1992 Chevrolet Lumina Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year concentrate on the brake system, where owners describe the pedal dropping to the floor, repeated rotor and caliper work, and rear brakes that do not contribute much stopping power. Electrical problems, mostly smoke or melted wiring near the steering column and dashboard, and seat belts that stop retracting, are the next most frequent themes, and both brake and wiring complaints appear across the whole mileage range rather than at one specific point.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to the floor / poor stopping

   • 102 complaints (30%)
   • typically at 4.5 yrs old
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2007

   Owners describe pressing the brake pedal and having it drop to the floorboard with little or no slowing, sometimes at ordinary street speeds; in several accounts pumping the pedal brought the vehicle to a stop. Complaints also mention the rear brakes doing little of the work, rear rotors found rusted or binding, and calipers sticking. Some owners report the dealer could not find a cause, while others paid for repeated pad, rotor and caliper replacement. Reported across a wide mileage range, from low-mileage vehicles to cars well past 100,000 miles, with several accounts of the problem recurring after repair.

   What to check: Ask for brake service records and check the condition of the rear rotors and calipers, since rusted or seized rear brakes show up repeatedly in these accounts. A test drive should include a firm, high-pedal stop from moderate speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The rear ABS brakes lock up on dry surface. Consumer states problem with brakes is not with the ABS, it is the design of the rear calipers, calipers freeze up due to corrosion in the caliper slider sleeve bore, this causes brakes to be heated and causes them to fade, consumer was charged for an aftermarket slider kit with bronze sleeve bushings.”

   NHTSA complaint #802363, filed 1997-01

   “Was traveling 40mph & went to apply brakes to stop, pedal went to the floor & vehicle failed to stop. Had stepped on brakes, hard. Took to garage & mechanic repaired the brake system, including brakes pads and shoes & rotors). Has happened numerous other times.”

   NHTSA complaint #846047, filed 1999-08
2. 2
   Seat belts

   Seat belts will not retract or buckle sticks

   • 32 complaints (9%)
   • median 104,244 mi at 12.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Owners describe front and rear seat belts that fail to retract, leaving the belt hanging loose or bunched in the door frame, and buckles that stick and will not unfasten. Some note the belts are anchored to the door rather than the body and release when the door opens, and one owner said a dealer declined to change the arrangement. Several owners were told the repair was not covered and had to pay for replacement belt assemblies. Complaints do not cluster at a particular mileage; they appear on older, higher-mileage cars as well as lower-mileage ones and are usually noticed during everyday use.

   What to check: Pull each belt out fully and let it go; it should retract smoothly, and every buckle should latch and release cleanly. Check whether belts are anchored to the door on the car you are looking at.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Front seat belts are attached to the door itself & not to the frame. When door is opened belt would open with it & not restrain driver/passenger. It's on a plastic piece that is attached or stuck to the corner of the window. Seat belts are manual & not automatic. Have taken vehicle to dealer & was informed it was designed that way & refuse to correct it.”

   NHTSA complaint #873017, filed 2000-10

   “Lap belt came off restraint strap, and passenger's shoulder belt would not retract. Dealer/manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that part was not covered under manufacturer's recall, and repairs would done be at consumer's cost.”

   NHTSA complaint #863122, filed 2000-06
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Smoke or melted wiring near steering column and dash

   • 32 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 5.1 yrs old
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2002

   Owners report smoke, burning smells and occasionally flames coming from the area around the steering column, under the dashboard or near the pedals while driving. One account describes the wiring harness above the brake pedal and steering column melting, and another describes a fire starting at the ignition switch. Some owners also mention the ABS warning light coming on after the front wheel harness rubbed against a brake line, and batteries draining for reasons a mechanic attributed to the electrical system. Reported at a wide spread of mileages; several accounts involve the problem appearing while the car was in motion on the highway or shortly after starting.

   What to check: Look over the visible wiring above the pedals and along the steering column for chafed or discolored insulation, and check that the ABS light goes out after start-up. Ask whether any wiring or ignition switch work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The harness running above the brake pedal and sterring column inside the vehicle began melted while driving on the highway. I removed all fuses as soon as possible to investigate problem. The harness above the steering mechanism inside the vehicle, driver's side, is melted.”

   NHTSA complaint #761852, filed 2002-05

   “Vehicle was parked inside of the parking lot. Driver got into the car and put key inside ignition switch and the started vehicle. However, vehicle started smoking underneath the dashboard. Sparks of flames came out and ignited a fire. Fire department was notified.”

   NHTSA complaint #857530, filed 2000-02
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Loss of drive or reverse, harsh shifting

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the transmission dropping out of gear while stopping, refusing to engage reverse, momentary loss of power at highway speed, and delayed or abrupt engagement when accelerating. In one case the dealer could not duplicate the concern; another owner said a recall covering the transmission had been issued for the model but the vehicle was excluded by VIN. Most accounts come from cars with higher mileage, with several above 100,000 miles, and problems show up both when cold and during normal driving.

   Recall 91V214000

   What to check: Check whether the reverse servo campaign work applies to the vehicle's VIN, and drive the car through a full stop-and-go cycle to feel for delayed engagement, slipping or a drop into neutral.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While traveling 60-65 MPH, the automatic transmission failed with vehicle not responding to accelerator being pushed. Vehicle became powerless for a couple of minutes than regained some speed, enough to get off the road. Please describe details.”

   NHTSA complaint #814175, filed 1997-07

   “The vehicle will not go into reverse. A recall has been issued on the vehicle make/model. However this vehicle was not included due to VIN. The vehicle has been repaired by a private mechanic. Manufacturer has been notified.”

   NHTSA complaint #848121, filed 1999-09
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Rough running, stalling and rich fuel smell

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the engine flooding, a strong fuel smell entering the cabin after refuelling, and the car refusing to run above moderate speed or failing to start after being parked briefly. Diagnoses reported include injectors stuck open after a wiring bracket wore through insulation, corroded seals, and a fuel gauge that read empty right after filling. One owner linked the stalling to a service bulletin on the fuel injection system. Reported from around 100,000 miles upward in the complaints that state mileage, with symptoms often appearing after refuelling or on a warm restart.

   Recall 92V161000

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel tank fill and vent pipe joints have been inspected or repaired under the fuel system campaign, and check for a fuel smell at the filler neck and under the hood after a fill-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle would not start after parked less then 2 hours. The spark plugs worked fine, with sufficient spark. The compression was at a normal level of function. The problem was found to be the fuel injectors to be stuck in the wide open (full throttle) position. Which was causing the vehicle to be flooded, preventing ignition. After a long day of trying to find a reason, the cause was found. The problem was a metal retaining bracket for the wiring system that had worn through the coating of the wire controlling the injector position/function. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10497638, filed 2013-02, 128,000 miles

   “After purchasing gas and driving about 25 miles down the road, noticed a funny smell coming into the car. Car would not go, but 45 MPH. Gas would flood the engine. Took to dealer ,and they said seals corroded because of the chemicals in the gas.”

   NHTSA complaint #854656, filed 2000-01

Buying note. On a car this old, condition and records matter more than the model's reputation; ask specifically about brake and rear caliper service, wiring work and seat belt condition before buying. A pre-purchase inspection focused on brakes, wiring and the transmission is worthwhile given what owners describe.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.