Total Complaints
190 filings
CHEVROLET LUMINA · model year
1994 CHEVROLET LUMINA
190 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994CHEVROLETLUMINA carries 190 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 2 fires, 3 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 1994 LUMINA is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper with 13 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (12) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (12). 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 1994 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.
190
Complaints
8
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
8 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 13 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 12 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 12 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 11 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 10 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 9 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 7 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 5 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 4 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 4 |
| TIRES | 4 |
Recent Complaints
20071003POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET LUMINA. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE IN REVERSE WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHELL CRACKED DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 93,100.
Mileage: 93,100
20070611SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, INSIDE MY CAR, QUITE OFTEN- AT LEAST 2 TIMES A WEEK. MY BRAKES WEAR OUT FASTER THAN THEY SHOULD. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE DRIVERSIDE HUB ASSEMBLY KIT EVERY 3-6 MONTHS BECAUSE IT STARTS CLICKING THEN WEARS OUT THE BRAKES IF I DON'T GET IT DONE- AT THE CHEAPEST 100 EVERY TIME. CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN A WRECK AND I DO NOT KNOW WHY IT DOES THIS. *TR
Mileage: 159,000
20070611ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, INSIDE MY CAR, QUITE OFTEN- AT LEAST 2 TIMES A WEEK. MY BRAKES WEAR OUT FASTER THAN THEY SHOULD. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE DRIVERSIDE HUB ASSEMBLY KIT EVERY 3-6 MONTHS BECAUSE IT STARTS CLICKING THEN WEARS OUT THE BRAKES IF I DON'T GET IT DONE- AT THE CHEAPEST 100 EVERY TIME. CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN A WRECK AND I DO NOT KNOW WHY IT DOES THIS. *TR
Mileage: 159,000
20070611SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
I NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, INSIDE MY CAR, QUITE OFTEN- AT LEAST 2 TIMES A WEEK. MY BRAKES WEAR OUT FASTER THAN THEY SHOULD. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE DRIVERSIDE HUB ASSEMBLY KIT EVERY 3-6 MONTHS BECAUSE IT STARTS CLICKING THEN WEARS OUT THE BRAKES IF I DON'T GET IT DONE- AT THE CHEAPEST 100 EVERY TIME. CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN A WRECK AND I DO NOT KNOW WHY IT DOES THIS. *TR
Mileage: 159,000
20070404ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE INCIDENT DATE THAT THIS OCCURRED ON WAS THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED. I DROVE THIS CAR WITH NO PROBLEMS EXCEPT FOR THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT AND FASTENED SEAT BELT LIGHTS COMING ON PERIODICALLY FOR THE PAST MONTH. WE HAD AN UNEXPECTED SNOW STORM, AND I HAD DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES AND NOTICED WHEN I HAD STOPPED AT A CONVENIENT STORE THAT THE BATTERY VOLTAGE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT HOME ,AND A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT, FASTEN SEAT BELT LIGHT, AND BATTERY VOLTAGE LIGHT CAME ON. AS I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT THE CAR DIED AND I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHTS, RADIO AND ETC WERE WORKING.*AK THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE IN THE PAST. I HAD GOT THE FUEL INJECTORS AND STARTER REPLACED, HAD THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED WITH NO PROBLEMS. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, I WENT TO START IT AND SUPRISINGLY IT HAD STARTED. THE CAR DOES RUN EXCELLENT WHEN THIS UNEXPLAINABLE PROBLEM HAPPENS THOUGH.
Mileage: 200,000
20040818TIRES
THE COMPACT SPARE TIRE FELL OUT OF ITS COMPLETELY RUSTED FASTENERS AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. (NAR) *PH *CB
20040617CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, HE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN GEAR AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND WENT THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED AND WAS UNSURE AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. *AK *SC *JB
Mileage: 97,700
20040210VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT WORKING AND WATER WAS GETTING ONTO THE FLOORBOARD. *AK *MR
20030829SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM
TIRE RUBBING INSIDE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE WELL FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. ONE REPAIR SHOP CHANGED THE REAR STRUTS. THAT DIDN'T HELP. THE NEXT SHOP CHANGED SOME KIND OF PADS OR BUSHINGS. THAT DID NOT HELP EITHER. IT SEEMS TO ONLY HAPPEN WHEN WE ARE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, AND THERE IS SOMEONE SITTING IN BACK BEHIND THE DRIVER. AS OF THIS DATE 08-29-03, NOONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. CAN YOU HELP? *AK
20030724STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
SUBFRAME ON 1994 CHEVROLET LUMINA WITH 65,000 MILES RUSTED AND BROKE THROUGH. *AK
Mileage: 65,000
20030607ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN TWICE DURING NORMAL DRIVING. *JB
Mileage: 36,272
20030603VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY.*AK
20030529VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE SURGED. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20030529SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE SURGED. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20030425STEERING:LINKAGES:ARM:IDLER AND ATTACHMENT
THE IDLER ARM BECAME DISCONNECTED. *JB
20030317TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
PROBLEMS WITH SPARE TIRE. *MR WHILE DRIVING THE SPARE TIRE FELL OUT IT'S COMPLETELY RUSTED FASTENERS. *TT *NLM
20030225TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
THE SPARE TIRE BROKE WHILE DRIVING.*AK *JB
20030218LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
FRONT DOOR HANDLES, LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE BROKEN. DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. PASSENGER DOOR OPENS ONLY FROM INSIDE. SIDE SLIDING DOOR AUTOMATIC OPERATION INOPERATIVE; DOORO OPENS OR CLOSES ONLY MANUALLY. REAR HATCH DOOR HANDLE HAS FALLEN APART NUMEROUS TIMES. A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH NO IMMEDIATE ESCAPE OPTION IS DEADLY BUSINESS.
20021217ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER STATES THAT ENGINE STALLS INTERMITTENLY WITHOUT WARNING. TS
20021217STEERING
CONSUMER STATES HAS CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH STEERING PULLING EXCESSIVELY TO THE LEFT WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. TS
Compare 1994CHEVROLETLUMINA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1994 CHEVROLET LUMINA have?▼
The 1994 CHEVROLET LUMINA has 190 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 CHEVROLET LUMINA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1994 CHEVROLET LUMINA is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR.
Is the 1994 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.