WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT MADE LOUD NOISES AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *AK
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.
What owners actually said
65 reportsI HAD BEEN TRAVELING APROXIMATELY 180 MILES AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED FOR NO REASON AT ALL. THIS HAD HAPPENED BEFORE A YEAR PRIOR. I TOOK IT IN TO THE CHEVROLET SERVICE PROVIDER I HAVE BEEN USING FOR ALL MY MAINTENANCE. I HAVE TO KEEP A REGULAR APPROVED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. THE SERVICE PEOPLE TOLD REPOR…
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I HAD BEEN TRAVELING APROXIMATELY 180 MILES AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED FOR NO REASON AT ALL. THIS HAD HAPPENED BEFORE A YEAR PRIOR. I TOOK IT IN TO THE CHEVROLET SERVICE PROVIDER I HAVE BEEN USING FOR ALL MY MAINTENANCE. I HAVE TO KEEP A REGULAR APPROVED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. THE SERVICE PEOPLE TOLD REPORTED THAT THEY RAN AN ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC SCAN. CK CODES. NONE STORED. TEST DRIVE FOR 47 MILES. DID NOT DIE, MISS OR ACT UP. I EXPLAINED TO THEM AGAIN THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WITHIN THAT MILEAGE AND THEY TOLD THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I TOLD THEM THAT I WOULD PAY FOR EVERYTHING. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THEY WERE PUTTING MY FAMILY IN DANGER. STILL NO RESULTS. I GOT IN TOUCH WITH THE CHEVROLET CONSUMER COMPLAINT OFFICE. THEY GAVE ME A FILE NUMBER(9903 433 48). THEY SAID THAT SINCE IT WAS OVER 3 YEARS OLD AND 36,000 MILES THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. WHEN THE EPISODE OCCURRED I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF AN EIGHT LANE HIGHWAY. I WAS WITHIN 20 FEET OF BEING RAN OVER BY A SEMI-TRUCK BEFORE I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. PLEASE HELP WITH ANY INFORMATION POSSIBLE. THANK YOU CHESTER RAINWATERS. *AK
VEHICLE CAME TO A ABRUPT STOP. IT WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. IN DRIVE GEAR, WITH ENOUGH ACCERATION, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND STOPPED AGAIN WITH LOUD SOUND ACCOMPANIED. DEALER CLAIMS TRANSMISSION FAILURE, NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED. 48000 MI. *AK
VEHICLE WIRE HARNESS LOCATED UNDERNEATH DASHBOARD HAS WORN DOWN FROM NORMAL VEHICLE MOVEMENT. WIRE HARNESS HAS NO SHIELD OR PROTECTION, AND MADE CONTACT WITH BODY FRAME. THIS SHORTED VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OUT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE, AND CAUSED A FIRE IN THE FUSEABLE LINK, IGNITION AND DESTROYED OTHER ASSORTED WIRE…
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VEHICLE WIRE HARNESS LOCATED UNDERNEATH DASHBOARD HAS WORN DOWN FROM NORMAL VEHICLE MOVEMENT. WIRE HARNESS HAS NO SHIELD OR PROTECTION, AND MADE CONTACT WITH BODY FRAME. THIS SHORTED VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OUT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE, AND CAUSED A FIRE IN THE FUSEABLE LINK, IGNITION AND DESTROYED OTHER ASSORTED WIRES. FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE AGENCY (ALLSTATE), AND CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE THEY FELT IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT. ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT GMC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER (FILE CLAIM # 990102910.) THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROCESS A CLAIM OR REPORT DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY AND OVER 36,000 MILES. THEY REFUSED MY REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION SOLEY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM MAY BE A SERIOUS DEFECT. I BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT IN THE HOPE YOU MIGHT BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION TO GMC. EITHER THIS IS A FACTORY FLAW OR ASSEMBLY LINE ERROR. I DON'T KNOW. HOWEVER I KNOW THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. LUCKLY, I WAS NOT DRIVING OR THIS VEHICLE WAS PARKED SOMEWHERE UNATTENDED IN MY GARAGE. PLEASE HELP ME. THANK YOU! *AK
STALLING OF VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE TAKEN TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR REPAIR. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM DUE TO BEING UNABLE TO RECREATE THE STALLING. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL. AT MY REQUEST, I HAD THE FUEL PUMP & HOSES REPLACED. ALSO CHANGED DISTIBUTOR CAP AND COIL. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL. AT A LO…
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STALLING OF VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE TAKEN TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR REPAIR. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM DUE TO BEING UNABLE TO RECREATE THE STALLING. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL. AT MY REQUEST, I HAD THE FUEL PUMP & HOSES REPLACED. ALSO CHANGED DISTIBUTOR CAP AND COIL. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL. AT A LOSS AS TO HOW ARE WHERE TO GET VEHICLE REPAIRED.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES WORK AND SOMETIMES DON'T WORK. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, NO WARRANTY, REPAIRS AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *AK
DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WITH THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND REPAIRS WERE MADE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. CURRENTLY, PASSENGER DOOR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER CONTACTED AND WILL REMEDY PROBLEM AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK
MIDDLE SEAT BELT IN SECOND ROW OF SEATS WILL NOT EXTEND FROM RETRACTED POSITION.
LEFT FRONT SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. *AK
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT STUCK AND WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE MECHANISM. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED. *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
Illustration