Brake complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Concern: 1999 low mileage Chevrolet Lumina. Problems with the ABS and traction control systems. Corrosion or defective wheel sensors can cause total loss of braking at slow speeds. My customer explained that his ABS light was on for several months. He had driven threw his fence after turning into his driveway. He mentioned that he would lose all braking if the traction control and ABS light came on at the same time, the ABS and traction control unit was actuating. It was my understanding that if the ABS light was on in all vehicles the ABS would drop out of the braking system rendering the vehicle with conventional brakes. I guess this is not true with some late model gms. I have learned that diagnosing intermittent wheel sensors and wiring is a daunting task. The vehicle we worked on had a defective right front wheel sensor. …
I have 3 different complaints. 1. The rotors on my car had to be replaced 3 times before I had driven 36,000 miles. They would wear unevenly, and cause noise and vibrations whenever the brake was applied. 2. The transmission leaked from the pan, and the gasket had to be replaced 2 or 3 times.the transmission still leaks. And the brakes need fixing again, but the warranty expired at 36,000 miles. 3.whenever the engine is under accerlation, my air conditioner does not cool. The vents close off preventing cold air from coming through. How many other owners have reported problems similar to these?
When I first bought my 1998 Chevrolet Lumina, all of the brake lights were working properly. However, a few weeks later I was driving and a man told me that my brake lights were out. The top brake light has always worked, but the two side lights and the reverse lights do not work. This has been an ongoing problem ever since I noticed it. We have tired the following: switching the light bulbs, changing the fuses, and getting a professional work done. However, nothing works. The new fuse makes the lights work for less than a day if I'm lucky, but then the fuse blows; and the experts have no idea what is wrong. I live in milwaukee, wi, and have seen over ten cars with the exact same problem! I have gotten pulled over and ticketed 3 times now, and have had to pay over $100 in fines, and at least $300 at the auto shop, just for the brake light problem. …
I purchased my vehicle used and it still had 1000 mile warranty from the dealer. When I got the car there was a problem with the fuel pump so they replaced it. Before I even got out of the parking lot the (vibration shudder hose) went bad. Or at least that is what the guy at the service area told me the name was. They have replaced that. And for almost two years now I have been fighting with them that the power steering has been whining. Also the brakes do not stop to well in the rain. I travel a lot and we go through brakes like water. We also had the ac compressor go out last year during the summer. The car was only 4 years old. We keep our car up very well. I do not understand all these problems. I know this May not seem like big problems but when I keep my car up and have been fighting with the dealer due to whining this is frustrating.
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! …
On Sunday January 27, 2002 I was involved in an accident as a result to a problem with the brakes on my 1997 Chevrolet Lumina ls model 4-door sedan that could have resulted in serious injury or death. About a week and half before the accident I knew I was having a problem with the vehicle stopping and I brought it to the original dealer where the vehicle was purchased at hurd Buick-Chevrolet-Pontiac-GMC trucks located in johnston, ri 02919, and had them look at the brake system of the vehicle. I explained the problem that when I applied the brake pedal the vehicle would have trouble stopping and I had to apply a great force on the pedal and allow more timing to stop than normal. The auto technician said nothing he could find wrong but adjusted the brakes and cleaned them. …
On 7/20/03 the battery was getting weak so I bought a new battery compatible with the car. On the first start with the new battery the car behaved normally. However, when I started it the second time and was backing up a slight slope of a driveway, the car died. I put the car back in park and restarted the car. Without touching the gas pedal with my foot, the gas pedal dropped to the floorboard and the car raced forward with the gear shift still in park. The brakes would not work. I steered the car trying to locate the emergency brakes but they were too far away for me to reach and still maintain the racing car. I thought turning off the engine would stop the car since the brakes has failed but even turning off the engine, it raced even faster and the next thing I knew I had crashed into a tree totalling out the car. I cracked my head into the windshield breaking my nose. …
Upon depression of the brake pedal while coming to a stop, the low track and the ABS light came on . When this occurred the vehicle lost brake power. This resulted in extended stopping distance. The vehicle coasted to a stop. The consumer then put the vehicle in park and turned it off. Upon restarting the vehicle the brakes re-engaged themselves. The failure recurred within 14 miles.
Related recalls (4)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Drum
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with rear drum brakes. The bolt head(s) on the rear spindle rod can separate.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear spindle bolts.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The right front brake hose is incorrectly routed behind the brake pipe bracket restricting brake hose movement that could cause the hose to either be cut by the bracket or separated at the caliper.
Remedy: Dealers will replace and correctly route the right front brake hose assembly.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
These vehicles were assembled with one of the four brake booster tabs not properly located in the front of dash reinforcement assembly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect for proper booster installation. Boosters found to be improperly located will be removed and reinstalled properly.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
The left front brake line can contact the transaxle mounting bracket or attachment bolt.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicle for proper brake line clearance and reposition those brake lines found to have less than minimal clearance.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Lumina years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (77), 1997 (37), 1998 (35), 1996 (31) and 1999 (19) model years. Brake complaints make up 16% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Lumina brake problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 00V-143 (drum, May 17, 2000); 99V-357 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Dec 17, 1999); 96V-122 (vacuum, Jul 1, 1996). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Lumina brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 73,000 miles; 30% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (85 mentions), followed by the foundation components (38).
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.