Owners filed 245 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. It has been recalled 3 times.
When it fails
115000115,000 milesMedian miles at failure
36 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 120,000–150,000 miles.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Air Bags › Frontal
17
9
0
14
Air Bags
16
3
0
9
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
14
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
10
3
0
3
Unknown or Other
8
1
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
8
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling
8
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
7
0
0
0
Electrical System › Horn
6
0
0
0
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
6
0
0
0
3 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum96V122000
Defect. THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE CAN CONTACT THE TRANSAXLE MOUNTING BRACKET OR ATTACHMENT BOLT.
Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE BRAKE LINE TO WEAR THROUGH, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF ONE-HALF OF THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE SYSTEM, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR PROPER BRAKE LINE CLEARANCE AND REPOSITION THOSE BRAKE LINES FOUND TO HAVE LESS THAN MINIMAL CLEARANCE. ADDITIONALLY, THOSE BRAKE LINES FOUND TO HAVE AN INDENTATION CAUSED BY THE CONTACT WILL BE REPLACED AND PROPERLY ROUTED.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal › Switch
Filed May 19, 201090,000 milesWA
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A RECURRING FAILURE WITHIN THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WHICH WOULD SUDDENLY STOP FUNCTIONING, CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO STOP WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES AND WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 308,000.
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Mar 31, 200922,000 milesNC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHO REPLACED THE ENGINE EGR VALVES. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AND REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS CLEANED, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO A LOUD SQUEAKY NOISE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW MECHANISM WAS INOPERATIVE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000. UPDATED 04/24/09. *LJ THE EGR VALVES WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/28/09.*JB
Suspension › RearCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 21, 200899,000 milesNC
IN AUGUST 2008 I PURCHASED A CLEAN WHITE 1996 CHEVY LUMINA WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON THE DASH. IT SEEMED TO BE RUNNING PRETTY WELL AT FIRST BUT I NOTICED THE CAR HAD A LITTLE SKIP EVERY NOW AND THEN IN DEEP CURVES. THEN ON NOVEMBER 1, 2008 THE FRONT LEFT AXLE BROKE A LOOSE FROM THE MAIN PORT AS I WAS LEAVING MY YARD WHICH WAS STRANGE AND UNCOMMON. ON NOVEMBER 8, 2008 A LICENSED MECHANIC WAS HIRED AND FIXED THE BROKEN AXLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. AFTER THE REPAIR THE CAR WAS TEST DRIVEN AND SEEMED TO BE RUNNING AS GOOD AS NEW. LATER ON THAT NIGHT WHILE MY SON WAS GOING THROUGH A CURVE THE CAR LOSS CONTROL AND STARTED FISHTAILING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CURVE. AS HE WAS STRAIGHTENING THE CAR BACK OUT INTO HIS LANE SOMETHING MALFUNCTIONED IN THE REAR AND SENT THE CAR SPINNING SIDEWAYS AND OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR STOPPED ITSELF AFTER RUNNING IN A DITCH AND SMASHING IT'S SIDE INTO AN EMBANKMENT INJURING HIM AND TOTALING THE CAR. REAR RIGHT SIDE WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF FROM WHERE TRACTION BAR BROKE. *TR
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 30, 2008221,878 milesSC
I LOVE MY CAR BUT THE ENGINE HAS BEEN GOING OUT FOR SOME TIME NOW AND THE PERSON WHOM I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM HE KNEW OF THIS SITUATION AND HE DIDN'T TELL ME. THIS CAR IS MY FIRST CAR AND MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION SO CAN YOU ALL PLEASE HELP ME. *TR
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 27, 2008180,000 milesMS
OIL LEAK 1996 3.4 DOHC CHEVY LUMINA I DID MY RESEARCH THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE CARS THEN ITS COSTS A PRETTY GOOD PENNY TO FIX BY THE DEALERSHIP LIKE $2000. *TR
Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Feb 4, 2008SD
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. *TR
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Nov 12, 2007115,000 milesMO
PURCHASED 1996 CHEVY LUMINA W/3.1 LITER ENGINE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND CURRENTLY HAS 115,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE CAMSHAFT HAS BROKEN. WHY WOULD A VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM? IT SEEMS AN EXTREME PROBLEM FOR A WELL-CARED FOR VEHICLE. THIS WAS A FORMER POLICE VEHICLE (FIRST 96,000 MILES). MY SON'S GIRLFRIEND ALSO OWNS A LUMINA (1999, NO VIN AVAILABLE) AND SHE TOO HAS HAD THE CAMSHAFT REPLACED IN HER VEHICLE AT 170,000. *TR
Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 18, 2007NJ
EXTERIOR PAINT , PEELING , FLAKING , RUSTING . I REALIZE THIS CAR IS NOW 11 YEARS OLD , BUT THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY ABOUT 5 YEARS OLD . THE PAINT HAS PEELED OFF IN LARGE PATCHES IN MANY AREAS OF THE CAR , REVEALING THE DULL GRAY PRIMER . *JB
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights
Filed Jun 4, 2007180,000 milesMN
BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T ALWAYS WORK ON 1996 LUMINA DUE TO FAULTY TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, I'VE NOTICE THIS ON SEVERAL OTHER 1995 -2001 LUMINAS AS WELL. *TR
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch
Filed May 23, 2007115,000 milesVA
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HAS THREE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE LOWER TWO LIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. WHEN HE CHANGED THE BULBS, THEY ILLUMINATED BRIEFLY AND THEN QUICKLY BURNED OUT AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 135,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 18, 2007OH
THE PAINT JOB IS HORRIBLE. THE PAINT IS COMPLETELY PEELING OFF OF MY LUMINA. *JB
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 23, 2006143,000 milesOH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE'S INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. THE NON SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE TOP OF THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER.
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 6, 2006129,000 milesIN
I TURNED ON MY CAR AND PUT IT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. I HAD FOUR FRIENDS IN THE CAR. I WAITED FOR MY FRIENDS TO GET SITUATED IN THE CAR AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THE CAR DID NOT ROLL BACK AS IT NORMALLY DID WHEN IN GEAR. SUDDENLY, THE CAR LURCHED BACKWARD AND STARTING ACCELERATING TOWARD A CONCRETE WALL THAT WAS ABOUT 45 FEET BEHIND US. I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. I QUICKLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO TRIED TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. NOTHING HAPPENED, SO I QUICKLY TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, JUST IN CASE I HAD ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TOWARDS THE WALL. I REMEMBER PICKING UP BOTH MY FEET JUST TO MAKE SURE I WAS NOT TOUCHING THE PEDALS. WE HIT THE WALL GOING ABOUT 25-30 MPH. FOUR OF US WERE FINE, BUT MY FRIEND IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BROKE HER CHEEKBONE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYONE WILLING TO INSPECT THE CAR TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CAR WAS SALVAGED FOR PARTS. *JB
Electrical System
Filed Aug 13, 200658,000 milesMO
1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA, BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING EXCEPT FOR IN THE REAR WINDOW. IF THAT BULB WERE TO BURN OUT, I WOULD HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS AT ALL. I HAVE DISCOVERED, AND I AM SURE, THAT YOU ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN CORRECTED? *JB
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 22, 2006WI
THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AROUND 100K MILES AND GETTING WORSE EVER SINCE. THE PISTON PIN IS GOING BAD. I FOUND OUT THAT GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BY A CERTIFIED GM TECHNICIAN. HE TOLD ME THAT ALL 3.1L ENGINES HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND GM WONT FIX IT. I FEEL SHAFTED AND WILL NEVER BY A GM PRODUCT AGAIN. *NM
Unknown or Other
Filed Apr 4, 2006MI
THE CHEVROLET LUMINA, 1996; POOR PAINT JOB. THE PAINT LASTS APPROXIMATELY FOUR (4) YEARS AND THEN IT STARTS TO CHIP AND PEEL OFF. *NM
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 14, 200652,091 milesWI
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING ON A HIGHWAY, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HEAD GASKET BLEW, MIXING THE OIL WITH THE WATER, CAUSING THE MOTOR TO NEED REPLACING. I HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED AT A COST OF $2680.07. WE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 6 YEARS 50 THOUSAND MILES, THE MOTOR BLEW AT 6.5 YEARS AND 52,091 MILES. NOTHING WAS DONE TO HELP ME THE CONSUMER. I CALLED THE DEALER( BURTNESS CHEVY,303 E.BELOIT ST. ORFORDVILLE,WI.53576), AND THEY SAID IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT TRADING IN THE CAR BEFORE THE WARRANTY WAS UP. THEN I CALLED GM(CENTRAL OFFICE P.O.BOX 33170, DETROIT, MI.48232-5170)AND THEY SAID A WARRANTY IS A WARRANTY. I JUST NOW CAME ACROSS YOUR WEB SIGHT, AND I FEEL I NEED TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HOPE THEY CAN COME UP WITH A BETTER REASON IN THE FUTURE FOR OTHER CONSUMERS. THANKS YOU, CHERYL PHILLIPS. *JB
Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Dec 28, 2005NC
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE FRAME CAME OUT AROUND THE BOLTS. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FALL ONTO THE GROUND AND THE STEERING TO PULL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY HAVE NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS SUPPOSE TO SEND OUT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE.*AK UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM
Tires
Filed Dec 22, 2005OH
1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT DAMAGING THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER AND DOOR (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM
Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal › Switch
Filed Dec 8, 2005IL
TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IN CHEVROLET LUMINA CAUSING BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT WORK. (EXCEPT 3RD BRAKE LIGHT) FROM MY RESEARCH, THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE. FOR WHATEVER REASON THE MAIN BRAKE LIGHTS GO THROUGH THAT SWITCH. THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH IS CAUSING THEM NOT TO WORK. THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT IS NOT AFFECTED BECAUSE IT'S NOT WIRED THROUGH THAT SWITCH. I KNOW SWITCHES GO BAD, BUT THIS SWITCH HAS WENT BAD ON A LOT OF VEHICLES CAUSING NO MAIN BRAKE LIGHTS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *NM
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.