IllustrationWENT OUT TO START VEHICLE, HEARD A STATIC NOISE, SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM STEERING COLUMN. TRIED TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY, BUT VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
1991 Chevrolet Lumina Apv
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 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: 4 of 47 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 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
47 reportsNOTICED THE DOORS WERE DEFECTIVE. DOORS CAN'T BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE ON EITHER DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDES. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK. DOORS HAVE FAILED AGAIN AFTER REPAIRS. *AK
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT SYSTEM DOES NOT RETRACT BACK INTO HOUSING WHICH WONT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTION IN HEAVY RAIN. WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES WILL GET STUCK IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS, THEN THEY WOULD WORK. THIS MAY CAUSE VISIBILITY PROBLEMS, AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
BOLTS PULLED THOUGH THE WASHER ON THE REAR FRAME MOUNTS WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING ROD TO DISENGAGE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETALS. *AK
CABLE THAT HOLDS SPARE TIRE BROKE AND RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
SEAT BELTS COME OUT AND WILL NOT RETRACT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED (ALEXANDER CHEVROLET), STATED THEY WOULD ORDER A PART. FINALLY, ADMITTED THAT THE PART WAS DISCONTINUED, AND CANNOT REPAIR THE SEAT BELT. *AK
CONSUMER WILL PROVIDE VIN# AT LATER DATE. THE DOORS OF VEHICLE HAVE PINS THAT BREAK IN HALF. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE SLIDING DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. THE PINS HAVE EITHER FALLEN OUT OR BROKEN OFF. THE DOORS BEGAN FALLING OFF AND BREAKING IN MID-JULY. ALL HAVE BROK…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER WILL PROVIDE VIN# AT LATER DATE. THE DOORS OF VEHICLE HAVE PINS THAT BREAK IN HALF. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE SLIDING DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. THE PINS HAVE EITHER FALLEN OUT OR BROKEN OFF. THE DOORS BEGAN FALLING OFF AND BREAKING IN MID-JULY. ALL HAVE BROKEN OFF BY AUGUST 19, 1998. DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AT THIS TIME. *AK
CONSUMER SUFFERED A WHIPLASH AT A SLOW REAR END IMPACT DUE TO LACK OF HEAD RESTRAINTS ON EITHER OF THE TWO SEATS. *AK
PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR CANNOT NOT OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE, CANNOT OPEN FROM INSIDE WHEN UNLOCKED, INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. DRIVER CANNOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE WHEN IT IS NOT LOCKED. BACK HATCH DOES NOT HAVE INTERNAL RELEASE, CAME OFF ON CONSUMER'S HAND. DEALER REPLACED HATCH LOCK. OUT OF WARRANTY, WILL NOT FIX OTHER PROBLEMS. *AK
Official recalls
197V058000 · 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.
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
7EA00011 · 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
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.
PE94064 · Broken/leaking Brake Hoses
Opened Aug 18, 1994 · Closed Oct 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
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