1994 Chevrolet LUMINA APV: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
42 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
173,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 42 complaints (14.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 9.5% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 9.5% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 9.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 7.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module | 2 |
| Equipment:Mechanical:Carrier/Rack | 2 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hatchback/Liftgate:Lock | 2 |
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines: 3; Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module: 2; Equipment:Mechanical:Carrier/Rack: 2; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hatchback/Liftgate:Lock: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 40 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 14 |
| 1996 | 10 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
1995: 14; 1996: 10; 2000: 3; 2001: 3; 2002: 4; 2003: 4; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005902 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
COLLIDED HEAD-ON INTO A TREE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005902 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005903 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND THE BRAKES "LOCKED UP". CONSUMER COLLIDED WITH A TREE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005903 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022409 · 2003-05-30 (May 30, 2003)
VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN WAS MADE OF ALUMINIUM INSTEAD OF STEEL. *MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022409 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029158 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)
I OWN A 1994 CHEVROLET LUMINA VAN AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY WHEN THEY "FEEL LIKE IT". IN SPEAKING TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC (NOT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP), HE MENTIONED THAT THIS IS THE SAME WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY THAT IS ON YOUR RECALL 98V150001, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICAL IS NOT LISTED AS PART OF THAT RECALL. UPON CONTACTING CHEVY, THEY USED THAT SAME REASONING AS NOT COVERING REPLACEMENT. IF, IN FACT, THIS IS THE SAME WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AS WHAT'S IN THE OTHER CHEVROLET MODELS LISTED IN THE RECALL, IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT REPLACEME…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060707 · 2004-03-08 (March 8, 2004)
I HAVE A 1994 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV. BACK IN 2000 I HAD THE WINDSHIELD WASHER MOTOR/ASSEMBLY REPLACED BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO OPERATE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS GM HAS ISSUED A REPAIR/REFUND FOR SAME MOTOR FOR ALL OTHER VEHICLES WITH PROBLEMS BUT NOT FOR THE LUMINA/LUMINA APV. THIS WAS A COSTLY REPAIR AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT GM IS GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. I HAVE CALLED GM'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REPORTED/ INQUIRED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES. I KNOW OF MANY LUMINA OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND REPAIRED TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060707 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061822 · 2004-03-10 (March 10, 2004)
I WAS READING INFORMATION ON THE FOLLOWING: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE95062 NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER : N/A MAKE : CHEVROLET MODEL: LUMINA APV MANUFACTURER : GENERAL MOTORS CORP. YEAR : 1994 COMPONENT : ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING MY 1994 LUMINA APV STARTED TO SMOKE IN THE STEERING COLUMN ON 2 OCCASIONS. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION KEY AND IT STOPPED. I TURNED IT BACK FORWARD TO THE ON POSITION WITHOUT STARTING THE VEHICLE AND IT DID NOT SMOKE THEN, BUT WHEN I WENT AHEAD AND STARTED THE VAN IS BEGAN TO SMOKE AGAIN. BEING THE ONLY VEHICLE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061822 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136022 · 2005-09-09 (September 9, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATES TRANSMISSION STILL ACTS LIKE IT WANTS TO OVERHEAT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ON JAN 5TH THE LINES ARE LEAKING. THE CONTACT FEELS THIS IS RELATED TO RECALL 96V015000. THE CONTACT HAS NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. THE VEHICLE HAS 202,000 MILES ON IT. ALSO, THE FRONT AND MIDDLE SEAT BELTS ARE NOT RETRACTING. THE WEBBING IS COMING OFF. THIS PROBLEM IS IN RELATED TO RECALLS 93V212000 AND 94V100000. THE CONTACT HAS NOT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING THE SEAT BELTS. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - *NM THE ENGINE …
Owner-reported narrative. 202,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10136022 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10366248 · 2010-11-15 (November 15, 2010)
CATASTROPHIC SUB FRAME FAILURE. AFTER 16 YEARS OF SALTED NE OHIO ROADS THE VAN'S FRONT SUB FRAME COLLAPSED AND MADE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT WOULD JOLT FROM LANE TO LANE WHILE SHIFTING, AND HAD LOST MOST STEERING CONTROL. MECHANICS REPLACED OVER $700 OF PARTS TRYING TO FIX THE ISSUE UNTIL A FRIEND FOUND THE REAL CULPRIT OF THE CLUNKING AND LOST STEERING. PLEASE BE VERY WARY OF GM PRODUCTS IN THE RUST BELT. REPLACEMENT OF SUB FRAME SOLVED ALL ISSUES PROCURED FROM INITIAL PROBLEM HOWEVER, AND IT IS FAIRLY INEXPENSIVE TO HAVE A SUB FRAM…
Owner-reported narrative. 145,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10366248 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
93V212000 · Seat Belts:Rear/Other
Reported: 1993-12-13 (December 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗94V015000 · Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
Reported: 1994-01-21 (January 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗94V100000 · Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
Reported: 1994-05-24 (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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V015000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines
Reported: 1996-01-23 (January 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: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗