Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Vehicle ran off the road at 50-60 MPH as consumer swerved to avoid a animal. Vehicle hit the ditch, then rolled 2-3 times. Neither airbag deployed. Driver hit his head on the windshield and suffered facial injuries. Vehicle was totalled. Ts
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Lumina. While driving approximately 28-30 MPH, another motorist made an out of turn left turn in front of the contact's vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into the front driver's side of the other vehicle. The air bag indicator illuminated, but the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was inoperable. The contact was waiting for his insurance company to determine if the vehicle was totaled. A police report was filed. The contact received injuries to the back, stomach, and neck. Medical assistance was needed. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Lumina. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag was protruding as if it were going to explode. In addition, the contact mentioned that oil was leaking onto the exhaust manifold and the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000.
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
While driving and turning to the left at 5 MPH, consumer was involved in a front end collision. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. Windshield was shattered, and glass was all over the vehicle. Driver sustained cuts arms and face.
While driving 5 MPH vehicle drove over a pipe in the road. As a result, dual airbags deployed inadvertently. Passenger's side shattered the window, sending glass into the vehicle. Driver sustained minor burns to the arm and neck.
Related recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal
On certain passenger, sport utility vehicles and Mini vans, some of these vehicles have a passenger air bag that was manufactured without a check valve pin. An air bag without the check valve pin could produce increased pressure at the onset of the air bag deployment and reduced pressure afterward.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag. Owner notification began December 16, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive…
Air bags › Frontal
Vehicle description: passenger, sport utility vehicles and minivans. The passenger air bag inflator modules were built without the correct amount of generant, which produces the gas that fills the air bag. Some were built with a double load of generant and some were built without generant.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module. Telephone calls were made to owners on January 29, 2001. Follow up owner mailing began on April 17, 2001.
Air bags › Frontal
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The passenger side air bag modules have an undersized inflator orifice.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger side air bag modules.
NHTSA investigations
Inappropriate air bag deployment
There is no summary currently available
Inappropriate air bag deployment
The failure rate (1.25/100K) on this issue is low.a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of the agency resources does not appear to be warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constiture a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.odi will continue to closely monitor this issue.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the…
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Lumina years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1997 (36), 1996 (34), 1995 (33), 1998 (15) and 1999 (7) model years. Airbag complaints make up 10% of all complaints for the 1997.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Lumina airbag problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 02V-329 (frontal, Dec 9, 2002); 01V-026 (frontal, Feb 1, 2001); 99V-283 (frontal, Oct 21, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Lumina airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 120,000 miles; 19% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (69 mentions), followed by the side/window (4).
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.