IllustrationTHE TOP COAT OR CLEAR COAT HAS TURNED MILKY AND IS PEELING OFF. ALSO THE PADDING ON THE DASH HAS COME LOOSE.
1992 Chevrolet Lumina
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Lumina years
Owner complaints for the 1992 Chevrolet Lumina are substantially higher than the model-year median of 126.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Lumina 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: 14 of 342 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 158 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
16 crash reports11 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
342 reportsI HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES LOCKING UP ON THE CAR, FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR HAULED ON A ROLL BACK. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD NO ONE ELSE HAD A PROBLEM. THEN IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE THE BRAKES WOULD GO COMPLETELY OUT ON THE CAR. WE TOOK IT TO SUTLIF CHEVROLET THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR THREE WEEKS AND DI…
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I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES LOCKING UP ON THE CAR, FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR HAULED ON A ROLL BACK. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD NO ONE ELSE HAD A PROBLEM. THEN IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE THE BRAKES WOULD GO COMPLETELY OUT ON THE CAR. WE TOOK IT TO SUTLIF CHEVROLET THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR THREE WEEKS AND DID NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST WEEK I HAD TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR, THEN I CALLED THEM AND THEY GAVE ME A LONER. THEY HAD IT FOR THREE WEEKS AND IT STILL WAS NOT FIXED. I COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR.
IGINITON LOCK IS HARD TO START DUE TO GREASE THAT THICKENS WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. *AK
ENGINE IDLED VERY HIGH, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. ALSO, BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND THE ABS BRAKING LIGHT CAME ON. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
R+R SEAT BELT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. NLM
AFTER PURCHASING GAS AND DRIVING ABOUT 25 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, NOTICED A FUNNY SMELL COMING INTO THE CAR. CAR WOULD NOT GO, BUT 45 MPH. GAS WOULD FLOOD THE ENGINE. TOOK TO DEALER ,AND THEY SAID SEALS CORRODED BECAUSE OF THE CHEMICALS IN THE GAS. *AK
DRIVER USED RIGHT TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, SMOKE RISING FROM STEERING COLLUMN AND SMELLED BURNT PLASTIC. YH
FAULTY TURN SIGNAL SWITCH CAUSED ODOR AT FIRST AND SMOKE LATER. YH
I HAD MY BRAKES INSPECTED WHEN I COULD HEAR A SCRAPING SOUND AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONTS WERE CONSIDERABLY WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THAT THE REAR CALIPERS DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY CAUSING EXCESS WEAR ON THE FRONT BRAKES. I RECENTLY HAD THE FRONT BRAKES RESTORED, BUT DID NOT HAVE THE REAR ONES DONE DUE TO EXCESSIVELY HI…
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I HAD MY BRAKES INSPECTED WHEN I COULD HEAR A SCRAPING SOUND AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONTS WERE CONSIDERABLY WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THAT THE REAR CALIPERS DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY CAUSING EXCESS WEAR ON THE FRONT BRAKES. I RECENTLY HAD THE FRONT BRAKES RESTORED, BUT DID NOT HAVE THE REAR ONES DONE DUE TO EXCESSIVELY HIGH COST ($550.00 ESTIMATE)
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE BUILD-UP CAUSING THE MUFFLER TO EXPLODE ON TWO OCCASIONS.
Official recalls
292V161000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Nov 3, 1992
THERE IS FUEL LEAKAGE AT THE FUEL TANK FILL AND/OR VENT PIPE EXTENSION SOLDER JOINTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKS CAN LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE IF EXPOSED TO ASOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: REPLACE THE FUEL TANK.
91V214000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Dec 6, 1991
THE REVERSE SERVO APPLY PIN MAY BIND IN THE CASE WHICH COULD CAUSE REVERSE BAND DISTRESS (LOSS OR SLIPPING OF REVERSE), REVERSE BAND DRAG IN DRIVE RANGE (POOR PERFORMANCE -- POOR POWER), OR THE TRANSMISSION TO REMAIN IN REVERSE WHILE THE SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS NEUTRAL GEAR POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE TRANSMISSION REMAINS IN REVERSE WHILE THE SHIFTINDICATOR SHOWS NEUTRAL, THE VEHICLE MAY UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE REARWARD AND RESULTIN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE WHERE REQUIRED.
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
2PE94063 · Corroded Rear Disk Brakes
Opened Aug 12, 1994 · Closed Dec 21, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE92052 · Apv Fuel Line Fires
Opened Jun 4, 1992 · Closed Oct 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available