2001 Chevrolet Lumina Problems and Recalls (21 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2001 Chevrolet Lumina is Engine (19% of 21 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 21 complaints · 4 recalls

What problems show up on the 2001 Chevrolet Lumina?

4 of 21 filings named Engine (19% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Transmission / driveline (4 reports).

There are 4 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The previous year is not published here. Use the year list to jump around.

What to check before you buy a 2001 Chevrolet Lumina

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 4 campaigns on file below.
  2. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  3. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  4. Seat belts. Check that every belt latches, retracts and that related recalls are closed.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Engine. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Engine 4 complaints · 19.1% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 0
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 3
  • Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Engine (ENGINE) appears in 4 of 21 owner complaints (19.1%) in this vehicle snapshot. Engine (ENGINE): 4 complaints, 19.1% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 4 · 19.1% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 4 complaints, 19.1% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 4 · 19.1% Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 3 complaints, 14.3% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 3 · 14.3% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 3 complaints, 14.3% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 3 · 14.3% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 2 complaints, 9.5% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 2 · 9.5% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 2 complaints, 9.5% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 2 · 9.5% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 1 complaints, 4.8% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 · 4.8% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 1 complaints, 4.8% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 · 4.8% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 1 complaints, 4.8% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 · 4.8% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 17 complaints, 81.0% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 17 · 81.0% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Engine (ENGINE) 4 19.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 4 19.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 3 14.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 3 14.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 2 9.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 2 9.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 4.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 4.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 4.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 17 81.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2001; the first recall shown was reported in Aug 2000. 2001-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2003-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2004-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Aug 2000 Jul 2014 Recall campaign 00V228003 ◆ Recall campaign 00V228003 Recall campaign 01V026000 ◆ Recall campaign 01V026000 Recall campaign 02V329000 ◆ Recall campaign 02V329000 Recall campaign 07E021000 ◆ Recall campaign 07E021000
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2001-Q1 Owner reports 1
2001-Q4 Owner reports 1
2002-Q2 Owner reports 1
2002-Q3 Owner reports 2
2003-Q3 Owner reports 3
2003-Q4 Owner reports 3
2004-Q1 Owner reports 2
2004-Q2 Owner reports 1
2005-Q1 Owner reports 1
2006-Q2 Owner reports 1
2006-Q4 Owner reports 1
2008-Q3 Owner reports 1
2009-Q1 Owner reports 1
2013-Q2 Owner reports 1
2014-Q3 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 00V228003
Recall campaign 1 01V026000
Recall campaign 1 02V329000
Recall campaign 1 07E021000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (4)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags and Fuel system.

  1. Recall campaign 00V228003

    Safety recall 00V228003

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  2. Recall campaign 01V026000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  3. Recall campaign 02V329000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  4. Recall campaign 07E021000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
    Remedy:
    DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 9 of 21 complaints · page 1 of 1
2014-09-19Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10637440
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WIPERS AND TURN SIGNALS ACTIVATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
2013-04-19Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 10508758
CrashFireInjuryDeath
JULY 2009 I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT AROUND 75 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE DIED AND WOULDN'T START, PULLED OFF THE ROAD, ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START, AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT STARTED AND I DROVE HOME. I CALLED A MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT PROBABLY WAS THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, GO TO THE JUNK YARD AND GET ONE. FROM THEN THROUGH DECEMBER 2012 I REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE THREE TIMES. IN DECEMBER 2012 I REPLACED BOTH THE MODULE AND THE CRANK POSITIONING SENSOR, THINKING THAT IT COULD BE CAUSING THE MODULE FAILURE. THREE MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN I HAD THE MODULE TESTED, IT WAS OK, HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, THEY CHECKED IT FOR THREE DAYS AND SAID THE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE HAD MADE THE CRANK POSITIONING SENSOR TO SEPARATE INTERNALLY AND IT WAS REPLACED AGAIN. CAR RAN FINE FOR THREE WEEKS AND WOULDN'T START AFTER DRIVING AROUND TOWN LET IT SIT FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, STARTED UP ON THE FIRST TRY DROVE IT HOME. APRIL 2013 MY JUDGMENT TELLS ME THAT THE PLUG TO THE POSITIONING SENSOR IS THE PROBLEM, WHEN ENGINE IS HOT THE PLUG EITHER OPENS UP OR SHORTS OUT FROM LIQUID FROM THE ENGINE. I CHECKED WITH THE PARTS MAN AND HE SAID HE HAD SOLD ONE POSITIONING SENSOR ALL YEAR (MINE) AND SOLD 30 PLUGS GOING TO IT, I'M REPLACING MY PLUG! *TR
2009-03-27Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 10263472
CrashFireInjuryDeath
2001 CHEVROLET LUMINA HAD GASKET FAILURE. *NJ
2008-07-28Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10235967
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V364000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF UPDATE 09/22/08. *JB
2006-10-20Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10171451
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER COMING TO A FULL STOP AT A CROSSOVER, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SEIZED COMPLETELY. A RATTLING NOISE, THEN A BUMP WAS HEARD INSIDE THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 40668 MILES. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA.
2006-04-27Suspension (SUSPENSION)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10156344
CrashFireInjuryDeath
RIGHT REAR ROARING SOUND. TIRE WEAR ON INSIDE TREAD. TIRE ROTATION AND 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT REQUIRED. EVIDENTLY CAUSED BY DRIVING THROUGH POTHOLE IN STREET AND KNOCKING REAR TORSION BARS OUT OF ALIGNMENT ON RIGHT SIDE. VERY CHEAPLY BUILT. *JB
2005-02-17Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10111676
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE VEHICLE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING LOSS OF COOLANT AND THE BLOWER MOTOR IS BLOWING OUT COOL AIR INSTEAD OF HEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *NM
2004-05-11Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10066847
CrashFireInjuryDeath
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND HEARD A SEVERE RATTLING COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE MAIN ELECTRICAL HARNESS WHICH WAS NOT BRACKETED PROPERLY. THE HARNESS ALSO CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
2004-02-24Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10058908
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY SEIZED UP. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. THE PLANETARY GEARS (2) WERE STRIPPED. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT.*AK

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2001 Chevrolet Lumina?

Owners named Engine most often — 4 of 21 reports (19%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2001 Chevrolet Lumina?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2001 Chevrolet Lumina?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources