Model year record

1994 Chevrolet Lumina APV recalls & problems

The 1994 Chevrolet Lumina APV has 4 safety recalls and 65 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (15 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints65filed by owners

Crashes · fires6 · 9reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Power trainJan 23, 1996

Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines

Recall 96V015000585,182 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.

Seat beltsMay 24, 1994

Front › Webbing

Recall 94V1000005,294 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: IMPROPER SHOULDER BELT RETRACTION DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR COLLISION.
Fix: 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.

Seat beltsJan 21, 1994

Front › Retractor

Recall 94V01500022,862 vehicles

Problem: 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."
Risk: 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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS AND REINSTALL THEM PROPERLY.

Seat beltsDec 13, 1993

Rear/other

Recall 93V2120001,238 vehicles

Problem: 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."
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE SAFETY BELT WOULD NOTRESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT, SUBJECTING THE OCCUPANT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURIES.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE THE RETRACTOR IF THE PAWL SPRING IS MISSING.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1994 Chevrolet Lumina/APV

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front › Buckle assembly	15	0	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines; Automatic transmission	8	0	3	0	—
Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash; Wiring › Front underhood	8	0	5	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Brake fluid low warning › Lamp	8	4	0	1	—
Latches/locks/linkagesHatchback/liftgate › Lock; Doors › Latch	5	0	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal; Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module	5	3	1	2	—
StructureBody › Door; Body › Tailgate	5	0	0	1	—
VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer; Windshield wiper/washer › Motor	5	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system; Delivery › Fuel pump	4	0	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingExhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (egr valve); Engine › Gasoline	3	0	0	0	—
Vehicle speed controlLinkages	2	1	0	0	—
Seats	2	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Suspension
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 FRAME SHIPPED UP HERE FROM ARIZONA ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE ENGINES/TRANS IN THESE VEHICLES WERE JUST ABOUT BULLET PROOF AND IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO…
Oct 10, 2010 · 145,000 miles
Seat belts › Front › Webbing
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 OVERHEATED, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB THE CONSUMER IS STILL WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. UPDATED 05/24/06
Sep 9, 2004 · 202,000 miles
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator moduleFire
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 I OWN AND CANT GO WITHOUT IT, I CAREFULLY REMOVED THE 4 SCREWS ON THE CENTER WHEEL THAT HOLDS THE AIRBAG, AND FOUND THAT THE LARGE YELLOW PLUG THAT CONECTS THE…
Mar 4, 2004
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
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 THEM. WHEN IS THIS GOING TO BE RESOLVED???*AK
Mar 8, 2004
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
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 REPLACEMENT OF THAT PART WOULD ALSO BE COVERED ON THE LUMINA VAN. *AK
Jun 5, 2003
Steering › Column
VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN WAS MADE OF ALUMINIUM INSTEAD OF STEEL. *MR
May 30, 2003
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slipCrash
THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND THE BRAKES "LOCKED UP". CONSUMER COLLIDED WITH A TREE.
Jan 29, 2003
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
COLLIDED HEAD-ON INTO A TREE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PH
Jan 29, 2003

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

PASSENGER SIDE DASH FIRESClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE95062 · opened Dec 9, 1995 · closed Apr 10, 1996
TRNSAXL OIL HOSE SEPARATESClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE94070 · opened Sep 15, 1994 · closed Jan 18, 1995