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Chevrolet Lumina airbag light comes on

20 of the 2,945 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Lumina describe airbag warning light, most of them for the 1997 model year.

owner complaints
20
worst model year
1997
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 1998
    4
  • 1997
    11
  • 1996
    4
  • 1995
    1

What owners say

Filed Jul 31, 2017 · Airbags · 73,000 miles · NY · crash · 1 injury

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.

Filed Jan 16, 2004 · Airbags · MA

Air bag light illuminated intermittently. *ph eventually the air bag light remained illuminated.

Filed Oct 21, 2003 · Airbags, Steering · 163,950 miles · MI

I have a 97 chevrolet lumina and started experiencing steering tightness when turning left. I heard about a re-call so I took my car to the chevrolet dealer for help. I asked them if they could check the lower pinion bearing to see if that was the problem. They told me they knew nothing about any recall and said that my power steering pump was out. They couldn't get the part for a week. I was afraid to continue driving it the way it was so my husband changed the pump. There was no difference in the steering. I took it back to the dealer, they said the pump was fine but they would have to flush the system because parts from the pump probably got into the rack. I again explained to them about the upcoming recall and they told me it couldn't be the problem. It was going to be a couple of days before they could get my car in to flush out the system and I asked them if it was safe to drive it the way it was and they told me it wouldn't be a problem. That next day when I was driving my car the steering completely went out. The steering wheel just started spinning. I think I am lucky to be alive. I had to have it towed to them.they told me that the steering column broke and that it still had nothing to do with any recall. They are charging 600.00 for what they fixed. I asked them if I could have the old rack to have the lpb checked out to see if it was bad but they didn't have the part any more, they sent it to where ever they have them re-built. They are going to try and get it back. When they took my car for a test drive after replacing the rack they said that the airbag warning light came on and now want to charge me another 325.00 to fix that. Of course again, nothing to do with changing the rack. Can you tell me if any of this has anything to do with the lpb? I am at a loss, I have read other complaints and to me this sounds about the same.

Filed Oct 12, 2003 · Airbags · 57,008 miles · PA

While driving the air bag light illuminated. The dealer later determined that the irs (inflatable restraint sensor) and sir coil failed. *ak *ph

Filed May 25, 2003 · Airbags, Brakes · MA

Between november 2002 and may 2003, I have gone through 4 batteries and 3 visits to the dealer for electrical "shorts." either the antilock brake warning light, or the airbag warning light would come on, and the interior dash lights would become increasingly dim indicating a battery drain. Within a day or two, the battery would be completely drained, and there is no power at all. The dealer reports finding problems in the battery cells and shorts in the harness under the dash each time, but the problem persists.

Filed Apr 9, 2003 · Airbags · MN

While driving the vehicles air bag light illuminated. The dealer has been notified.

Filed Feb 4, 2003 · Airbags, Steering · MN

Steering wheel made clicking sound when trying to turn wheel became hard to steer as if no power steering and air bag light came on. Turned out to be the air bag coil - which had an exposed circuit. Noticed many technical service bulletins of this nature about the clicking in the steering wheel. Do not know if air bag was involved with the techinical service bulletins or other complaints. Could have been a very serious incedent if this occurred while driving the vehicle. So happens that it occurred while pulling out of a parking space at a chevrolet dealership after just having the ABS system repaired.

Filed Apr 9, 2002 · Airbags · WI

Airbag light appears on the dashboard and will not go off, dealership is aware of problem.*ak consumer adds that while vehicle was stored at dealership, vehicle was broken into. Consumer took vehicle to another dealer and is expecting original dealer to pay for airbag repairs.

Filed Jan 8, 2002 · Airbags · GA

While driving air bag light became illuminated. Have not contacted dealership.*ak

Filed Sep 6, 2001 · Airbags, Engine · TX

Air bag lights stays on, the dealer cleared connection, cleared codes and also replaced passenger side module but the lightis still on .

Related recalls

Air bags: frontalReported December 9, 2002 · 272 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
This could increase the severity of injury to a person who was not properly restrained and who was close to the passenger air bag at the time of deployment. It could also reduce the ab8ility of the air bag to protect a restrained front seat passenger.
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 the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737, oldsmobile at 1‑800‑442‑6537, or saturn at 1‑800‑553‑6000, prompt #3.

Recall number 02V329000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontalReported February 1, 2001 · 38 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
In the event of a crash that would trigger a passenger air bag deployment, a double load of generant can cause the inflator module to explode. If the air bag module explodes, metal and plastic debris could cause severe injury to vehicle occupant. A module with no generant would not inflate the air bag, and the occupants could receive more severe injuries.
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. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737, or saturn at 1‑800‑553‑6000.

Recall number 01V026000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontalReported October 21, 1999 · 111 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The passenger side air bag modules have an undersized inflator orifice.
Risk
In the event of a crash that would trigger a passenger side air bag deployment, this undersized orifice can cause the inflator module to explode. If an air bag inflator module explodes, metal and/or plastic debris could cause severe injury to the vehicle occupant.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the passenger side air bag modules.

Recall number 99V283000 · Recall details

Questions about the Chevrolet Lumina airbag light

Why does the airbag light come on in the Chevrolet Lumina?

Owners who report it most often also describe loss of power steering, clunking or noise when steering and sudden loss of power.

Which Chevrolet Lumina years have airbag warning light problems?

The model years with the most reports are 1997 (11 complaints), 1996 (4 complaints) and 1998 (4 complaints).

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