1994 Chevrolet Lumina Apv

Routine

Owners filed 65 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the seat belts › front › retractor. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor11
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip6
401
Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash4
020
Structure › Body › Door3
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines3
020
Power Train › Automatic Transmission3
010
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor2
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer2
000
Seats2
000
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly2
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines96V015000
Filed Jan 23, 1996585,182 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.

Risk. VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.

Seat Belts › Front › Webbing94V100000
Filed May 24, 19945,294 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE SECOND ROW, RIGHT HAND SHOULDER BELT CAN BECOME "PINCHED" BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE DOOR FRAME PILLAR TRIM. THE SHOULDER BELT MAY NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE 1994 VEHICLES HAVE AN OPTIONAL INTEGRAL (BUILT IN) CHILDSEAT INSTALLED NEXT TO THE POWER SLIDING SIDE DOOR. THE 1993 INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE STANDARD SEATS IN THAT SAME POSITION.

Risk. IMPROPER SHOULDER BELT RETRACTION DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR COLLISION.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR FRAME PILLAR TRIM PANEL WITH A REDESIGNED TRIM PANEL. ALSO, A CAUTION LABEL WILL BE APPLIED TO THE CHILD SEAT ADVISING THE OWNER NOT TO INSTALL THE SEAT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF A VEHICLE WITH A POWER SLIDING SIDE DOOR.

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor94V015000
Filed Jan 21, 199422,862 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS MAY BE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AND MAY LOCK-UP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON SLOPES OF LESS THAN 15 DEGREES, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: PASSENGERS SEATED IN THESE POSITON MAYBE UNABLE TO EXTRACT AND FASTEN THEIR SEAT BELTS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS MOVED TO A MORE LEVEL SURFACE. UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE MORE AT RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION THAN THOSE USING SAFETY BELTS.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS AND REINSTALL THEM PROPERLY.

Seat Belts › Rear/Other93V212000
Filed Dec 13, 19931,238 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS FOR THE REAR CENTER POSITION ARE MISSING A PAWL SPRING AND IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, WILL ALLOW THE SAFETY BELT WEBBING TO EXTEND BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE SAFETY BELT WOULD NOTRESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT, SUBJECTING THE OCCUPANT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURIES.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE THE RETRACTOR IF THE PAWL SPRING IS MISSING.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Suspension
Filed Nov 15, 2010145,000 milesOH

CATASTROPHIC SUB FRAME FAILURE. AFTER 16 YEARS OF SALTED NE OHIO ROADS THE VAN'S FRONT SUB FRAME COLLAPSED AND MADE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT WOULD JOLT FROM LANE TO LANE WHILE SHIFTING, AND HAD LOST MOST STEERING CONTROL. MECHANICS REPLACED OVER $700 OF PARTS TRYING TO FIX THE ISSUE UNTIL A FRIEND FOUND THE REAL CULPRIT OF THE CLUNKING AND LOST STEERING. PLEASE BE VERY WARY OF GM PRODUCTS IN THE RUST BELT. REPLACEMENT OF SUB FRAME SOLVED ALL ISSUES PROCURED FROM INITIAL PROBLEM HOWEVER, AND IT IS FAIRLY INEXPENSIVE TO HAVE A SUB FRAME SHIPPED UP HERE FROM ARIZONA ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE ENGINES/TRANS IN THESE VEHICLES WERE JUST ABOUT BULLET PROOF AND IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO JUNK SUCH A RELIABLE RUNNING VEHICLE. GOOD VEHICLE OTHERWISE AND THE UNIBODY IS GALVANIZED, SO THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS SOUND.

Seat Belts › Front › Webbing
Filed Sep 9, 2005202,000 milesMI

DT: THE CONTACT STATES TRANSMISSION STILL ACTS LIKE IT WANTS TO OVERHEAT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ON JAN 5TH THE LINES ARE LEAKING. THE CONTACT FEELS THIS IS RELATED TO RECALL 96V015000. THE CONTACT HAS NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. THE VEHICLE HAS 202,000 MILES ON IT. ALSO, THE FRONT AND MIDDLE SEAT BELTS ARE NOT RETRACTING. THE WEBBING IS COMING OFF. THIS PROBLEM IS IN RELATED TO RECALLS 93V212000 AND 94V100000. THE CONTACT HAS NOT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING THE SEAT BELTS. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - *NM THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB THE CONSUMER IS STILL WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. UPDATED 05/24/06

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator ModuleFire
Filed Mar 10, 2004NY

I WAS READING INFORMATION ON THE FOLLOWING: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE95062 NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER : N/A MAKE : CHEVROLET MODEL: LUMINA APV MANUFACTURER : GENERAL MOTORS CORP. YEAR : 1994 COMPONENT : ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING MY 1994 LUMINA APV STARTED TO SMOKE IN THE STEERING COLUMN ON 2 OCCASIONS. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION KEY AND IT STOPPED. I TURNED IT BACK FORWARD TO THE ON POSITION WITHOUT STARTING THE VEHICLE AND IT DID NOT SMOKE THEN, BUT WHEN I WENT AHEAD AND STARTED THE VAN IS BEGAN TO SMOKE AGAIN. BEING THE ONLY VEHICLE I OWN AND CANT GO WITHOUT IT, I CAREFULLY REMOVED THE 4 SCREWS ON THE CENTER WHEEL THAT HOLDS THE AIRBAG, AND FOUND THAT THE LARGE YELLOW PLUG THAT CONECTS THE AIRBAG WAS BLACKENED BY HEAT. HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY OTHER NOTIFICATIONS OF THIS IN THE PAST? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.*AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Mar 8, 2004NJ

I HAVE A 1994 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV. BACK IN 2000 I HAD THE WINDSHIELD WASHER MOTOR/ASSEMBLY REPLACED BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO OPERATE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS GM HAS ISSUED A REPAIR/REFUND FOR SAME MOTOR FOR ALL OTHER VEHICLES WITH PROBLEMS BUT NOT FOR THE LUMINA/LUMINA APV. THIS WAS A COSTLY REPAIR AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT GM IS GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. I HAVE CALLED GM'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REPORTED/ INQUIRED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES. I KNOW OF MANY LUMINA OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND REPAIRED THEM. WHEN IS THIS GOING TO BE RESOLVED???*AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jul 25, 2003CT

I OWN A 1994 CHEVROLET LUMINA VAN AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY WHEN THEY "FEEL LIKE IT". IN SPEAKING TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC (NOT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP), HE MENTIONED THAT THIS IS THE SAME WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY THAT IS ON YOUR RECALL 98V150001, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICAL IS NOT LISTED AS PART OF THAT RECALL. UPON CONTACTING CHEVY, THEY USED THAT SAME REASONING AS NOT COVERING REPLACEMENT. IF, IN FACT, THIS IS THE SAME WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AS WHAT'S IN THE OTHER CHEVROLET MODELS LISTED IN THE RECALL, IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT REPLACEMENT OF THAT PART WOULD ALSO BE COVERED ON THE LUMINA VAN. *AK

Steering › Column
Filed May 30, 2003NE

VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN WAS MADE OF ALUMINIUM INSTEAD OF STEEL. *MR

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module
Filed Jan 29, 2003PA

COLLIDED HEAD-ON INTO A TREE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PH

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Jan 29, 2003PA

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND THE BRAKES "LOCKED UP". CONSUMER COLLIDED WITH A TREE.

Tires
Filed Sep 25, 2002CD

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SPARE TIRE RACK AND CABLE HAVE BROKEN FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED . FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Sep 8, 2002OK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Jun 3, 2002VA

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANG, THEN VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. DEALER DETERMINED THAT PULLEY OFF WATER PUMP SHEARED OFF ITS AXLE, CAUSING SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF. *AK *MJ

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch
Filed Apr 11, 2002MI

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY NOTICED A SMELL OF SMOKE COMING FROM DIMMER SWITCH. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK MECHANIC FOUND NO PROBLEMS OR DAMAGE. MAY HAVE BEEN AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS NO FURTHER COMPLAINTS. *JG

Equipment › Mechanical › Carrier/Rack
Filed Aug 13, 2001WI

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT DOWN IN FRONT, UP IN THE BACK. CONSUMER PULLED OVER,AND SAW CABLE THAT HELD SPARE TIRE IN PLACE HAD SNAPPED. SPARE TIRE TURNED UP SIDEWAYS, AND JACKED VEHICLE UP IN BACK.*AK

Equipment › Mechanical › Carrier/Rack
Filed Jul 30, 2001IL

SPARE WHEEL IS SUSPENDED BELOW CAR BY A SMALL CABLE. THIS CABLE FRACTURED AT THE JOINT WITH THE BLOCK WHICH CLAMPS THE WHEEL. THERE IS NO LOCKING MECHANISM FOR THE WHEEL. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY, THE WHEEL WOULD HAVE DROPPED TO THE PAVEMENT AND WOULD HAVE CAUSED GRAVE DANGER TO ANY FOLLOWING MOTORIST.

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Apr 10, 2001VT

I WOULD LIKE THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE REGARDING THIS MATTER. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Feb 25, 2000PA

BRAKES SEEM TO GIVE OUT WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. *AK

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Jan 22, 2000FL

WHEN OPENING THE DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR FRAME, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED BY PERSONAL MECHANIC AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate
Filed Jan 1, 2000AZ

WE HAVE HAD ALL THE DOOR HANDLES BREAK, CAUSING THE PASSENGERS TO BE UNABLE TO OPEN OR CLOSE THEIR DOORS. THE REAR BACK HATCH HAS BROKEN THREE TIMES AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $150 FOR EACH REPAIR. AFTER READING THE TOM AND RAY ARTICLE IN THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC ON JAN. 1, 2000, I BELEIVE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Sep 30, 1999FL

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN A HEAVY RAINSTORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED. CONTACTED DEALER AND SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 26, 1999PA

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED TO STOP, THE ANTI-SKID SYSTEM LOCK RELEASES AND LOCK UP AGAIN. IF THEY ONLY LOCK ONCE, THEN THEY WILL GO OUT, MAKING IT SEEM THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NO BRAKES. TO STOP, THE PEDAL HAS TO BE STOOD ON. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

20 of 65 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
19993000Routine
19982000Routine
19971010Routine
199635240Routine
1995104300Routine
1994 — this page65490Routine
199345330Routine
199276220Routine
199147220Routine
199099420Routine

Compare every Lumina Apv year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jan 23, 1996. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.