1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA Air Bags Problems

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 THE QUESTION, IF THE AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY PROPERLY. THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE AND PAINT IT AT COST AND04/16/2012 LABOR PAID BY CUSTOMER. AUTO INSURANCE HAS REFERRED THE PROBLEM TO THE MANUFACTURER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE, BEGINNING APPROXIMATELY 4 YEARS AGO.

MY SON WAS IN A BAD ACCIDENT THAT TOTALED THE CAR AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

Mileage: 165,000

LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DRIVING HOME. CRASHED. POLICE REPORT IS IDENTICAL TO STEERING RECALL. WHICH NEVER WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN NUMBER I HAVE AT HOME. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH I SMASHED INTO A CULVERT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD LOST CONTROL THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT SPUN IN CIRCLES UNTIL FINALLY HITTING A CONCRETE CULVERT NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I BROKE 4 VERTEBRAES 7 RIBS AND RECEIVED A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. COULDN'T EVEN RECALL MY PARENTS FOE MONTHS OR EVEN THEY LIVED TOGETHER . LAID IN THE CAR TIL PARAMEDIC FOUND ME ABOUT AN HOR LATER. THE AIRBAG WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT HEAD INJURY. THE 1997 CHEVY LUMINA FAILED HORRIBLY. PLUS TENDAYS IN A COMA LOST A $50 K YR JOB AND SENT TO A NURSING HOME TO SPEND MY 33RD,THANKSGND CHRISTMAS IN UNTIL I WAS RELEASED FROM GUARDIANSHIP. 12/30/13 PLEASE HELP! HOW IS THE 1997 MALIBU DIFFERENT THAN ALL THE LUMINAS RECALLS? SAME YEAR. GM ISTRYING TO CUT THERE COSTS OH BUT THEY MESSED UP. *TR

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 VERTEBRAES. SPENT A MONTH IN LESTER E COX HOSPITAL (SOUTH), 4 MONTHS IN THE UNIVERSITY OR MISSOURI BRAIN INJURY UNIT WAS AWARDED A STATE GUARDIAN, [XXX] , AND SPENT 3 MONTHS IN MARIES MANOR LOCATED IN VIENNA MISSOURI. THE STATE GUARDIAN CLEANED ME OUT OF ALL ASSETS EVEN THOUGH I HAD TWO INSURANCES. ONE CIGNA AND ONE MEDICAID. SO NONE OF MY MONEY WENT TO MEDICAL CARE BUT TO PAY HIS 3 ATTORNEY FEES. MY TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY I DEAL WITH EVERY DAY. IT DOES NOT GO AWAY. FOR LIFE. YOUR FIRM COVERED UP NEARLY 15 YEARS OF ANOTHER RECALL THAT DOES NOT DEPLOY THE AIRBAG IN MANY VEHICLES. NO MORE! 11 MONTHS IS TOO LONG. PLEASE INVESTIGATE MY ACCUSATION. I AM A MEMBER OF THR MISSOURI BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION. AND ALL MY MEDICAL CARE CAN AND WILL BE VERIFIED. YOU HAVE MY CONTACT INFO UPDATED 09/05/14*LJ UPDATED 09/12/2014 *JS *TR

Mileage: 100,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DURING PRE-IMPACT BRAKING THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE LOWERED AND WENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE HOOD AND RADIATOR WERE PUSHED BACK HOWEVER THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER. ALTHOUGH SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE, HEAD AND CHEST INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED AT THE SCENE. THE MANUFACTURER AND INSURANCE COMPANY ARE SENDING REPRESENTATIVES TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE.

Mileage: 100,000

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING CRASH. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED AT CRASH IMPACT. *JB

Mileage: 174,000

WHILE MAKING LEFT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING LOT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DRIVER HIT A PARKED CAR AND BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK RECALL#03V527000 *SC *JB FOLLOWUP LETTER SENT BY CONSUMER. CONSUMER STATES THAT GM PURPOSELY DESRTOYED THE DEFECTIVE PARTS BEFORE THEY COULD BE EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDIENT PARTY. THE VEHICLE CRASHED DUE TO A LOW SPEED LEFT HAND TURN STEERING FAILURE WHICH WAS DOCUMENTED BEFORE THE RECALL OCCURRED. LOWER PINION BEARING SEPARATION WAS MENTIONED ON A LOCAL MEDIA CHANNEL AS THE REASON FOR THE RECAL 1997 CHEVY LUMINAS *TC

Mileage: 97,070

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT TURN STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS NOT HURT. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SHAFT INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

I HAVE A 97 CHEVROLET LUMINA AND STARTED EXPERIENCING STEERING TIGHTNESS WHEN TURNING LEFT. I HEARD ABOUT A RE-CALL SO I TOOK MY CAR TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER FOR HELP. I ASKED THEM IF THEY COULD CHECK THE LOWER PINION BEARING TO SEE IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT ANY RECALL AND SAID THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP WAS OUT. THEY COULDN'T GET THE PART FOR A WEEK. I WAS AFRAID TO CONTINUE DRIVING IT THE WAY IT WAS SO MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE PUMP. THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE IN THE STEERING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THE PUMP WAS FINE BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO FLUSH THE SYSTEM BECAUSE PARTS FROM THE PUMP PROBABLY GOT INTO THE RACK. I AGAIN EXPLAINED TO THEM ABOUT THE UPCOMING RECALL AND THEY TOLD ME IT COULDN'T BE THE PROBLEM. IT WAS GOING TO BE A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THEY COULD GET MY CAR IN TO FLUSH OUT THE SYSTEM AND I ASKED THEM IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE IT THE WAY IT WAS AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM. THAT NEXT DAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY CAR THE STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT. THE STEERING WHEEL JUST STARTED SPINNING. I THINK I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THEM.THEY TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE AND THAT IT STILL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY RECALL. THEY ARE CHARGING 600.00 FOR WHAT THEY FIXED. I ASKED THEM IF I COULD HAVE THE OLD RACK TO HAVE THE LPB CHECKED OUT TO SEE IF IT WAS BAD BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART ANY MORE, THEY SENT IT TO WHERE EVER THEY HAVE THEM RE-BUILT. THEY ARE GOING TO TRY AND GET IT BACK. WHEN THEY TOOK MY CAR FOR A TEST DRIVE AFTER REPLACING THE RACK THEY SAID THAT THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW WANT TO CHARGE ME ANOTHER 325.00 TO FIX THAT. OF COURSE AGAIN, NOTHING TO DO WITH CHANGING THE RACK. CAN YOU TELL ME IF ANY OF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE LPB? I AM AT A LOSS, I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS AND TO ME THIS SOUNDS ABOUT THE SAME. *LA

Mileage: 163,950

BETWEEN NOVEMBER 2002 AND MAY 2003, I HAVE GONE THROUGH 4 BATTERIES AND 3 VISITS TO THE DEALER FOR ELECTRICAL "SHORTS." EITHER THE ANTILOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT, OR THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND THE INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS WOULD BECOME INCREASINGLY DIM INDICATING A BATTERY DRAIN. WITHIN A DAY OR TWO, THE BATTERY WOULD BE COMPLETELY DRAINED, AND THERE IS NO POWER AT ALL. THE DEALER REPORTS FINDING PROBLEMS IN THE BATTERY CELLS AND SHORTS IN THE HARNESS UNDER THE DASH EACH TIME, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *NLM

THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH CAUSED MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

THE VEHICLE HIT A DEER, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CONSUMER WAS INJURED.*JB

VEHICLE HIT A DEER AT 35-40 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. BUMPER WAS CRACKED AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS DESTROYED. DAMAGE WAS $ 450.00. *AK

ON SUNDAY JANUARY 27, 2002 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT TO A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA LS MODEL 4-DOOR SEDAN THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. ABOUT A WEEK AND HALF BEFORE THE ACCIDENT I KNEW I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE STOPPING AND I BROUGHT IT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT HURD BUICK-CHEVROLET-PONTIAC-GMC TRUCKS LOCATED IN JOHNSTON, RI 02919, AND HAD THEM LOOK AT THE BRAKE SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM THAT WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TROUBLE STOPPING AND I HAD TO APPLY A GREAT FORCE ON THE PEDAL AND ALLOW MORE TIMING TO STOP THAN NORMAL. THE AUTO TECHNICIAN SAID NOTHING HE COULD FIND WRONG BUT ADJUSTED THE BRAKES AND CLEANED THEM. A WEEK AND HALF LATER WHILE TRAVELING TO A DRUG STORE I APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE EXCEPT A CONCRETE LIGHT POLE BASE THAT I HIT. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMP, HOOD, AND LIGHTS AND RIGHT FENDER AND THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR IS $3,500.00. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT AND BOTH THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG AND PASSENGER AIRBAG DID NOT DISPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AUTOBODY GARAGE AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR I FELT THE VEHICLE LOST HALF OF ITS BRAKE POWER TO FULLY STOP. I HOPE THIS INCIDENT CAN BE PREVENTED FROM HAPPENING AGAIN  NEXT TIME IT MAY BE FATAL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT BECAME ILLUMINATED. HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP.*AK *SLC

THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR HAS 2 HALF DOLLAR SIZE HOLES IN IT ONE BURNT LOOKING AND THE OTHER RIPPED BOTH ON EVEN SIDES THE DRIVERS SIDE ONE DEPLOYED RIGHT BECAUSE HE HAD TO SHOVE MINE OUT OF MY FACE HIS WENT FLAT AUTOMATICALLY THROWING HIM INTO THE WIND SHIELD AND ALSO HIS SEATBELT BROKE FROM THE PLASTIC PART FROM THE DOOR NOT HELPING THE MATTER ANY. *AK

FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A PHONE POLE AT APPROXIMATELY 15 OR MORE MPH,ESTIMATED DAMAGES WAS $4,700.00. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHTS STAYS ON, THE DEALER CLEARED CONNECTION, CLEARED CODES AND ALSO REPLACED PASSENGER SIDE MODULE BUT THE LIGHTIS STILL ON .

AIR BAG LIGHTS STAYS ON, THE DEALER CLEARED CONNECTION, CLEARED CODES AND ALSO REPLACED PASSENGER SIDE MODULE BUT THE LIGHTIS STILL ON .

AFTER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON.

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS, FRONT ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, REAR SHOES GLAZED. STEERING GEAR REPLACED DUE TO CONSUMER LOSING POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING, POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED, RACK WAS ALSO REPLACED. WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER STATED SIR COIL INOPERATIVE. *SLC

AIRBAG MODULE FAILED, THE LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER FLASHING. *SLC

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH SEVEN TIMES AND STAY ON. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

IGNITION TURNED ON AND VEHICLE FAILED TO START, HEARD NOISE UNDER DASH AND WHEN VEHICLE FINALLY STARTED THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON, THE AIR BAG EJECT HARNESS SHORTED OUT CAUSING INCIDENT. *ET

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 25 MPH HEAD ON COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGERS AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. ALSO, PASSENGER HIT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE SEATBELTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION ANOTHER VEHICLE PASSED A RED LIGHT THEN STRUCK CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FROM DOOR TO THE FRONT. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION ANOTHER VEHICLE PASSED A RED LIGHT THEN STRUCK CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FROM DOOR TO THE FRONT. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ALWAYS ON, INDICATING THAT AIRBAG IS NON-OPERATIONAL. DEALER CITED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON SERVICE ORDER, BUT REPAIRS QUOTED TO BE PAID BY OWNER. PROBLEM IS RELATED TO HIGH RESISTANCE IN THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE AIRBAG. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER OWNERS OF 1997 LUMINA'S WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM (PEOPLE I WORK WITH). THIS IS TOO COMMON OF A PROBLEM TO BE LEFT AS A TSB. THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED (RECALL OR OTHERWISE). I HAVE A COMPLAINT WITH CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE AS WELL (COMPLAINT FILE #990567661) IF THE AIRBAG IS NON-OPERATIONAL BECAUSE OF THIS, ANY PASSENGER RIDING IN MY VEHICLE IS NOT PROTECTED BY A SUPPOSED SAFETY FEATURE FOR WHICH INSURANCE COMPANIES PROVIDE DISCOUNTS. I HAVE NOTICED A SINGLE AIRBAG TSB ACROSS MANY 1997 CHEVROLET MODELS IN MY ONLINE SEARCHES. I THINK THIS IS AN EXTREMELY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ,HIT A DEER WITH THE FRONT BUMPER AND THEN RAN INTO A ENBANKMENT HEAD-ON, PASSNEGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY, HIT WINDSHIELD AND DEPLOYED OUTWARD. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG COVER OPENED, BUT DID NOT INFLATE ,IT WAS STILL FOLDED, CAUSING INJURIES. *AK

DURING COLLISION, AIRBAG DEPLOYED - HEAVY COVER ON AIRBAG COMPARTMENT DISLODGED AND STRUCK PASSENGER IN FACE CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE COVER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WENT THOUGH THE WINDOW, CAUSING GLASS TO SHATTER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APROXIMATELY 63 MPH A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT THE DEER. DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUALLY ON, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AND WHILE IN FOR REPAIR FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE'S INTERIOR.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT, NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT LESS THAN 5 MPH, TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER ONCOMING VEHICLE DRIVEN ABOUT 40 MPH, ACCORDING TO CONSUMER, HIT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE THAT WAS DRIVEN BY HIS WIFE AT THE TIME; HAVING A SIDE IMPACT AND BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES TO HEAD/BACK, ETC. THE DRIVER WAS NOT TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. THE CONSUMER SAID, "HE WOULD LIKE TO RETURN VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER WHERE HE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED. *AK *SLC