuries. The vehicle has an open recall on the steering rack and pinion. If this part failed it could result in loss of steering control. The consumer believes the part failed and caused his daughter to loose control of the vehicle. As a result the vehicle crashed into a full size pickup which was pulling a stock trailer.

July 2005 CrashDeath

Letter in reference to recall for chevy lumina which has experienced steering problems. The entire steering unit had become inoperative. There was a loud pop noise, suddenly the vehicle was not able to make left urns. The consumer made repairs to the pulley that was connected to the power steering unit. The consumer was driving down the road when power was lost again. The consumer discovered that the pulley was wobbly and the serpentine belt was fried. The consumer requested reimbursement.

Reported at 140,187 miles

Other problems reported for the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina

Steering problems in other years

Steering problems across all Chevrolet models