Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
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).
I noticed the smell of gasoline. Initial searches for the source of the leak were unsuccessful, but after1 - 2 weeks it got worse and I was able to find it easily. The pressure regulator was leaking. I checked for a related recall and found that universal pressure regulators (upr's) produced after 1/9/07 had been recalled, but mine, I believe, is the original equipment pressure regulator. Nevertheless, it May have a design defect. The car has about 161,000 miles on it. The dealer indicated that failure of a part with that many miles on it would not be subject to a recall, even though it is a safety-related failure. I sought out the NHTSA site to try to find out if that is the case, or not. The "incident date" noted below is the date I found the leak. No damage was done, and there were no injuries.
We need assistants - my '97 Lumina caught on fire and burned down our house on 10/29/00. We lost the car, which melted down to the frame, the house and contents. We would have lost our lives if this had occurred two hours later. It has been determined by the athens clarke county fire investigator and the cotton states investigator that the fuel pump and daylight runners caused this fire. This defect in my vehcile is a life saftey issue - who will be the next victms? Please contact me asap.
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 stated fuel leaked. Dealer indicated that fuel tank rusted which produced a hole. The consumer stated that fuel leaked constantly from the vehicle. Moving or parked the consumer noticed a puddle of gas under the vehicle. The consumer was told that due to lack of driving the fuel tank rusted out.
Vehicle caught on fire while parked in the garage, the fire was so intense that the vehicle melted down to the frame, also consumers house burned down, it was determined by the fire investigators that the cause of the fire was started by the fuel pump and the daytime running lights.
The fuel gauge did not indicate the correct amount of fuel. As a result the vehicle ran out of gas while driving and the vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. The consumer was told of a fuel gauge recall but hasn't been able to have the vehicle repaired.
About four days before the actual shut down of the car, my daughter was coming home from school when she noticed the fuel gauge was fluctuating all over the place. We were going to have it checked asap, not thinking that it was a severe problem. Four days later, while driving on ridge road at about 40 MPH, the car shut down electrically, no brakes, no steering (power) and fought to get the car off the road. A Chevy dealer nearby ran diagnostics (doan Chevy ridge road) and determined a faulty fuel pump sending unit. My concern is I had no awareness of any problems on this vehicle and the what if she were on the expressway going 55mph? I believe this to be a serious situation. What can be done?
The fuel level sending unit stopped working properly on 10-2003. It will show full when empty. In checking the web, I have found many owners with similar problems. This is a serious safety hazard, since someone can run out of fuel in a busy interstate, or local road and cause a serious or deadly accident. This is a serious safety problem that I think NHTSA should look into and have GM recall these vehicles and repair these defects. Please let me know if there is any safety recalls addressing this problem.
While driving at any speed vehicle stalled. This caused consumer to drift to the side of the road. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer, but dealer could not resolve the problem. Consumer experienced loss of engine power while exiting the highway; however, consumer was able to restart vehicle and drive his way home. As consumer inspected the vehicle, gas was sprayed around and were dripping from the hood to the windshield. Also, consumer noticed that the fuel line was loose.
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.
Fuel System complaints in other Lumina years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina?
NHTSA has 50 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina, 14% of the model year's 347 complaints. The component named most often is storage › tank assembly (16 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Chevrolet Lumina fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion 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 fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 0 injuries to fuel & propulsion 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.