1997 Chevrolet Lumina Sedan from North America - Comments

My father owns a white 97 Monte Carlo and the paint is chipping off in large areas as well. I have also seen many Luminas and Monte Carlo's around the same year with this problem driving around. Can something be done???

What you basically have to do is go to the dealer, and threaten to bring in the Better Business Bureau. That put a flame under GM's rear (or at least the dealer's) and they painted my mother in law's 96 Chevy Beretta (2 yrs. ago) all over again. Her's is the Gray/Green color, and the paint was just coming off in GOBS. It was so bad that it was sheeting off washing the car with a garden hose. Trust me... That should work. Just be firm with them and let them know how you feel.

I guess I'm the exception here. I have a 1997 Lumina - WHITE - and the paint is perfect! I have a couple chips on the hood from road debris, but that's it. Guess I'm the lucky one?

I recently went to a dealership, inquiring on a new vehicle. I have a 87 Honda, on which the paint is also coming off in sheets. When I mentioned it to the dealer, he said that in all honesty, Your paint job lasting is dependent on the day that it was painted from factory. Mondays and Fridays are bad days for a car to be painted, and most likely will start to deteriorate quickly. Mondays, first day of the work week and no one wants to be there, so they may do a poor job. Fridays due to the fact that it is the last day of the work week, and everyone is in a hurry to leave. Just thought I would let ya know this. I personally am looking at a 97 Lumina to purchase. I noticed only a couple of spots on the trunk where the paint was bubbled. But all in all... the paint is still great on it. Good luck with you all.

I also have a white 1997 Chevy Lumina with the paint peeling off the side doors. I have contacted General Motors, Chevrolet Corporation, and numerous dealers, and have received the same assistance from all of these contacts - none! I have also noticed at least 15 other white Luminas with the same problem in the course of my travels. I think it is horrible that Chevrolet is unwilling to correct this problem and can guarantee that I will never again purchase another General Motors vehicle. Best wishes to the person who commented about how they must be the exception (dated 9/15/04), my paint just started peeling, hope you have better luck!

I bought my 97 new. As of today (July 2005) it only has 45,000 miles. Only major problem, manifold gasket had to be replaced. It is white and the paint is perfect. I love the car.

"and don't get me started on the communist oh I mean Korean vehicles"

Uh, Korean cars are built in South Korea, which is a democratic country. North Korea, which is communist, doesn't build cars. Do your research before making silly comments...

My white 98 lumina is having the same problem has anyone gotten a quote to repaint the whole thing?

I am the person that commented back in Sept 04 that I was the "Lucky One" because the paint on my 97 white Lumina was still good. HA!! I spoke too soon! As of today (1-18-07), the paint is peeling off the trunk, roof, passenger side (BAD, the entire rear passenger side door) and on the hood. Seems to start in the ridges, then just takes off. So like many of you, I have gray splotches all over my car. Nice. It's a shame because the car runs like a champ and is paid off, but I'm thinking of getting rid of it just because it looks like a piece of crap!

I'm joining the crowd. My white park avenue has paint chipping off too. When I first got the car there was a little paint chip on the roof. Then one day I was washing it at the car wash and some more paint came off of the roof, trunk and side in one setting. MY car doesn't have as nearly much paint chip off as other GM cars at its age of 13 years. But after I waxed the paint hasn't really chipped of just tiny pieces on the same spots. Also the wax made the car look a lot better. I still love my car and it's been reliable the 10 months that I have owned it.

Just adding my white '98 Lumina with gray primer underneath! I've noticed a bunch of them driving around too... and it's only the white ones! I searched just to see if I was the only one noticing this.

I can't believe you people! Most of you say you will never buy another GM product because the paint is peeling. WOW! Some of you are driving a car with 150k +, but that's not enough to say anything good about a manufacture (unbelieveable)!

I have a 97 Lumina with paint that peels off as I drive, let alone go to a car wash or even wash it myself. Has anyone found any results with getting Chevy to handle what is OBVIOUSLY a factory fault? I am just getting started with this, so any advice would be great!

I love GM cars. It's just this years model and the paint job that is worth complaining about. I feel GM should be held accountable for the batch of paint it used during this time period, and they can go after the manufacturer of the paint. That is fair business.

The bad white paint is a very obvious issue with this era of GM vehicles. Right after reading these comments, I saw two late 90's white Chevy trucks with big splotches of primer showing through holes in the paint. Apparently there really was some kind of defect in the white paint. I'd advise taking photographs of several hundred of these bad paint jobs and submitting them to GM with a complaint. Both Ford and GM are usually great about trying to satisfy their customers. I got items repaired free on one of my Fords at over 100,000 miles.