RecallRepo

1997 Chevrolet Lumina Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1997 Chevrolet Lumina has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 750,283 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 438 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

STEERING 03V527000 2003-12-11 750,283 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

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…

Remedy

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…

Complaints by component

STEERING:RACK AND PINION
38
3crashes1deaths
STEERING
20
3crashes1fires4injuries
AIR BAGS
18
6crashes6injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
18
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
16
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
15
15crashes7injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
15
2crashes2injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
13
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
11
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
11
Total complaints438

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“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”

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · reported 2019-11-11

“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”

STEERING · reported 2019-11-11

“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.…”

STEERING · reported 2016-08-02

“My son was in a bad accident that totaled the car and the air bags did not deploy.”

AIR BAGS · reported 2016-05-18

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet lumina. While driving 35 mph, the steering wheel seized without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure…”

STEERING:RACK AND PINION · reported 2014-09-15

“While driving home one day another driver hit the side of the car close to the headlight on the driver side this hit caused me to no longer be able to drive the vehicle. The airbags in the vehicle did not deploy.”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2014-07-24

“I was traveling home. Lost control and could not turn. The steering went out, and fuel system. I was left in a coma for ten days. My airbag did not deploy like it was developed to do. I received a traumatic brain injury because of the lack of it deploying broke 11 bones. 7 ribs and four…”

STEERING · reported 2013-07-19

“I was traveling home. Lost control and could not turn. The steering went out, and fuel system. I was left in a coma for ten days. My airbag did not deploy like it was developed to do. I received a traumatic brain injury because of the lack of it deploying broke 11 bones. 7 ribs and four…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2013-07-19

Defect investigations

Investigation EA03019 Opened 2003-09-15 · closed 2003-12-18

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS…

Investigation EA03019 Opened 2003-09-15 · closed 2003-12-18

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS…

Investigation RQ03001 Opened 2003-01-02 · closed 2003-09-15

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS…

Investigation RQ03001 Opened 2003-01-02 · closed 2003-09-15

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.