CHEVROLET LUMINA · model year

1993 CHEVROLET LUMINA

344 NHTSA complaints, 22 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993CHEVROLETLUMINA carries 344 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 22 crashes, 14 fires, 19 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1993 LUMINA is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 48 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc (28) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (25). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1993 LUMINA, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

344
Complaints
22
Crashes
14
Fires
19
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

344 filings

Crashes Reported

22 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP48
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC28
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS25
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER24
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR18
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM15
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR11
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6
TIRES6
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING4

Recent Complaints

20150926ENGINE

CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING, SITTING IN TRAFFIC OR AT A LIGHT, WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE. MECHANIC CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG ON DIAGNOSTICS TO FIX

Mileage: 155,000

20081124CrashTIRES

I RECENTLY PURCHASED NEW FIRESTONE FR380 195/75/14 TIRES FOR MY DAUGHTER'S 1993 CHEVY LUMINA. THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2008 FOR HER CAR WHEN THE CAR HAD 58,868 MILES ON IT AND THE CAR NOW HAS 60,256 MILES. ON NOVEMBER 20, 2008 HER PASSENGER FRONT TIRE BLEW AND CAUSED HER TO HIT A TREE. SHE WAS SEEN BY A DOCTOR, AND DIAGNOSED WITH A NECK STRAIN, AND THE CAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED DUE TO THE BLOWOUT. WE NEVER DID RECEIVE NOTICE THAT ANY TYPE OF FR380 FIRESTONE TIRE WAS RECALLED AND THIS IS VERY UPSETTING. FIRESTONE REQUESTED THAT WE SEND THIS TIRE TO THEM FOR ANALYSIS AND IT WAS RECEIVED BY THEIR COMPANY ON 11/24/08. THEY THEN STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EVEN LOOK AT THE TIRE UNTIL AFTER THE FIRST OF THIS COMING YEAR SO WE ARE STUCK WITH NO VEHICLE FOR MY DAUGHTER TO GET TO SCHOOL AND TO WORK. IT HAS NOT BEE A GOOD EXPERIENCE. *TR

Mileage: 60,256

20070814VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 CHEVROLET LUMINA. WHILE DRIVING (MPH UNKNOWN) IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WASHER MOTOR, HOWEVER; THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

Mileage: 125,000

20070507CrashSTRUCTURE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 CHEVROLET LUMINA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. HE ATTEMPTED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN ON THE HIGHWAY. A DEALER AND A MECHANIC HAVE NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT TWO BOLTS THAT HOLD THE SUB-FRAME FAILED AND CAUSED THE RACK AND PINION TO DETACH FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THERE IS RECALL # 00V189000 (STRUCTURE) FOR THE 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA AND THE CONTACT FEELS HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 223,000.

Mileage: 223,000

20060307SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING THE TIRES REPLACED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE DISC CALIPERS WERE BAD. THE DISC CALIPERS WERE REPLACED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

Mileage: 100,000

20040727SEATS

PROBLEMS WITH 1993 CHEVROLET LUMINA.*MR THE SEAT RISER WAS BROKEN IN FIVE PLACES AND THE SEAT IN TWO. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE SEAT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED NOR HAS THE VEHICLE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT SEAT AND RISER AT NO COST. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT HE COULD DO THE INSTALLATION HIMSELF. *NM

20031103ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, CONSUMER SLOWED TO MAKE A TURN AND VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER DUE TO THE STEERING WHEEL BEING IMMOBILE. DEALER WAS INFORMED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT.*AK

Mileage: 153,336

20031103STEERING

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, CONSUMER SLOWED TO MAKE A TURN AND VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER DUE TO THE STEERING WHEEL BEING IMMOBILE. DEALER WAS INFORMED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT.*AK

Mileage: 153,336

20021108SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL JERK AND MAKE A LOUD NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

20021106FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

THE FUEL TANK EMPLODED ON THE BOTTOM CAUSING THE PUMP PICK UP TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE TANK BOTTOM. AS A RESULT THE FUEL SUPPLY WAS CUT OFF WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EITHER NOT START OR STALL. *MR *NLM

Mileage: 75,000

20020819SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ANTI LOCK BRAKES NOT CATCHING WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. THEN ,SOMETIMESD IT CATCHES AT THE WRONG TIME. TOOK VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS, AND EACH TIME WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. ONE DEALER SUGGESTED PULLING FUSE ON ABS, BUT REFUSED TO DO IT BECAUSE OF LIABILITY.*AK

20020813SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 70 MPH AND REAR CALIPERS LOCKED UP, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WAS EXPERIENCED. *AK *YH

20020812SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

WHILE DRIVING REAR CALIPER LOCKS UP, UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE.DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

20020719TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY, AT THAT TIME THE TIRE MILEAGE WAS 20000(FIRESTONE AFFINITY, P225/60R16). *YH

20020702TIRES

WHILE DRIVING LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT/SHREDED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FENDER, BUMPER, NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *YD

20020610SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

CONSUMER HAD TO SERVICE BRAKE CALIPERS 3-4 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR. HOWEVER, MECHANIC HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK

20020514FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM

20020510FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

WHILE SHOPPING RETURNED TO VEHICLE TRIED TO START AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. CONSUMER SMELLED GAS. ALSO, SAW A PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDER VEHICLE. DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE, AND STATED FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

20020314FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM

20020124CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ENTERED CAR FROM PASSANGER/FRONT WITH FEET STILL ON THE GROUND. REACHED OVER AND STARTED CAR TO WARM IT UP. CAR LOOK OFF AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED DRAGGING ME THEN CRASHING INTO THE GARAGE. MY THREE YEAR OLD SON THAT WAS STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE CAR STATES THAT IT WENT BACKWARDS A TINY BIT AND THEN FORWARDS REALY FAST WHILE DRAGGING HIS SCREAMING MOM. THIS ALL HAPPENED WITH-IN A SECOND OR TWO.*AK

Compare 1993CHEVROLETLUMINA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 CHEVROLET LUMINA have?
The 1993 CHEVROLET LUMINA has 344 NHTSA complaints, 22 crashes, 14 fires, 19 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 CHEVROLET LUMINA?
The most-complained component for the 1993 CHEVROLET LUMINA is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 48 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS.
Is the 1993 CHEVROLET LUMINA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.