Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
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 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, [redacted] , 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! …
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. Recall#03V527000 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
Ten months after the rack and pinion bearing/ steering recall 03V527000 repairs were performed it failed. While making a left hand turn the steering wheel locked up, causing the vehicle to go into a spin and crash into a guard rail. A mechanic inspected the vehicle after the crash and indicated that the rack and pinion broke.
Over past few months vehicle has exhibited considerable play in steering when wheels are turned half-way to the left. When held in this position the steering wheel would oscillate left to right 1 to 2 inches. This morning while driving the vehicle I suddenly found it difficult to turn the wheel to the right. It was similar to a power steering failure. After a subsequent left turn the steering wheel re-centered itself to the left approximately. 20 degrees off-center. During the remainder of the drive the steering was erratic in turns. Alignment is fine. Power steering pump was replaced due to leaking 1 year ago. Vehicle receives regular maintenance per manufacturer's guidelines. The steering failure is consistent with defect described in recall 02-v-286-000. …
I own a 1997 Chevrolet Lumina that I received a recall notice from general motors asking me to select a GM dealer to make the repairs to the rack and pinion steering for which the car was recalled. The dealership stated that it would be over a month before they could schedule my appointment and even then, they would require keeping the car for one full day to accomplish the repairs. My concern is that I am driving in a dangerous situation, because the car's left turn gets stuck when driving. I am also concerned about having to leave my car for a full day because my employer will not allow me to miss a day of work without reprimand and loss of wages. I need some assistance - the dealership nor GM is not showing any interest in providing transportation to and from work for me for one day.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet Lumina. The contact was attempting a left turn at 15 MPH when the power steering failed. The steering wheel became extremely difficult to maneuver. The contact stated the failure would only occur when making a left turn. The contact checked the brake fluid levels which were adequate. He was able to locate a recall for the failure (NHTSA campaign id number: 03V527000- steering: rack and pinion) but was advised by the manufacturer that his VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 110,000. Updated 11/03/10. Updated 11/04/10
Dt: contact received NHTSA campaign recall 03V527000 letter from Chevrolet on 7-7-05 concerning the power steering gear/ lower pinion bearing separation. When he called local dealer on 7-14-05, they told him they needed a special tool from GM to repair the recalled part, and they were unable to get the tool. They have been trying to get the tool for a month and a half. When consumer asked when they will get it they had no idea. They did not tell him why they could not get it... He has called GM, and could not reach anybody. . He has not had any problems with the car.
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.
Reimbursement for recall repairs made to 1997 Chevrolet Lumina. While attempting to turn into a parking lot the steering wheel locked. The vehicle was towed to a local garage. Almost three years later the consumer receives a recall related to the failure she experienced. The consumer requested reimbursement from the manufacturer but was denied because the part the technician replaced was not the part covered by recall 03V527000. The technician also replaced the power steering pump nd front brakes.
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.
Related recalls
Steering › Rack and pinion
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.
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.
NHTSA investigations
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 sport, Chevrolet lumina apv, Chevrolet venture, Oldsmobile silhouette minivans, and Chevrolet…
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 750,283.GM determined that failure of the rack and pinion is related to damage of the lower pinion…
Steering complaints in other Lumina years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina?
NHTSA has 88 complaints about the steering of the 1997 Chevrolet Lumina, 25% of the model year's 347 complaints. The component named most often is rack and pinion (38 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Chevrolet Lumina steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 03V-527 (rack and pinion, Dec 11, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Lumina steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 95,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 1 fire and 4 injuries and 1 death to steering 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.