Total Complaints
40 filings
CHEVROLET LUMINA APV · model year
1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV
40 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996CHEVROLETLUMINA APV carries 40 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injury, 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 1996 LUMINA APV is visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor with 4 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer (4) and structure:body:door (3). 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 1996 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.
40
Complaints
2
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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 |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 4 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 3 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20070414FireLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
I SMELLED SMOKE IN MY VEHICLE, SO I PULLED OVER. IT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE VENT. MY FRIEND THOUGHT IT WAS ELECTICAL, SO HE STARTED PULLING FUSES TO STOP THE PROBLEM. I DISCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE MOTOR THAT OPENED AND CLOSED THE AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER ON THE VAN. I TOLD MY FRIEND TO JUST GET OUT AND I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY, BUT BY THE TIME THEY HAD ARRIVED MY CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I AM THANKFUL THAT I DID NOT HAVE MY CHILDREN WITH ME AT THE TIME AS I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD HAVE GOTTEN THEM OUT IN TIME. MY THREE YEAR OLD WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE BUILT-IN CAR SEAT WHICH IS NEXT TO THE DOOR. THE FIRE HAPPENED SO FAST. I MIGHT ADD I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR OR AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK
Mileage: 218,000
20050326VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURE. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL ! *AK
Mileage: 126,200
20050208FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LOUD TAPPING SOUND FROM ENGINE WHEN FIRST STARTED.*AK
20041229STEERING:RACK AND PINION
EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT OF POWER STEERING, LOST STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. REPLACED RACK AND PINION. *BF THE VEHICELK RACK AND PINION FAIELD PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED, THE ALTERNATOR, AIR CONDITIONING AND WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY ALSO FAILED. *NM
20041229VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT OF POWER STEERING, LOST STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. REPLACED RACK AND PINION. *BF THE VEHICELK RACK AND PINION FAIELD PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED, THE ALTERNATOR, AIR CONDITIONING AND WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY ALSO FAILED. *NM
20041229ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT OF POWER STEERING, LOST STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. REPLACED RACK AND PINION. *BF THE VEHICELK RACK AND PINION FAIELD PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED, THE ALTERNATOR, AIR CONDITIONING AND WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY ALSO FAILED. *NM
20041229VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT OF POWER STEERING, LOST STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. REPLACED RACK AND PINION. *BF THE VEHICELK RACK AND PINION FAIELD PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED, THE ALTERNATOR, AIR CONDITIONING AND WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY ALSO FAILED. *NM
20041126VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILEED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER STATED PROBLEM COULD NOT DUPLICATED. *AK
Mileage: 84,286
20040705ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO INTAKE GASKET FAILURE. WIFE AND MINOR CHILD STUCK ON THE SIDE OF INTERSTATE AT 9:30 PM.,WITH STRANDED VEHICLE. *AK
Mileage: 91,000
20040318ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE WILL CUT OUT, THEN RUN SMOOTH AGAIN, CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK. SEVERAL TIMES THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. THE CAR WOULD START BACK UP, WHEN YOU PUT INTO GEAR AND PUSH THE GAS, THE ENGINE WOULD CUT OUT, THE CAR WOULD JERK AS THE ENGINE CUT OUT AND THEN REENGAGE, BUT EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. WE SENT TO OUR LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, HE REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, MINOR TUNE, REPLACE AIR FILTER, CHECK FUEL PUMP - OK, AND REPLACE FUEL FILTER. CAR RAN FINE FOR THREE DAYS AND THEN REPEATED THE SAME PROBLEM. TOOK BACK INTO SHOP, REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AND COILS. ENGINE RUNS OK, BUT WHEN ENGAGING INTO GEAR ENGINE DID NOT HAVE THE SAME RESPONSE AS BEFORE, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS RUNNING AT HALF SPEED. CAR IS NOW SLOW TO GAIN SPEED. TOP SPEED IS 65 MILES PER HOUR. NOW 'SERVICE ENGINE SOON' LIGHT IS ON, SOMETIMES FLASHING.*AK
Mileage: 109,000
20031016FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
MY 1996 LUMINA MINI VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WELL BECAUSE OF A WIRING SHORT. LUCKILY MY GRANDCHILDREN WERE IN THE STORE WHEN THEY CAME OUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PUTTING THE FIRE OUT. BOTH THE SIDE AND BACK DOORS COULD NOT OPEN BECAUSE THE POWER LOCK MODULE HAD MELTED. IF ANYONE WOULD HAVE BEEN INSIDE THEY WOULD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE SAFELY. *LA
Mileage: 130,000
20030706VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH WORKS INTERMITTENTLY.*AK
Mileage: 88,320
20030416CrashSTEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
AFTER RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY 02 V 286 000 WAS PERFORMED THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. *NLM
20030319SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE BRAKE LINE FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VACUUM BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER TO BE INOPERATIVE. *JB
20030225VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY.*JB
Mileage: 70,000
20030225VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY*JB
20021112STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE OWNER "VAN HAS DANGER" DUE TO THE DRIVERS' SIDE DOOR IS NOT ABLE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE WITHOUT REPEATED EXCESSIVE FORCE OR FROM THE OUTSIDE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. MR
20010312SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
REAR DRIVER SHOULDER BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM LOCKING MECHANISM, RESULTING IN SEAT BELT BEING CUT TO RELEASE CHILD OCCUPYING THE SEAT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20010201SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH ON A MAIN HIGHWAY, SHE WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, AND ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM DIDN'T WORK. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK
20000909SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT 20 MPH OR LESS IT MOMENTARILY LOSES BRAKES FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-5 SECONDS BEFORE RESTORING THEM. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK VEHICLE HAD BRAKE FAILURES REPEATDLY. ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME AND STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING. *YH
Compare 1996CHEVROLETLUMINA APV 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 1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV have?▼
The 1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV has 40 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER and STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR.
Is the 1996 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.