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U.S. public vehicle records

1990 Chevrolet LUMINA: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

310 owner complaints analyzed

7 distinct recall campaigns

123,397 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc is the most frequently named component, appearing in 62 of 310 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior17957.7%
Steering behavior3711.9%
Engine operation72.3%
Transmission and shifting41.3%
Electrical and battery issues41.3%
Fuel system concerns41.3%

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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
62
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
57
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum
31
Structure
28
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
23
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
20
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
18
Structure:Frame And Members
13
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc62
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper57
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum31
Structure28
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads23
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor20
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components18
Structure:Frame And Members13

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 62; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 57; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 31; Structure: 28; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads: 23; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 20; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 18; Structure:Frame And Members: 13

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
6
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9996
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 2

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 298 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.

1995
166
1996
46
2000
44
2001
12
2002
19
2003
9
2004
8
2005
2
2006
3
2016
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
1995166
199646
200044
200112
200219
20039
20048
20052
20063
20161

1995: 166; 1996: 46; 2000: 44; 2001: 12; 2002: 19; 2003: 9; 2004: 8; 2005: 2; 2006: 3; 2016: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 179 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 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 10004836 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)

SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK UPON IMPACT. TS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004836 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10008330 · 2003-03-02 (March 2, 2003)

I HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR BRAKES ON MY 90 CHEVROLET LUMINA . THE CALIPERS AND PADS BOTH HAVE BEEN REPLACED TOO MANY TIMES. MY PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM HAS BEEN TOTALLY REPLACED AND STILL WILL NOT WORK RIGHT. ALSO THE CLEAR COAT HAS BEEN PEELING OFF FOR YEARS.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008330 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10016336 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)

I OWN A 1990 CHEVROLET LUMINA 3.1L SEDAN AND HAD THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS FALL OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING, CAUSING THE STEERING SHAFT TO DISCONNECT SO THAT I LOST STEERING CONTROL. I CALLED 2 DEALERS AND THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE LINE AND ALL OF THEM DENIED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND A GM DOCUMENT THAT STATED THE VEHICLES THAT WERE COVERED IN THE RECALL AND MINE FIT RIGHT INTO THE RANGE OF VIN NUMBERS LISTED. AFTER CALLING THEM AGAIN, THEY SAID THEY HAD FOUND THE LIST THAT I HAD, BUT SINCE MY CAR WAS NOT L…

Owner-reported narrative. 126,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016336 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10021887 · 2003-05-29 (May 29, 2003)

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE RIGHT CRADDLE BOLT BROKE CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021887 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10022201 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)

WHILE TRAVELING 50-55 MPH AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE WENT INTO EXTENDING STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL TO FLOORBOARD AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022201 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10029012 · 2003-07-23 (July 23, 2003)

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD THUD. SHE THEN TRIED TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER, BUT HAD NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE CAR TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. THE ENGINE CRADLE HAD BROKEN AND WAS RESTING ON THE ROAD. HAD SHE BEEN GOING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THERE WERE TWO RECALLS ON HER VEHICLE: ONE FOR THE ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS, AND ONE FOR THE SEATBELTS. THE VEHICLE IS A 1990 CHEVY…

Owner-reported narrative. 142,556 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029012 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031519 · 2003-07-30 (July 30, 2003)

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031519 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10043998 · 2003-10-15 (October 15, 2003)

WHILE TURNING IN ANY DIRECTION AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE WOULD BE A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN RECALL 97V05800, BUT THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC WOULD NOT REPAIR THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043998 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

7 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

00V189000 · Structure

Reported: 2000-07-11 (July 11, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HEAVY. A CONDITION WHERE ONE OR BOTH FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS CAN PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINERS.

Consequence: IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
90V054000 · Seat Belts

Reported: 1990-03-14 (March 14, 1990)

FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT FASTENER MAY PULL THROUGH DOOR MOUNTED ANCHOR PLATE.

Consequence: SEAT BELT MAY NOT SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, AND IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN A PASSENGER, RESULTING IN INCREASED RISK OF GREATER INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT.

Remedy: REPLACE FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT NUTS AND INSTALL NEW GUIDE COVER.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
90V185000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch

Reported: 1990-10-16 (October 16, 1990)

BRAKE STOPLAMPS MAY NOT ILLUMINATE OR, IN SOME CASES, STOPLAMPS WILL NOT STAY ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED DUE TO A FAULTY STOPLAMP SWITCH. ALSO IN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL, A FAULTY STOPLAMP SWITCH CAN RESULT IN RESUMPTION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION UPON RELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Consequence: A TRAILING VEHICLE MAY NOT RECOGNIZE A BRAKING ACTIONIN TIME TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL WILL REENGAGE UPONRELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RESUME THE SET SPEED. IN EITHER CASE, IT COULDRESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: INSTALL AN IMPROVED DESIGN STOPLAMP SWITCH.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
91V005000 · Seat Belts

Reported: 1991-10-02 (October 2, 1991)

FRONT SHOULDER SAFETY BELT WEBBING MAY SEPARATE AT FRONT BELT UPPER GUIDE LOOPS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FRONT SEAT.

Consequence: WEBBING SEPARATION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ANDINCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO BELTED FRONT OUTBOARD OCCUPANTS IN A HIGH ENERGYCRASH.

Remedy: INSTALL A CONTROLLED ROTATION BRACKET ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT GUIDE LOOPS.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
94V041000 · Wheels

Reported: 1995-03-28 (March 28, 1995)

CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Consequence: IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
95V115000 · Wheels

Reported: 1995-06-05 (June 5, 1995)

CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Consequence: IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING DATE CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
97V058000 · Structure

Reported: 1997-04-08 (April 8, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NOT LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

NHTSA campaign record ↗