1996 Chevrolet Lumina Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Lumina years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 245 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina. That ranks 3rd out of 9 Lumina model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (36 complaints, 15%), typically at around 115,000 miles. Complaints mention 24 crashes, 2 fires, 36 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 4 defect investigations involving it.
- 245owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 4NHTSA investigations
- 24complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Chevrolet Lumina 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 36 | 15% | 115,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 34 | 14% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 31 | 13% | 82,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 30 | 12% | 71,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 24 | 10% | 76,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 19 | 8% | 139,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 17 | 7% | 71,125 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 15 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 14 | 6% | 115,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 12 | 5% | 39,900 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 11 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 9 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 4% | 112,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 6 | 2% | 168,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 6 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 6 | 2% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 2% | 99,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Chevrolet Lumina recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum
Problem: These vehicles were assembled with one of the four brake booster tabs not properly located in the front of dash reinforcement assembly.
Risk: If this condition were present in a situation where stopping distances were small, a vehicle crash could occur.
Fix: Dealers will inspect for proper booster installation. Boosters found to be improperly located will be removed and reinstalled properly.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: The left front brake line can contact the transaxle mounting bracket or attachment bolt.
Risk: This condition can cause the brake line to wear through, resulting in loss of brake fluid and eventual loss of one-half of the vehicle's brake system, increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicle for proper brake line clearance and reposition those brake lines found to have less than minimal clearance. Additionally, those brake lines found to have an indentation caused by the contact will be replaced and properly routed.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Power rack and pinion steering failure (EA03019) — opened Sep 15, 2003, closed Dec 18, 2003, led to recall 03V527000.
- Power rack and pinion steering failure (RQ03001) — opened Jan 2, 2003, closed Sep 15, 2003.
- Inappropriate air bag deployment (EA96023) — opened Sep 27, 1996, closed Feb 13, 1998.
- Inappropriate air bag deployment (PE96031) — opened Apr 18, 1996, closed Sep 27, 1996.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet lumina. The contact stated that he noticed a recurring failure within the turn signal switch which would suddenly stop functioning, causing the brake lights to stop working. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the vehicle was repair. The…
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet lumina. While driving approximately 25 mph on normal road conditions, the "service engine soon" warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection who replaced the engine egr…
In august 2008 i purchased a clean white 1996 chevy lumina with less than 100,000 miles on the dash. It seemed to be running pretty well at first but i noticed the car had a little skip every now and then in deep curves. Then on november 1, 2008 the front left axle broke a loose from the main port…
I love my car but the engine has been going out for some time now and the person whom i bought the car from he knew of this situation and he didn't tell me. This car is my first car and my only transportation so can you all please help me. *tr
Oil leak 1996 3.4 dohc chevy lumina i did my research that is a common problem in these cars then its costs a pretty good penny to fix by the dealership like $2000. *tr
Other Chevrolet Lumina years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 Lumina | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 Lumina | 0 | 1 |
| 2001 Lumina | 21 | 3 |
| 2000 Lumina | 30 | 5 |
| 1999 Lumina | 103 | 2 |
| 1998 Lumina | 223 | 3 |
| 1997 Lumina | 347 | 1 |
| 1996 | 245 | 2 |
| 1995 Lumina | 492 | 6 |
See all Chevrolet Lumina 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?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, air bags, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 36 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Lumina model years, the 1996 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.