1995 Chevrolet Lumina

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 492 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. It has been recalled 7 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

34 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 120,000150,000 miles; the median is 100,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission36
010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip31
907
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer30
100
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline23
010
Air Bags › Frontal22
1906
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine17
010
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Switch/Wiring15
000
Structure › Body › Door14
001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components14
202
Vehicle Speed Control13
000

7 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Other › Storage › Tank Assembly › Pressure Relief Devices07E021000
Filed Mar 12, 2007742 vehiclesDelphi

Defect. 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.

Risk. FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage98V306000
Filed Dec 1, 1998111,470 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR PLATE EXHIBITS STRESS CRACKS.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM CAN FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT SYSTEM.

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage97V065000
Filed Apr 18, 199750,709 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR PLATE EXHIBITS STRESS CRACKS.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM CAN FRACTURE AND INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT CAN OCCUR.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT SYSTEM.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Switch/Wiring97V017000
Filed Feb 11, 1997349,331 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A STRAINED OR SEPARATED WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE.

Risk. THIS CAN CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR IN A SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE OLD DESIGNED WASHER/WIPER SWITCHES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.

Vehicle Speed Control95V214000
Filed Nov 3, 19956,772 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH THROTTLE CABLE SUPPORT BRACKETS THAT COULD CONTACT THE THROTTLE LEVER SYSTEM AND INHIBIT THE THROTTLE RETURN. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS."

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE THROTTLE MAY FAITL TO RETURN QUICKLY CAUSING THE ENGINE SPEED TO NOT DECREASE TO A LEVEL ANTICIPATED BY THE DRIVER.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE CABLE SUPPORT BRACKET.

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar95V030000
Filed Feb 27, 1995420 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE FOUR (4) STEERING COLUMN SUPPORT BRACKET ATTACHING BOLTS WERE UNDER TORQUED DURING ASSEMBLY.

Risk. INADEQUATE TORQUE CAN CAUSE THESE BOLTS TO VIBRATE, LOOSEN, OR FALL OUT RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL RETORQUE THE STEERING COLUMN SUPPORT BRACKET ATTACHING BOLTS TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint94V230000
Filed Nov 21, 1994221 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. A RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM TAPERED BALL JOINT MOUNTING HOLE WAS INCORRECTLY MACHINED. MOVEMENT WITHIN THIS ATTACHMENT CAN ALLOW THE BALL JOINT STUD TO FATIGUE AND FRACTURE.

Risk. IF THE BALL JOINT FRACTURED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL TO THE VEHICLE CAN OCCUR.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT STUD ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 3, 2014FL

LETTER FROM SENATOR NELSON ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 1995 CHEVY LUMINA AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND SUFFERED INJURIES. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 25, 201450,000 milesCT

I DROVE A LUMINA THAT HAD A PROBLEM THAT SOUNDS LIKE SAME TYPE OF ENGINE SHUTOFF PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS LATELY. IT HAPPENED MOST OFTEN WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. AS I DECELERATED ON EXIT RAMPS, THE ENGINE WOULD SHUTOFF. THIS BECAME A FAIRLY REGULAR OCCURRENCE WITH THIS CAR. SEVERAL MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. (I BELIEVE IT WAS A 1994 OR 1995 LUMINA THAT I OWNED. I COULD NOT FIND A RECORD OF IT.) *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 1, 2011142,353 milesPA

VEHICLE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS LEAKING. THIS IS DUE TO THE MANIFOLD BEING MADE OF PLASTIC WHICH BREAKS AND CAUSES IT TO LEAK. GM IS AWARE OF THIS FLAW BUT I DID NOT SEE RECALLS SO I AM REPORTING THIS MATTER IN HOPES THERE CAN BE A RECALL FOR THE FAULTY PART. *TR

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Nov 3, 2010137,000 milesOH

ON OR ABOUT 10-6-10 I ASSISTED MY GRANDSON IN PURCHASING A VEHICLE FROM A CAR LOT IN CLEVELAND OHIO. THE CAR WAS A 1995 CHEVY LUMINA. WE WERE TOLD THE CAR HAD BEEN PURCHASED AT AN AUCTION IN PA. AND DRIVEN TO CLEVELAND WITHOUT A PROBLEM. I PAID $635 FOR THE DOWNPAYMENT WITH ADDITIONAL $300 TO BE PAID BY 11-5-10 FOR A TITLE TRANSFER. THEN $200 A MONTH THEREAFTER FOR 12 MONTHS. WE LEFT WITH AN ELATED YOUNG MAN WHO NOW HAD A WAY TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK FOR HIS TWO JOBS. THE NEXT DAY HE TAKES IT FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND IS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAS NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, LEAKING GASKETS, BAD STRUTS, RUSTED FLOOR, AND LEAK IN GAS TANK AND TRANSMISSION. THE NEXT DAY, IT STOPPED RUNNING. CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO TOWED IT AND CLAIMED TO REPAIR LEAKING TRANS. THREE DAYS LATER IT STOPS AGAIN, THEY TOW IT FROM I-480 HIGHWAY AND EACH TOW WE HAVE TO PAY THEM $45. THEY ARE GIVEN A LIST OF REPAIRS NEEDED, EVEN THOUGH PURCHASED WITH NO WARRANTY THE CAR BARELY LEAVES THE LOT BEFORE IT BREAKS DOWN. ON PAYDAY, HE GETS CAR BACK THIS TIME AND FILLS TANK UP ONLY FOR HIS JOB PARKING LOT TO BE COVERED WITH LEAKING GAS AND THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPT. ARE CALLED AND TELL HIM NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR AS THE LEAK IS A DEATH TRAP. AGAIN I PAY FOR A TOW FROM AAA $64. THEY ARE INFORMED AND STATE THEY PUT A GAS TANK ON AND THAT WE CANNOT CONTACT THEM REGARDING ANYMORE PROBLEMS. TWO DAYS AGO THE CAR STOPS AGAIN, BATTERY DEAD. I PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY AND TODAY, THE STABILIZER BAR FALLS AND THE STRUTS ARE HANGING LEAVIN

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Mar 25, 2009150,000 milesMI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET LUMINA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, SHE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED IT TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO HER PLACE OF RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 13, 2008193,000 milesAL

THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AND THEN WHEN IT SHIFTED THROUGH THE GEARS WHEN IT WENT TO CHANGE INTO OVERDRIVE IT WAS LIKE IT JUST WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I PULLED OVER AND TRIED ALL THE GEARS AGAIN AND THERE WAS A LIGHT GRINGING SOUND AND ALL IT WOULD WORK IN WAS 1ST GEAR SO I GOT TO DRIVE HOME AT A LIGHTNING SPEED OF BOUT 10 TO 15 MPH. *TR

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed May 29, 200841,718 milesNY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V017000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING). THE CONTACT WILL HAVE THE DEALER REPLACE THE WASHER WIPER SWITCH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,718 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal › Switch
Filed Mar 6, 200884,000 milesNH

95 LUMINAS AND MONTE CARLOS AS WELL AS OTHER GM W-BODY VEHICLES HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH GOING BAD AND CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO WORK. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineFire
Filed May 10, 200786,558 milesMI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT AND MUST CONSTANTLY APPLY ANTIFREEZE. THE VEHICLE HAS NO VISIBLE LEAKS AND WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT ANTIFREEZE LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,558.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 27, 2006134,000 milesOH

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE HESITATED WITHOUT WARNING. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION BY THE CONTACT, IT WAS DETERMINED THE FAILURE WAS POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT ALERTED.

Seat Belts › Front › AnchorageCrashFire3 injured1 killed
Filed Sep 27, 2006NJ

MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL AUTO ACCIDENT. SHE WAS THE REAR PASSENGER OF A CHEVORLET 1995 LUMINA. SHE HAD ON HER SEAT BELT. HER GIRLFRIEND ALSO IN THE REAR, DISTRACTED THE DRIVER WHO LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. MY DAUGHTER RECEIVED A FATAL BLOW TO THE HEAD, LIVER LACERATIONS , FRACTURED RIBS, AND SEAT BELT CONTUSIONS. SHE REMAINED IN A COMA FOR NINE DAYS BEFORE PASSING AWAY. THE GIRL WHO DID NOT HAVE HER SEAT BELT SURVIVED WITH ONLY MINOR ABRASIONS. THE OTHER TWO FRONT SEAT DRIVER AND PASSENGER RECEIVED ONLY MINOR ABRASIONS. THE CAR EXPLODED INTO FLAMES. *JB

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Jul 20, 2006100,000 milesIL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON MANY OCCASIONS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD MALFUNCTION. ON ONE OCCASION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING IN THE EVENING DURING A RAIN STORM. RECALLS WERE FOUND ON NHTSA WEBSITE THAT MATCHED THE SYMPTOMS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING. THE DEALERS AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SERVICED.

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal › Flasher Unit
Filed Jul 15, 200655,000 milesOH

TURN SIGNALS DO NOT FLASH. *JB

Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module
Filed Jul 9, 2006123,588 milesGA

I TURNED CAR OFF WENT INTO THE HOUSE CAME BACK TRIED TO START CAR IT WOULD NOT START IT HAD FULL POWER I REPLACED THE STARTER HAD BATTERY CHECKED IT WAS FULLY CHARGED NO PROBLEMS TRIED TO START IT SECURITY LIGHT IS FLASHING CLEANED KEY UNABLE TO START THIS IS A 1995 CHEVY LUMINA THIS IS A DANGER. IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED . *NM

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 15, 2006PA

CHIPPING & CRACKING OF PAINT. *JB

Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 21, 2005118,000 milesMA

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V017000 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE. THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE.*AK UPDATED 12/27/2005. THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. *NM

Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights
Filed Oct 21, 2005NC

BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. WILL WORK IF PULL TURN SIGNAL ARM TOWARD DRIVER, BUT ONLY WHILE IT IS PULLED FORWARD. THIS WILL REQUIRE A 350$ FIX. SEEN LOTS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. IF A TURN SIGNAL ARM THAT IS KNOWN TO GO LOOSE THAT CAUSES BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT IS NOT A HAZARD I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Oct 20, 2005NC

ON A ROAD TEST FOR A CUSTOMER I LOST THE BRAKES, AS IT DEVELOPED A HARD PEDAL WITHOUT POWER ASSIST. THE CONDITION WAS INTERMITTENT. UPON INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THE VACUUM HOSE FROM THE BACK OF THE INTAKE TO THE POWER BOOSTER WAS SOFTENED WITH OIL CONTAMINATION AND HAD BEGUN TO COLLAPSE CUTTING OFF VAC TO THE BOOSTER. I INSTALLED A NEW HOSE ASSEMBLY BUT THIS CAME OUT OF NOWHERE AND COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR ANY DRIVER AT ANY TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS A 1995 CHEVY LUMINA 3.4 V6. CLEARANCE IS VERY TIGHT WHERE THE HOSE RUNS. I THINK GM SHOULD GO TO A HARD HOSE INSTEAD OF A PERFORMED RUBBER HOSE. THE ENGINE WAS NOT LEAKING OIL. THIS FAILURE WAS HEAT AN NORMAL WEAR. BEING THESE CARS ARE 10 YEARS OLD THEY ARE STARTING TO FAIL. I SUSPECT EVERY VEHICLE WITH THE 3.4 L ENGINE WILL HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM NOT JUST THE LUMINA. *JB

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Oct 11, 2005NJ

DT: 1995 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. A CO-WORKER CAME OUT AND HAD AWAKEN THE CONSUMERS SON. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED. A FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE NEAR THE BUMPER. ALSO, A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INSPECTOR, WHO STATED THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A FIRE TO START. THERE WAS NO EXHAUST LEAK, THEREFORE GM COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR THE CONSUMER. THIS HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2005. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK (11/21/05) *SC

Exterior Lighting
Filed Sep 23, 2005MI

BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE CONNECTED WITH THE TURN SIGNAL STALK. THE WINDOW BRAKE LIGHT WORKS FINE, BUT THE BOTTOM BREAK LIGHTS DON'T WORK. ALL FUSES AND LIGHT BULBS ARE WORKING. THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.AUTOFAN.COM/FORUM_THREAD.ASP?MESSAGE=6440 I FEEL THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *NM

20 of 492 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20081000Routine
20020100Routine
200121400Routine
200030600Routine
1999103341Fatalities reported
1998223460Above average
1997347287Fatalities reported
1996245323Fatalities reported
1995 — this page492786Fatalities reported
1994126220Routine
19932433130Above average
19923424110Above average
1991352692Fatalities reported
1990427980Above average

Compare every Lumina year →

Reading this record

6 deaths reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

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: Mar 12, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.