1996 Chevrolet Lumina Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 34about this part
- Share
- 14%of 245 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 102,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 34 complaints about the air bags of the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina, 14% of the 245 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 102,000 miles. 13 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“On 7/20/03 the battery was getting weak so I bought a new battery compatible with the car. On the first start with the new battery the car behaved normally. However, when I started it the second time and was backing up a slight slope of a driveway, the car died. I put the car back in park and restarted the car. Without touching the gas pedal with my foot, the gas pedal dropped to the floorboard and the car raced forward with the gear shift still in park. The brakes would not work. …”
NHTSA complaint #10069901, filed 2004-01, 102,000 miles“While driving and turning to the left at 5 MPH, consumer was involved in a front end collision. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. Windshield was shattered, and glass was all over the vehicle. Driver sustained cuts arms and face.”
NHTSA complaint #10063584, filed 2004-03, 30,000 miles“While driving 5 MPH vehicle drove over a pipe in the road. As a result, dual airbags deployed inadvertently. Passenger's side shattered the window, sending glass into the vehicle. Driver sustained minor burns to the arm and neck.”
NHTSA complaint #10090084, filed 2004-08, 150,000 miles“While driving on the highway, the driver side air bag violently deployed and about 7 to 10 minutes later the passenger side air bag violently deployed and shattered the windshield.”
NHTSA complaint #10000974, filed 2003-01, 32,300 miles“I was driving on a highway and came up to a intersection where I had the right of way. The other person had a stop sign. This person thought that I had a stop sign also so she proceeded into the intersection and I smashed into her making her truck fly across the highway and flipping over. My airbag did not deploy and because of that I feel that I was injured more than if my airbag would have deployed. My car was totaled.”
NHTSA complaint #10216827, filed 2008-02Air bags: other model years
Other parts of the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
36 complaintsBrakes
31 complaintsElectrical system
30 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
24 complaintsSteering
19 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaintsSeat belts
15 complaintsExterior lighting
14 complaintsFuel system
12 complaintsOther or unknown
12 complaintsBody and structure
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology