1996 Chevrolet Lumina APV Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Lumina APV years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina APV. That ranks 2nd out of 5 Lumina APV model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is visibility (9 complaints, 26%), typically at around 86,303 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injury. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 35owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Chevrolet Lumina APV problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 9 | 26% | 86,303 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 5 | 14% | 130,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 11% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 4 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 3% | 218,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Chevrolet Lumina APV recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering:rack and pinion
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles and mini vans have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These and some other retainers used in vehicles assembled between january 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997, could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
Risk: If this occurs, the pinion shaft can be forced upward during left turns and back down as the steering wheel is moved back and to the right. If the pinion shaft moves further, the driver will need to exert more effort to turn the steering wheel, similar to a vehicle without power assisted steering. If the pinion shaft moves even further, the driver will require much higher effort to turn left and may not be able to turn the wheel as much as intended. With the maximum pinion shaft movement, which requires internal gear component damage, the driver can encounter high resistance to turning left, followed by unintended power assist to the right. In any of these conditions, a crash could occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began january 24, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
Windshield wiper motor failure. Windshield wipers work intermittently and sometimes not at all ! *ak
Loud tapping sound from engine when first started.*ak
The windshield wipers faileed intermittently. Dealer stated problem could not duplicated. *ak
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…
Other Chevrolet Lumina APV years
← 1995 Lumina APV · 1997 Lumina APV →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 Lumina APV | 3 | 0 |
| 1998 Lumina APV | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 Lumina APV | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | 35 | 1 |
| 1995 Lumina APV | 104 | 3 |
See all Chevrolet Lumina APV problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina APV?
Owners most often report visibility, electrical system, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, visibility, accounts for 9 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina APV?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina APV a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Lumina APV model years, the 1996 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.