1996 Chevrolet Lumina Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 14about this part
- Share
- 6%of 245 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 115,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina, 6% of the 245 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 115,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“1996 Chevrolet Lumina, brake lights not working except for in the rear window. If that bulb were to burn out, I would have no brake lights at all. I have discovered, and I am sure, that you are aware that this is a very common problem. Why has this not been corrected?”
NHTSA complaint #10165369, filed 2006-08, 58,000 miles“Normal wear and tear causes multi-function switch to fail. This causes safety problems. A small truck was behind me a couple of days ago, and slammed his brakes on behind me. He then pulled next to me and told me my two rear brake lights do not work, but the third (top) one does. Also, rear turn signals do not work. Right signal works most of the time, but switch will not signal a left turn. All bulbs are fine. In researching just in a couple hours, I found about 40 other reports of the same problem. Multi-function switch replacement is the repair most reports cite as working. …”
NHTSA complaint #10068507, filed 2004-05, 127,000 miles“Failure of mfs causes brake lights not to work unless pull back on turn signal switch. This is the 2nd Lumina the company has owned that I have had this problem. Other car was 1992 same model & type. Dealer says they replace a lot of them. No indication is obvious that your brake lights are not working!! Rather costly repair charge $300.00 range as I recall from the 1992. Strange it happened on 1996 model also. Is there a secret recall or factory repair at no charge??”
NHTSA complaint #763716, filed 2002-07“The contact owns a 1996 Chevrolet Lumina. The contact stated that he noticed a recurring failure within the turn signal switch which would suddenly stop functioning, causing the brake lights to stop working. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the vehicle was repair. The failure occurred two additional times and was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. The current mileage was approximately 308,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10331179, filed 2010-05, 90,000 miles“The contact owns a 1996 Chevrolet Lumina. The contact's vehicle has three rear brake lights. The lower two lights fail to illuminate. When he changed the bulbs, they illuminated briefly and then quickly burned out again. The current mileage is 135,000 and failure mileage was 115,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10191528, filed 2007-05, 115,000 milesExterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 | 5% |
| 1999 | 3 | 3% |
| 1998 | 10 | 4% |
| 1997 | 15 | 4% |
| 1996 | 14 | 6% |
| 1995 | 24 | 5% |
| 1994 | 3 | 2% |
| 1993 | 5 | 2% |
| 1992 | 6 | 2% |
| 1991 | 3 | 1% |
| 1990 | 6 | 1% |
Other parts of the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
36 complaintsAir bags
34 complaintsBrakes
31 complaintsElectrical system
30 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
24 complaintsSteering
19 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaintsSeat belts
15 complaintsFuel system
12 complaintsOther or unknown
12 complaintsBody and structure
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology