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Chevrolet LuminaYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 2,952 NHTSA owner complaints across 14 model years, no Chevrolet Lumina year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1994, 1998, 1999 and 2000. The Lumina has 29 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1990, 1995Best years'94 '98 '99 '00Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints2,952Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls291990–2008 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Chevrolet Lumina years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Lumina median. Tap a year for its full report.

'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'08
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2008Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2002Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2001Not rated–/10021 complaints · 3 recalls2000Best91/10030 complaints · 5 recalls1999Best70/100103 complaints · 2 recalls1998Solid57/100223 complaints · 3 recalls1997Solid42/100347 complaints · 1 recall1996Solid50/100245 complaints · 2 recalls1995Caution34/100492 complaints · 6 recalls1994Best70/100126 complaints · 0 recalls1993Solid52/100243 complaints · 1 recall1992Solid45/100342 complaints · 2 recalls1991Solid45/100352 complaints · 3 recalls1990Caution40/100427 complaints · 7 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Chevrolet Lumina problems

All model years combined: 2,952 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic93774
Engine and engine cooling36919
Steering27826
Electrical system26750
Structure21518
Power train1886
Visibility1817
Seat belts17021
Air bags13085
19 other systems75680
29 recalls

Chevrolet Lumina recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

26%Engine and engine cooling: engine15V-701 · 1998–1999 · Oct 26, 2015 · 1,003,556 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling09V-116 · 1998–1999 · Apr 8, 2009 · 1,497,516 vehicles–Steering: rack and pinion03V-527 · 1997–1998 · Dec 11, 2003 · 750,283 vehicles–Air bags: frontal02V-329 · 2001–2002 · Dec 9, 2002 · 272 vehicles–Air bags: frontal01V-026 · 2001 · Feb 1, 2001 · 38 vehicles–Seat belts00V-228 · 2000–2001 · Aug 7, 2000 · 156,305 vehicles–Structure00V-189 · 1990–1991 · Jul 11, 2000 · 713,435 vehicles–Tank assembly: filler pipe and cap00V-160 · 2000 · Jun 16, 2000 · 248 vehicles–Foundation components: drum00V-143 · 2000 · May 17, 2000 · 18,754 vehicles–Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings99V-357 · 2000 · Dec 17, 1999 · 111 vehicles–Air bags: frontal99V-283 · 2000 · Oct 21, 1999 · 111 vehicles–Front: anchorage98V-306 · 1995 · Dec 1, 1998 · 111,470 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 29 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

22 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Lumina

  1. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILUREEA03019 · 1996–1998 · closed Dec 18, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-527
  2. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURERQ03001 · 1996–1998 · closed Sep 15, 2003
    No recall
  3. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA02030 · 1998–1999 · closed Mar 9, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-090
  4. STRUCTURERP01001 · 1990–1991 · closed Jun 13, 2002
    Led to recall 00V-189
  5. ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATIONEA00011 · 1989–1991 · closed Jan 12, 2001
    Led to recall 00V-189
  6. ACCELERATOR CABLE DETACHES FROM THROTTLESQ00004 · 2000 · closed Jan 19, 2001
    No recall
  7. ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATIONRQ99002 · 1990 · still open
    Led to recall 97V-058
  8. CRADLE BOLT FAILURESRQ97017 · 1990–1991 · still open
    Led to recall 97V-058
  9. INAPPROPRIATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTEA96023 · 1996 · closed Feb 13, 1998
    No recall
  10. INAPPROPRIATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTPE96031 · 1996 · closed Sep 27, 1996
    No recall