Acceleration complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I went to our garage, entered the Lumina, fastened my seat belt, started the car, put my foot on the brake, and put it in reverse. The engine roared and the car took off in reverse while my foot was still on the brake. The car proceeded across an alley and into the driveway of the residence there; it then crashed through the 18 foot garage door (my foot still on the brake), through the garage and through the back wall into another neighbor's back yard where the engine stalled. A witness who was driving his truck in the alley said he saw the brake lights on during the incident. The Chevrolet dealer doing the repairs could find nothing mechanically wrong with the car. I am afraid this sudden acceleration might happen again or to other 1999 Lumina owners with even more disastrous results.
Without warning accelerator pedal got stuck to the floor while driving driving 22 MPH, causing the consumer to lose control of the vehicle and hit a light pole. Upon impact, both frontal airbags did not deploy.
Consumer was slowing to come to a complete stop when the vehicle suddenly speeded up. The experience was as if someone floored the accelerator. Pedal to the floor. Consumer looked to see if foot was on the gas and it was not. Vehicle took off from stop sign and ran into a car, the car spun leaving vehicle at this time is still. Accelerator at high speed and the driver's side air bag deployed. Vehicle then hit a tree on the left side bumper at fifty feet away from crash of car. Still at high speed she then ran into a house, then the passenger's side air bag deployed. ( the paintery body shop, streator, illinos is doing the repairs on the vehicle's body. Phone # [phone]).
My 1998 Lumina is will not start unless the gas pedal is pumped (this is a fuel injection car) and once the car is running it idles very rough as though the car will stall. The dealership raised the injectors and replaced a harness and let the car idle for 2 1/2 hours. On the next cold start the car is still the same. It goes back to the dealership on Monday.
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! …
After backing out of parking space with shift lever in drive position, the engine opened up at full throttle without foot applied on accelerator pedal. Vehicle was thrown off roadway, crashing into a school building. All 5 occupants were hospitalized with serious injuries. Inspection revealed that the throttle valve was in full open position.
On 7/20/03 the battery was replaced in my 1996 Chevrolet. Lumina. Upon starting the car, while still in park, the gas pedal pulled to the floorboard & the car lunged forward out of control. The brakes failed. While dodging people, homes, and vehicles, I tried stopping the car by turning off the ignition to cut power to the motor but this only opened the throttle. The last thing I remember was a loud whine, screaming & blacking out. I awoke from a concussion crashed into a tree with facial, brain, and spinal injuries. GM investigated and stated there was not a problem and will not release the investigation report to me. I cannot find an attorney to sue them. This was not due to driver error. The car was in perfect working order prior to the battery being changed correctly. The 2004 olds alero was recalled for a sticking accelerator. …
I turned on my car and put it in reverse to back out of a parking space. I had four friends in the car. I waited for my friends to get situated in the car and took my foot off the brake. The car did not roll back as it normally did when in gear. Suddenly, the car lurched backward and starting accelerating toward a concrete wall that was about 45 feet behind us. I did not have my foot on the accelerator. I quickly put my foot on the brake to tried to slow the car down. Nothing happened, so I quickly took my foot off the brake, just in case I had accidentally hit the accelerator. The car continued to accelerate towards the wall. I remember picking up both my feet just to make sure I was not touching the pedals. We hit the wall going about 25-30 MPH. Four of us were fine, but my friend in the rear passenger side seat broke her cheekbone. The car was totaled. …
Related recalls (1)
Vehicle speed control
These vehicles were assembled with throttle cable support brackets that could contact the throttle lever system and inhibit the throttle return. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS no. 124, "accelerator control systems."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the throttle cable support bracket.
NHTSA investigations
Accelerator cable detaches from throttle
There is no summary currently available
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Lumina years have acceleration problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (26), 1997 (11), 1996 (9), 1998 (9) and 1999 (5) model years. Acceleration complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Lumina acceleration problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 95V-214 (vehicle speed control, Nov 3, 1995). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Lumina acceleration problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 149,000 miles; 0% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the accelerator pedal (8 mentions), followed by the cables (5).
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.