IllustrationREAR CRADLE BOLT ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS PULLING THROUGH THE RETAINER AFFECTING STEERING CONTROL. RELATED RECALL 97V058000. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED THAT RECALL HAS EXPIRED AND THEY ARE NO LONGER HONORING IT. PH
1990 Chevrolet Lumina Apv
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 Chevrolet Lumina Apv do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 40.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Lumina Apv years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 99 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports
Steering complaints
12 reportsVEHICLE EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING LEAK, DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION, CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING COOLER WAS MISSING. *SLC ALSO UPON INSPECTION CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS ROTTED OUT AND WAS ADVISED THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. *JG *JB
WE WERE AT A STOPLIGHT AND MADE A RIGHT TURN AND HEARD AN AWFUL CLUNK - WE PROCEEDED ABOUT 1/2 MILE AND TRIED TO PULL INTO OUR PARKING SPACE AND OUR STEERING WHEEL ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD ONLY "SPIN AROUND". WE COULD NOT TURN THE CAR AT ALL - WE HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK - HAD IT TOWED ACROSS THE STREET TO OUR SHOP. THIS COULD HAV…
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WE WERE AT A STOPLIGHT AND MADE A RIGHT TURN AND HEARD AN AWFUL CLUNK - WE PROCEEDED ABOUT 1/2 MILE AND TRIED TO PULL INTO OUR PARKING SPACE AND OUR STEERING WHEEL ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD ONLY "SPIN AROUND". WE COULD NOT TURN THE CAR AT ALL - WE HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK - HAD IT TOWED ACROSS THE STREET TO OUR SHOP. THIS COULD HAVE CREATED A TRAGEDY HAD IT BEEN OUT ON THE FREEWAY.
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL DISANGAGED, AND HAD TO PULL TO SIDE AND WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TOW VEHICLE TO A NEAR SHOP, WHERE GEAR STEERING GEAR BOX BOX WAS REPLACED, BUT NOT UNDER RECALL 97 V 058 000M. CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR IT. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON HIGHWAY AND STEERING WHEEL GAVE OUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK
A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE! THE TILT-STEERING LOCKING MECHANISM DISENGAGED IN A TIGHT STEERING MANEUVER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. LOCKING MECH. THEN WAS TOTALLY INOPERATIVE. STEERING WHEEL TILTED UP AND DOWN FREELY, AND TILTED SLIGHTLY TO LEFT. VEHICLE DID RESPOND TO STEERING, BUT WAS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AS A CAREER RELIABILITY ENGINEER…
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A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE! THE TILT-STEERING LOCKING MECHANISM DISENGAGED IN A TIGHT STEERING MANEUVER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. LOCKING MECH. THEN WAS TOTALLY INOPERATIVE. STEERING WHEEL TILTED UP AND DOWN FREELY, AND TILTED SLIGHTLY TO LEFT. VEHICLE DID RESPOND TO STEERING, BUT WAS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AS A CAREER RELIABILITY ENGINEER/QUALITY MANAGER, I ASSESS THIS AS A LIFE-THREATENING MAJOR FAILURE THAT NEVER SHOULD HAPPEN. MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER REP IGNORED MY COMPLAINT ON EXCUSE THAT "VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY." I PAID HIGHLY FOR REPAIR; YET CHEVY HAS A SAFETY PROBLEM. PLEASE DO INVESTIGATE THIS TYPE FAILURE.
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL. WAS FORCED TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD, BOLTS BROKE OFF IN FRAME AREA/STEERING. . *AK
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BROKE. OWNER TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER.
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#97VO58000) BACK IN JUNE. CALLED THE CHEVROLET DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THEY HAD NO PARTS. CALLED OTHER CHEVROLET DEALERS IN AREA AND NONE OF THEM HAD PARTS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *AK
DRIVING VEHICLE AND STEERING TIGHTER THAN USUAL REGARDLESS OF TRAVELING SPEED, CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE ONTO RAMP, CHANGED OIL AND HEARD THUMP NOISE. LOOKED INSIDE STEERING WHEEL COULD BE SPUN IN CIRCLES. DROVE VEHICLE OFF RAMP, REAR PART OF FRONT FRAME HANGING DOWN. *AK
Official recalls
397V058000 · Structure
Apr 8, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NOT LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
91V046000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Mar 15, 1991
A RIGHT HAND SEAT/SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THE SECOND ROW LEFT HAND SEAT POSITION (DIRECTLY BEHIND DRIVER).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE INCORRECT RETRACTOR MAY CAUSE THE BELTS TO LOCK UPIF THE VAN IS PARKED ON A STEEP GRADE. AS A RESULT OF THIS, THE OCCUPANT COULDNOT EXTEND THE BELT FOR USE.
Remedy: REPLACE SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLY.
89V164000 · Seats
Oct 2, 1989
THE REAR MODULAR SEAT FRAME HOLD-DOWN HOOKS MAY NOT MEET THE REQUIRED PULL FORCE AT THE REAR SET ANCHORAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLES WOULD NOT CONFORM TO FMVSS 207.
Remedy: REPLACE REAR HOLD DOWN HOOKS AND PIVOT RIVETS WITH HEAT TREATED HARDWARE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
8EA00011 · Engine Cradle Separation
Opened Apr 10, 2000 · Closed Jan 12, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE CRADLE FRONT BOLTS AND/OR RETAINERS MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE CRADLE TO FALL, POSSIBLY SEPARATING THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR, WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL
RQ99002 · Engine Cradle Separation
Opened Mar 4, 1999 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
ON APRIL 1, 1997, GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION FILED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO RECALL THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, REGISTERED IN 14 HIGH CORROSION STATES, TO REPLACE THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS WOULD EITHER FRACTURER OR PULL THROUGH THE RETIANERS DUE TO CORROSION.AS OF SEPTEMBER 1998, THE SIXTH QUARTER, 59.3% OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAD BEEN REPAIRED.IN ADDITION TO THE COMPLAINTS OF FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLT FAILURES IN THE ABOVE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY, ODI HAS RECEIVED SIX REPORTS OF POSSIBLE FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLT FAILURES, INCLUDING TWO CRASHES.AN RQ IS WARRANTED TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF FAILURES OF THE FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
RQ97017 · Cradle Bolt Failures
Opened Oct 2, 1997 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
EA97019 · Front Seat Back Collapse
Opened Sep 30, 1997 · Closed Jun 8, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
ALLEGED FRONT SEAT BACK COLLAPSE DUE TO RECLINER BOLT
PE97016 · Front Seat Back Collapse
Opened Apr 7, 1997 · Closed Sep 30, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ALLEGED TO EXPERIENCE INADVERTENT FRONT SEAT BACK COLLAPSE DUE TO FRACTURE OF FRONT SEAT RECLINER MOUNTING BOLTS.
PE96065 · Alleged Engine Subframe Mount/insulator
Opened Nov 15, 1996 · Closed Apr 8, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
ALLEGED FAILURES OF ENGINE FRAME INSULATORS/MOUNTS TO UNIBODY FRAME MAY ALLOW SEPARATION OF ENGINE SUBFRAME, RESULTING IN COMPROMISE OR LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WITH THE VEHICLE IN MOTION.
PE93085 · Wheel Failures
Opened Sep 29, 1993 · Closed Feb 28, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
EA92035 · Apv Fuel Line Fires
Opened Oct 30, 1992 · Closed Nov 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available