Chevrolet Lumina Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,462 owner complaints and 18 safety recalls on file for the Chevrolet Lumina, across 9 model years (1995–2008). The 1995 model year has the most complaints (492). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
Chevrolet Lumina years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Lumina year: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1995 Lumina: 492 complaints, 6 recalls
- 1997 Lumina: 347 complaints, 1 recall
- 1996 Lumina: 245 complaints, 2 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2008 Lumina: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2001 Lumina: 21 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2000 Lumina: 30 complaints, 5 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Chevrolet Lumina problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 238 | 7 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 197 | 7 | 25 |
| Steering problems | 192 | 7 | 14 |
| Visibility problems | 144 | 5 | 3 |
| Power Train problems | 133 | 7 | 2 |
| Electrical System problems | 129 | 7 | 4 |
| Air Bags problems | 125 | 5 | 69 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 84 | 6 | 1 |
| Structure | 68 | 7 | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 67 | 6 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 64 | 7 | 10 |
| Suspension | 58 | 6 | 5 |
| Seat Belts | 53 | 7 | 9 |
| Seats | 35 | 5 | 6 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 27 | 5 | 1 |
| Tires | 24 | 6 | 1 |
| Equipment | 23 | 5 | 1 |
| Wheels | 18 | 6 | 1 |
| Engine | 16 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 12 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Child Seat | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Chevrolet Lumina problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 1998: steering (56)
- 1997: steering (88) · engine and engine cooling (52)
- 1995: visibility (92) · service brakes, hydraulic (74) · engine and engine cooling (66) · power train (57)
All Chevrolet Lumina model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Lumina | 1 | 0 | — | Steering | |
| 2002 Lumina | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2001 Lumina | 21 | 3 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2000 Lumina | 30 | 5 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1999 Lumina | 103 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1998 Lumina | 223 | 3 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 Lumina | 347 | 1 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 Lumina | 245 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1995 Lumina | 492 | 6 | — | Visibility | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Chevrolet: all Chevrolet models · Chevrolet VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Lumina years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (492), 1996 (245), 1997 (347), 1998 (223) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Lumina year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Chevrolet Lumina?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 238 complaints across 7 model years.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Lumina have?
18 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.