NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 26 owner complaints for the 2001 Chevrolet Lumina. Most complaints involve power train (5) and engine and engine cooling (4). The EPA rates it 21 mpg combined.
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
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.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Lumina model year we’ve synced.
Only one model year synced so far.
“NUMEROUS THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG WITH MY 2001 MONTE CARLO. 5 OR 6 TIMES THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPAIRED THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WHERE IT CONTINUALLY POPS OUT. I AM REALLY CONCERNED WHEN IT MIGHT EXPLODE W/O A CRASH OR IF THERE IS A DRIVER SIDE CRASH IF IT WILL COME OUT TO PROTECT ME. STEERING AND FRONT SUSPENSION POPS. AT 55,117 MILES WE HAD THE OIL CHANGED (WHICH HAS BEEN DONE EVERY 3000 MILES) OR LESS AND ON THE MULTI POINT INSPECTION SHEET, IT LISTED SEVERAL THINGS THAT "MIGHT NEED ATTENTION" SOON. THEY ARE STEERING LINKAGE AND STEERING COMPONENTS, CV AXLE BOOTS OR DRIVE SHAFT AND U JOINTS. THESE THINGS SHOULD NOT BE WORN OUT ON A CAR WITH NO MORE MILES THAN THIS. MY REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER DOESN'T WORK. NOTICED THIS AFTER ONE OF THE AIRBAG REPAIRS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF BUT STILL THE NOISES PERSIST AND NOW TO BE TOLD THAT THESE PARTS MIGHT NEED REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT? WE PAID A LOT OF GOOD MONEY FOR THIS VEHICLE (THIS IS A LIMITED EDITION HIGH SPORT VEHICLE) AND FEEL GM SHOULD BUY IT BACK AND REIMBURSE EVERY DIME OF IT DUE TO THE POOR QUALITY OF IT OR PROPERLY REPAIRED OR PARTS REPLACED AT GM EXPENSE WHILE PROVIDING AN EQUAL VALUE VEHICLE WHILE…”
“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…”
“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”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumina Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.1 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,050 | 423 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
4 safety recalls as of Nov 6, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 26 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (5), engine and engine cooling (4), suspension (4). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2001 Chevrolet Lumina at 21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (1 version rated).