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. The MPH at the beginning of the malfunction of the car, 0 (zero); when the car plowed into the tree splattering me into the windshield head first like a bug, 60+ estimated by witnesses. Insurance totaled the car & sold to salvage even though they were holding it for me while undergoing emergency medical treatment. I tracked down the salvage yard for gm and an investigator examined the car but will not tell me what he found out.
Chevrolet Lumina sudden acceleration problems
11 of the 2,945 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Lumina describe sudden unintended acceleration, most of them for the 1992 model year.
- owner complaints
- 11
- worst model year
- 1992
By model year
- 19992
- 19971
- 19961
- 19952
- 19941
- 19923
- 19911
Often reported together
What owners say
When applying the brakess vehicle surged forward. *ak this problem occurs when pulling into parkingp laces, when yielding to pedestrians and when pulling into the garage
Vehicle accelerated on its own at 35-40 MPH, increasing speed to 60 MPH. Consumer had to apply brakes hard to stop vehicle. Mechanic stated throttle plate housing needed to be replaced.
When brakes are applied there is sudden acceleration instead of vehicle slowing down. Have to slam on brakes to stop vehicle.
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.
Was pulling into a parking space when vehicle suddenly accelerated. Vehicle hit a concrete post in front of store. No injuries.
Engine idled very high, causing vehicle to suddenly accelerate. Also, braking system malfunctioned, causing extended stopping distance, and the ABS braking light came on. Please provide further information.
While driving on the highway about 60 MPH vehicle suddenly accelerated without a reason, consumer had contacted the dealer.
Sudden acceleration.
Vacuum leak that caused auto to suddenly accelerate while on freeway had to cut engine off to stop auto. Tt
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- 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."
- Risk
- Consequence of non-compliance: the throttle may faitl to return quickly causing the engine speed to not decrease to a level anticipated by the driver.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the throttle cable support bracket.
Recall number 95V214000 · Recall details
Questions about the Chevrolet Lumina sudden acceleration
Which Chevrolet Lumina years have sudden unintended acceleration problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1992 (3 complaints), 1995 (2 complaints) and 1999 (2 complaints).
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