IllustrationWHILE 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
1994 Chevrolet Lumina Apv
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Chevrolet Lumina Apv do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 40.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Lumina Apv years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 65 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Seat Belts. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports9 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
65 reportsWHILE 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
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
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.
I WOULD LIKE THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE REGARDING THIS MATTER. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
BRAKES SEEM TO GIVE OUT WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. *AK
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
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 CAU…
Read full complaint
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.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN A HEAVY RAINSTORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED. CONTACTED DEALER AND SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK
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
Official recalls
496V015000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
Jan 23, 1996
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.
94V100000 · Seat Belts:front:webbing
May 24, 1994
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
94V015000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor
Jan 21, 1994
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
93V212000 · Seat Belts:rear/other
Dec 13, 1993
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2PE95062 · Passenger Side Dash Fires
Opened Dec 9, 1995 · Closed Apr 10, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:wiring
There is no summary currently available
PE94070 · Trnsaxl Oil Hose Separates
Opened Sep 15, 1994 · Closed Jan 18, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available