CHEVROLET LUMINA APV · model year

1992 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV

89 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1992CHEVROLETLUMINA APV carries 89 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 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 1992 LUMINA APV is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings with 16 filings, followed by seat belts:front:retractor (13) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (8). 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 1992 LUMINA APV, 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.

89
Complaints
7
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

89 filings

Crashes Reported

7 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS16
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR13
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP8
SEATS8
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY3
TIRES3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS3
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER2
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY1

Recent Complaints

20070919STRUCTURE

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE (1992 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV) , THE TWO REAR CRADLE BOLTS OF THE FRAME PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. THE REAR CRADLE WAS NO LONGER SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND DROPPED TO THE GROUND, AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS RIPPED OFF WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING RESULTING FROM SAME. THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN FREE WITH NO CONNECTION TO WHEELS. NO STEERING OF ANY TYPE AVAILABLE WHILE DRIVING FROM THIS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT ABOUT 25 MPH SO A SAFE STOP WAS MADE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD (NO STEERING AVAILABLE AT ALL). HOWEVER, THAT WAS A MATTER OF LUCK. IF THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT A HIGHER SPEED, A CRASH WOULD HAVE RESULTED DUE TO NO STEERING BEING AVAILABLE AFTER FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE 1991 MODEL LUMINA APV. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER FOR THE 1991 MODEL WAS 97V058000. *TR

Mileage: 125,000

20060816STEERING:COLUMN

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL ROADWAY, THE STEERING COUPLER OF THE STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE STEERING COUPLER WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

Mileage: 182,240

20040422SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

THE ABS FREQUENCY IS EXTREMELY LOW MAKING THE BRAKES COMPLETELY UN-EFFICIENT WHEN OPERATING (MAINLY WINTER TIME). LATELY THE ABS COMES ON DURING THE FINAL BREAKING, DISABLING THE BREAK FOR ~0.5 SEC AND ACCELERATING THE ENGINE, GIVING A FINAL KICK ~ 0.5 - 1M INSTEAD OF FINAL STOP. I WANT THIS ABS DISABLED FOR GOOD, IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, MAINLY IN CITY DRIVING. THANKS, ADRIAN

Mileage: 210,000

20030327SEATS

DRIVER SEAT OF 1992 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV MINIVAN HAS BROKEN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT. IN ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION, SEAT HAD AN "ADJUSTABLE WHEEL" ON THE RIGHT REAR SIDE OF THE SEAT FOR ADJUSTING THE BACK OF THE SEAT FORWARD AND BACKWARD. AFTER THE SEAT BROKE, I INQUIRED AT SEVERAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA AND THEY ALL STATED THAT THE SEAT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE THROUGH THE MANUFACTURER. I CONTACTED SEVERAL JUNK YARDS IN THE AREA BEFORE I FOUND ANOTHER SEAT. THE SEAT WAS PUT IN AND IT HAS LASTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO THIS ONE. WHEN I INQUIRED AGAIN AT SEVERAL JUNK YARDS, I WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL OF THEM THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BOTH FRONT SEATS, WITH THESE "ADJUSTABLE WHEELS", ON THE CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, PONTIAC TRANSPORT AND THE OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. IS THERE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE FOR THESE SEATS? I DON'T NEED THE SEAT TO ADJUST...IT CAN BE PERMANENTLY FIXED IN PLACE. RIGHT NOW, I'M DRIVING AROUND WITH THIS SEAT BACK LAYING IN TH

20020618STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

WHILE MAKING A TURN AT LOW SPEED, VEHICLE LOST STEERING. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE REAR CRADLE BOLT ON THE FRONT SUBFRAME PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION, THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER SUPPORT THE MOUNTING, WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE SHAFT TO SEPARATE.*JB

20020409SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETURN INTO THE RETRACTOR, LEAVING OCCUPANT WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR BROKE. THE RETRACTORS WERE POORLY BUILT SINCE ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCASIONS THE RETRACTORS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *YH

20020408SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

DRIVER'S SIDE REPLACED 4/99 SAME PROBLE GM NOTIFIED AND FIXED FREE DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM; NOW THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS 90,000 MILES ON VEHICLE; AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED IT IS STILL A SAFETY ISSUE REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. I HAD 64,000 MILES ON VEHICLE WHEN DRIVER'S SIDE WAS REPLACED IN 1999.*AK

20010816SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEATBELT WILL NOT RELEASE, MAKING IT UNUSABLE. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE, FOR OTHER SEATBELTS IN OTHER LOCATIONS FOR THIS SAME REASON. *AK

20010813SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEATBELT WILL NOT RELEASE, MAKING IT UNUSABLE. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE, FOR OTHER SEATBELTS IN OTHER LOCATIONS FOR THIS SAME REASON. *AK

20010628SUSPENSION:REAR

AFTER STOPPING AT RED LIGHT I PULLED INTO AN INTERSECTION AND HEARD A LOUD BOOM AT WHICH POINT THE REAR END OF MINIVAN WAS SLIDING SIDEWAYS. I PULLED OVER THINKING I HAD A BLOWOUT. MECHANIC EXAMINED VEHICLE. IN HIS TWENTY YEARS IN THE BUSINESS HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THE REAR TRAILER ARM SNAPPED CLEANLY IN HALF, SHEARING MY EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE AND CAME WITHIN CENTIMETERS OF SHEARING REGULAR BRAKES. IF I HAD BEEN GOING 209MPH INSTEAD OF 10, MECHANIC ASSURED ME THAT THE TIRE WOULD HAVE FOLDED UNDER ITSELF FLIPPING THE VEHICLE

20010622SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE AND COLLAPSED BACKWARDS WHILE TRAVELING UP AN INCLINE AT 30 MPH. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WAERE NOTIFIED,AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST. WAS INFORMED VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY/ NOT COVER UNDER A RECALL. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

20010423STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

BOTH OF THE FRONT DOOR HANDLES BROKE WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF EACH OTHER. THE REAR SLIDING DOOR HANDLE IS LOOSE AND FEELS LIKE THE OTHER TWO DID JUST BEFORE THEY STOPPED WORKING. WHEN THIS ONE GOES, MY ONLY WAY TO GET INTO MY VAN WILL BE THRU THE REAR HATCH. THE PASSENGER DOOR WILL OPEN FROM THE INSIDE ONLY. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WON'T OPEN EITHER WAY.

20010215TIRES

FRONT R/H TIRE, LESS THAN 2 WKS OLD, BLEW SUDDENLY AT 40 MPH FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO ROAD DEBRIS PRESANT, OR POT HOLES ETC. TIRE HAD NO FACE PUNCHERS, SEAM LOOKS SEPARATED. BLOW OUT CAUSE CAR TO HIT A CEMENT WALL, MAJOR DAMAGE, BUT WIFE OK, THANK GOD. NEED SOME ADVICE HERE, NEED TO COLLECT CAR DAMAGES . THANKS, RAY ZELLER 860-654-4442. *AK (DOT NUMBER: U9MO TIRESIZE: P205/70R15)

20001206SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

PLEASE DISREGARD FORM. *AK

20000918SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

WE HAVE HAD CONSISTANT PROBLEMS WITH OUR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT LOW SPEEDS ON DRY PAVEMENT ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WILL SEEM TO ACTIVATE AND GIVE OUT, LEAVING ME WITH NO BRAKES FOR A FEW MOMENTS. AND THE ANTI-LOCK BREAK LIGHT INSIDE THE CAR WILL COME ON AT VARIOUS TIMES AND STAY ON, EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO TONY CHEVEROLET AND OTHER REPAIR SHOPS AND YET THE PROBLEM STILL CONSIST. WE WERE WONDERING IF THIS PROBLEM COULD BE RELATED TO THE RECENT RECALL OF THE CHRYSLER BENDIX 10 ABS? WOULD OUR BRAKES BE SIMILAR OR THE SAME MODEL AS THE ONES BEING RECALLED? AND HAS GENERAL MOTORS HAD COMPLAINTS WITH THESE MAKES AND MODELS? WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS SYSTEM SINCE WE'VE FIRST OWNED THE VAN.

20000911SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

WE HAVE HAD CONSISTANT PROBLEMS WITH OUR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT LOW SPEEDS ON DRY PAVEMENT ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WILL SEEM TO ACTIVATE AND GIVE OUT, LEAVING ME WITH NO BRAKES FOR A FEW MOMENTS. AND THE ANTI-LOCK BREAK LIGHT INSIDE THE CAR WILL COME ON AT VARIOUS TIMES AND STAY ON, EVEN WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO TONY CHEVEROLET AND OTHER REPAIR SHOPS AND YET THE PROBLEM STILL CONSIST. WE WERE WONDERING IF THIS PROBLEM COULD BE RELATED TO THE RECENT RECALL OF THE CHRYSLER BENDIX 10 ABS? WOULD OUR BRAKES BE SIMILAR OR THE SAME MODEL AS THE ONES BEING RECALLED? AND HAS GENERAL MOTORS HAD COMPLAINTS WITH THESE MAKES AND MODELS? WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS SYSTEM SINCE WE'VE FIRST OWNED THE VAN.

20000706SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT IN THE HOUSING MECHANSIM, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BE VERY LOOSE OR VERY TIGHT DEPENDING ON THE OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

20000531SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT LIES SLACK THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE BELT. IT DOESN'T RETRACT BACK INTO THE BELT HOLDER TO SECURE THE DRIVER SNUGLY INTO THE SEAT. *AK

20000519SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

I GOT IN AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT ON. IT WOULD NOT "REWIND" AND WILL NOT COME OUT OF FULLY EXTENDEND POSITION. UNABLE TO USE THIS SEAT IN VEHICLE NOW DUE TO EXTREME SAFETY RISK. *AK

20000212SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

FRONT PASSENGER AND LEFT REAR SEATBELTS RETRACTORS HAVE FAILED. *AK

Compare 1992CHEVROLETLUMINA APV to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1992 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV have?
The 1992 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV has 89 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV?
The most-complained component for the 1992 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS with 16 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1992 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV 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.