Chevrolet Lumina Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 2,951 consumer complaints across the 12 model years of the Chevrolet Lumina (1990–2001) that have at least 5 complaints. 1995 has the most, with 492. Across all years, the part named most often is brakes (958 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Lumina model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 21 | 56,710 | 3 | 223 | — | Stable |
| 2000 | 30 | 77,300 | 5 | 211 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 103 | 63,200 | 2 | 34 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 223 | 97,063 | 3 | 26 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1997 | 347 | 80,500 | 1 | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 245 | 113,500 | 2 | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 492 | 100,000 | 6 | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 126 | 97,700 | 0 | 5 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 243 | 125,000 | 1 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 342 | 121,709 | 2 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 352 | 110,000 | 3 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 427 | 123,397 | 7 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Brakes958 36%
- Engine cooling369 14%
- Steering277 11%
- Electrical system267 10%
- Body and structure215 8.2%
- Transmission and drivetrain188 7.2%
- Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)181 6.9%
- Seat belts170 6.5%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
1999: “I took my car for a service repair. (tune up) only to discover on the waya awkward smell and misfire. Upon arriving I was notified that the internal hood insulation broke free and crumbled in chunks on top of my fuel injector and created a heat that melted four of the fuel injector wires covers and all.”
NHTSA complaint #10970616, filed 2017-04, 15 miles1998: “Difficulty turning the steering wheel to the right at low speeds. Contacted GM and instructed to take the vehicle to a dealer. Charged $100 and told this vehicle was not included in NHTSA recall 03v527000 due to VIN. Replaced rack and pinion myself which fixed the issue. My car shows the exact same signs of the reason you did this recall. Why was my car not included? I demand an answer!”
NHTSA complaint #10611260, filed 2014-07, 98,000 miles1995: “I drove a Lumina that had a problem that sounds like same type of engine shutoff problem that has been in the news lately. It happened most often when driving on the highway. As I decelerated on exit ramps, the engine would shutoff. This became a fairly regular occurrence with this car. Several mechanics were unable to solve the problem. (I believe it was a 1994 or 1995 Lumina that I owned. I could not find a record of it.)”
NHTSA complaint #10565892, filed 2014-02, 50,000 milesOther Chevrolet models
19,369 complaintsChevrolet Silverado 1500
18,129 complaintsChevrolet Impala
10,410 complaintsChevrolet Tahoe
10,064 complaintsChevrolet Equinox
9,212 complaintsChevrolet Silverado
8,790 complaintsChevrolet Blazer
8,199 complaintsChevrolet Suburban
8,172 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology