IllustrationSUBFRAME REPORTED TO BE - "ROTTED OUT" - VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. COMPONENT AS NOT LET GO YET - IT IS ON THE VERGE. DISCOVERED DURING REPAIR OF RACK AND PINION UNIT. WOULD LIKE TO SEND YOU DETAILED LETTER WITH PICTURES.*AK
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
What owners actually said
99 reportsWHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNK, STEERING FELT TIGHT, THEN SPUN FREELY. MECHANIC DETERMINED SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY BOLTS SNAPPED OFF ON BOTH SIDES, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME DETACHED.*AK
DRIVER'S SEAT SNAPPED IN HALF AT LOWER SEAT SECTION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 30-35 HEARD A NOISE. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED UNDER VEHICLE. THEN, BEGAN TO DRIVE AND WITHOUT WARNING COLUMN DROPPED OFF. MECHANIC STATED THAT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS RUSTED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. THERE IS A RECALL 97V058000 CONCERNING REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS; HOWEVER, CONSUMERS VEHICLE NOT …
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WHILE DRIVING 30-35 HEARD A NOISE. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED UNDER VEHICLE. THEN, BEGAN TO DRIVE AND WITHOUT WARNING COLUMN DROPPED OFF. MECHANIC STATED THAT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS RUSTED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. THERE IS A RECALL 97V058000 CONCERNING REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS; HOWEVER, CONSUMERS VEHICLE NOT AFFECTED DUE TO VIN. *AK
THERE IS A RECAL LISTED ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WE ALSO RECEIVED A RECAL NOTICE FROM MANIFACTURING. THEY NOW SAY THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE BOLTS APPARENTLY LOOSEN AND CAN BREAK CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACK WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO US. AT LEAST WE WERE NO MOVING WHEN THE SEAT/BOLT BROKE…
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THERE IS A RECAL LISTED ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WE ALSO RECEIVED A RECAL NOTICE FROM MANIFACTURING. THEY NOW SAY THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE BOLTS APPARENTLY LOOSEN AND CAN BREAK CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACK WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO US. AT LEAST WE WERE NO MOVING WHEN THE SEAT/BOLT BROKE.*AK
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.
LEFT FRONT TIRE PEEL ON SIDE OF THE TIRE CAME OFF.
RECALL 97 V 058 000/ REAR CRADLE BOLTS: REAR CRADLE BOLTS RETAINER FAILED ON BOTH SIDES, SNAPPING STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WHILE DRIVING, AND CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. BELIEVED THIS WAS DUE TO CORRISION. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN.…
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RECALL 97 V 058 000/ REAR CRADLE BOLTS: REAR CRADLE BOLTS RETAINER FAILED ON BOTH SIDES, SNAPPING STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WHILE DRIVING, AND CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. BELIEVED THIS WAS DUE TO CORRISION. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
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
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