Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Chevrolet Lumina owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet Lumina. While driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled completely losing all power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drive to a local mechanic who stated that the tire rods were defective, the engine mounts had fallen out, and there were electrical problems. The mechanic repaired the tie road and engine mount. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. The current mileage was 199,876.
I have a 1997 Chevy Lumina the car. My problem is that I have less than 80,000 miles on it and now it wont start. I have changed the battery and alternator. It seems to work then not work. An article in popular mechanic s magazine said that they had a lot of trouble with the resistor on the keys and that's what cased it to not start your input on this problem would be gladly accepted.
Twice now when trying to start my 1997 Lumina lights come on and car won't turn over. Something must be going on with the electrical system. After getting out of the car and leaving the key on, the car kicked over. Any reason for this type for behavior. Granted I know the car is getting older, but at 87K miles it makes me uneasy to go on any long jaunts.
I have 1997 Chevrolet Lumina:I have had this car for alittle ove 2 years and since I got this car I have had to replace the brakes twice the alternator and 3 fuel injectors and the booster pump I was just wondering if there is a recall that handles any of these problems .because then maybe I could get help from my dealer.
Consumer parked vehicle in garage for about 6-7 hours when a fire started burning down consumer's home. Insurance investigator claimed fire started due to daytime running light wires shorting out. There was no indication of defect .
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.
I was driving my car one day, and when shutting it off briefly in a friends driveway, it refused to start. I had accessory power, but the starter would not crank. After checking that there was a good connection with the battery, there was still no ability to crank. After trying for about 5 minutes multiple times, the car finally turned over and started. I immediately drove it home, which took about 1 hour, but the security light kept intermittently coming on and turning off. The consequences of this was that I almost stranded an hour away from home, and now I cannot rely on my vehicle to start, and so I feel it cannot be relied on to drive. When looking in forums and searching for answers to this question, I have found that a lot of users are experiencing problems with their pass lock systems, and we do not feel that this system should be failing.
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.
Alternator failed at 26,302 while my wife was driving the car, causing a complete electrical failure. The replacement alternator failed in the same way at 50,461 while my wife was driving at 70 miles an hour. Losing your electrical system while you are driving is dangerous. Both repairs were done by Chevrolet dealers. The original alternator was as defective as the replacement the dealer put on.
Vehicle's tensioner and power steering failed. The tensioner failed in the driveway. Other failed parts includes fuel gauge, turn signal switch, and alternator ( new battery required and vehicle was towed). These parts failed between 36,500 miles and 42,000 miles. Consumer disappointed with the low mileage failures of his vehicle.
Electrical complaints in other Lumina years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the electrical system of the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina, 7% of the model year's 347 complaints. The component named most often is alternator/generator/regulator (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Chevrolet Lumina electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Lumina electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 1 injury to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.