1996 Chevrolet Lumina: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 245 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (14% of complaints); the 1994 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Mar 2007
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 245 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Purchased 1996 chevy lumina w/3.1 liter engine. Vehicle has been well maintained and currently has 115,000 miles. The vehicle has never been involved in a car accident. The issue is that the camshaft has broken. Why would a vehicle that has had regular oil changes and maintenance experience this problem? It seems an extreme problem for a well-cared for vehicle. This was a former police vehicle (first 96,000 miles). My son's girlfriend also owns a lumina (1999, no VIN available) and she too has had the camshaft replaced in her vehicle at 170,000. *tr”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Nov 2007
“Brake lights don't always work on 1996 lumina due to faulty turn signal switch, I've notice this on several other 1995 -2001 luminas as well. *tr”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jun 2007
“I was driving on a highway and came up to a intersection where I had the right of way. The other person had a stop sign. This person thought that I had a stop sign also so she proceeded into the intersection and I smashed into her making her truck fly across the highway and flipping over. My airbag did not deploy and because of that I feel that I was injured more than if my airbag would have deployed. My car was totaled. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2007
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet lumina. The contact's vehicle has three rear brake lights. The lower two lights fail to illuminate. When he changed the bulbs, they illuminated briefly and then quickly burned out again. The current mileage is 135,000 and failure mileage was 115,000.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Apr 2007
“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”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Mar 2007
“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”Owner report · Equipment · Jan 2007
“1996 chevrolet lumina, brake lights not working except for in the rear window. If that bulb were to burn out, I would have no brake lights at all. I have discovered, and I am sure, that you are aware that this is a very common problem. Why has this not been corrected? *jb”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Aug 2006
“The engine started knocking around 100k miles and getting worse ever since. The piston pin is going bad. I found out that gm knows about this problem by a certified gm technician. He told me that all 3.1l engines have this problem and gm wont fix it. I feel shafted and will never by a gm product again. *nm”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jul 2006
“Turn signal switch in chevrolet lumina causing brake lights to not work. (except 3rd brake light) from my research, this is a well known issue. For whatever reason the main brake lights go through that switch. The defective switch is causing them not to work. The 3rd brake light is not affected because it's not wired through that switch. I know switches go bad, but this switch has went bad on a lot of vehicles causing no main brake lights and should be recalled. *nm”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Dec 2005
“Dt: the contact stated while driving the frame came out around the bolts. This caused the engine to fall onto the ground and the steering to pull out of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealership, but they have not inspected the vehicle. The manufacturer was suppose to send out a representative to inspect the vehicle.*ak updated 2/7/2006 - *nm”Owner report · Structure · Dec 2005
When filing, owners marked a crash in 24 of these complaints and injuries in 36 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH ONE OF THE FOUR BRAKE BOOSTER TABS NOT PROPERLY LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF DASH REINFORCEMENT ASSEMBLY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER BOOSTER INSTALLATION. BOOSTERS FOUND TO BE IMPROPERLY LOCATED WILL BE REMOVED AND REINSTALLED PROPERLY.
THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE CAN CONTACT THE TRANSAXLE MOUNTING BRACKET OR ATTACHMENT BOLT.
Remedy: 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.
How other years compare
Check your exact Lumina by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina reliable?
NHTSA has 245 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina. The most complained-about area is air bags (14% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1996 Chevrolet Lumina problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 113,500 miles or less.
Does the 1996 Chevrolet Lumina have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, other:storage:tank assembly:pressure relief devices. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.