AI Damage2001 Chevrolet Lumina: common problems
Owners of the 2001 Chevrolet Lumina filed 21 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 21
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 19% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 19% of all complaints
- 3 Seat belts 14% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 14% of all complaints
- 6 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 10% of all complaints
- 8 Exterior lighting 5% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 4 complaints (19% of all).
- Powertrain: 4 complaints (19% of all).
- Seat belts: 3 complaints (14% of all).
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (14% of all).
- Suspension: 3 complaints (14% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.1 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 21 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
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.
Tl 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.
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.
Evidently caused by driving through pothole in street and knocking rear torsion bars out of alignment on right side. Very cheaply built.
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.
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.
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 8,077 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 22% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Lumina has 198 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 21, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Chevrolet Lumina?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, powertrain, seat belts. Total complaints: 21. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (19%), seat belts (14%), brake failure (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2001 Chevrolet Lumina?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2001 Chevrolet Lumina from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2001 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.