1987 Chevrolet LUMINA APV: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Structure:Body:Door is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body:Door | 1 |
Structure:Body:Door: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
1996: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body:Door leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 978492 · 1996-01-31 (January 31, 1996)
FAILURE OF THE POWER DOORS, DOORS LOCK WHEN YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 978492 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1987 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 66.1% | 510.6%ODI 808232THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR STOPPED WORKING . *AK | 1317.1%ODI 718661FRONT PASSENGER AND LEFT REAR SEATBELTS RETRACTORS HAVE FAILED. *AK | 613.3% | 1116.9% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 11.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 22.6% | 511.1%ODI 10039444 · 96,590 miTHE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN MY VAN DO NOT WORK SOMETIMES. TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC TWICE FOR REPAIRS AND BOTH TIMES THEY WERE WORKING PROPERLY AND THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE FOUND. HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE LAST SUMMER AND ONLY HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. | 23.1% | 2322.1% | 411.4%ODI 10009256 · 70,000 miTHE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY.*JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Structure:Body:Door | 1100.0%ODI 978492FAILURE OF THE POWER DOORS, DOORS LOCK WHEN YOU PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR. TT | 1111.1%ODI 518834DRIVER'S SIDE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE FAILED TWICE. EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN BECAUSE OF PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE INSIDE OF DOOR TOTALLY BREAKING. COULD POSE A HAZARD IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. *AK | 48.5%ODI 817080DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE ALSO RIGHT SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE. BOTH PROBLEMS HAD BEEN CORRECTED.OWNER THEN NOTES THAT SLIDING DOOR CAN'T BE OPENED FROM INSIDE ALSO BACK DOOR LOCK FELL OFF. NOTES OF POWER LOCK FAILURE.CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK | 22.6%ODI 744017BOTH OF THE FRONT DOOR HANDLES BROKE WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF EACH OTHER. THE REAR SLIDING DOOR HANDLE IS LOOSE AND FEELS LIKE THE OTHER TWO DID JUST BEFORE THEY STOPPED WORKING. WHEN THIS ONE GOES, MY ONLY WAY TO GET INTO MY VAN WILL BE THRU THE REAR HATCH. THE PASSENGER DOOR WILL OPEN FROM THE INSIDE ONLY. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WON'T OPEN EITHER WAY. | 12.2%ODI 706768I HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH MY 1993 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV VAN. SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE VAN NEW IN FALL 1992 I FOUND THAT THE GAS GAUGE WOULD NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE FUEL WHEN NEAR THE BOTTOM 1/4. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER TWICE WITH NO CHANGES MADE. IN JANUARY OF 1999, THE REAR TRUNK LID LOCK FELL OF AND AFTER HAVING IT REPLACED, I HAD TO RETURN IT AS THE MECH WAS LOOSE AT WHICH TIME I WAS TOLD THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE POWER LOCKING SYSTEM AS THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. ON APRIL 3, 1999, WHILE DRIVING ON T… | 34.6%ODI 807221THE ROD THAT IS ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR, CAUSING OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES NOT TO OPERATE PROPERLY, HAVING TO GET IT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. CURRENTLY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HANDLES HAVE DONE THE SAME THING. *AK | 65.8%ODI 716722RRING PROBLEM WITH THE GM MINIVANS. WHILE IN THIS CASE IT WAS NOT HAZARDOUS, IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, RESCUE TEAMS WOULD BE UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS BY NORMAL MEANS. *AK | 38.6%ODI 8022568THE OWNER "VAN HAS DANGER" DUE TO THE DRIVERS' SIDE DOOR IS NOT ABLE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE WITHOUT REPEATED EXCESSIVE FORCE OR FROM THE OUTSIDE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. MR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 810.5%ODI 484041ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 69.2%ODI 10005903THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND THE BRAKES "LOCKED UP". CONSUMER COLLIDED WITH A TREE. | 87.7%ODI 809603ABS BRAKE FAILURE, APPLIED BRAKES VEHICLE SKIDED AND BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IMPACT INTO A HIGH CURB AT 12:00 POSITION, SPEED 35MPH. *AK | 25.7%ODI 870088WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT 20 MPH OR LESS IT MOMENTARILY LOSES BRAKES FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-5 SECONDS BEFORE RESTORING THEM. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK VEHICLE HAD BRAKE FAILURES REPEATDLY. ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME AND STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING. *YH | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 701861DECREASED BRAKING POWER WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN OR WET ROADS UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Seats | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 33.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 810.5%ODI 10013536DRIVER SEAT OF 1992 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV MINIVAN HAS BROKEN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT. IN ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION, SEAT HAD AN "ADJUSTABLE WHEEL" ON THE RIGHT REAR SIDE OF THE SEAT FOR ADJUSTING THE BACK OF THE SEAT FORWARD AND BACKWARD. AFTER THE SEAT BROKE, I INQUIRED AT SEVERAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA AND THEY ALL STATED THAT THE SEAT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE THROUGH THE MANUFACTURER. I CONTACTED SEVERAL JUNK YARDS IN THE AREA BEFORE I FOUND ANOTHER SEAT. THE SEAT WAS PUT IN AND IT HAS LASTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND THE SAME THING HAS H… | 24.4%ODI 10005847 · 277,755 miTHE DRIVERS SEAT IS BREAKING AWAY FROM IT'S MOUNTINGS | 23.1%ODI 816933THE TWO METAL BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE FRAME BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT BE INSECURE. DEALER STATES A $500.00 EXPENSE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 65.8%ODI 10159649 · 130,000 miI HAVE A 1995 CHEVY LUMINA VAN AND THE STEEL FRAME UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT KEEPS BREAKING. I WELDED THE FIRST SEAT 3 TIMES UNTIL IT WAS SO BAD I HAD TOP BUY ANOTHER ONE. THE SECOND SEAT I GOT WAS THE SAME AND I AM ABOUT TO WELD IT A SECOND TIME ALSO. I KNOW OF ANOTHER PERSON WITH A 1992 LUMINA VAN WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT HASN'T BEEN RECALLED YET. THANKS . *NM | 12.9%ODI 709522ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT A WELD SNAPPED AND THE DRIVERS SEAT IS NO LONGER STABLE. THE CAR CAN BE DRIVEN BUT WE WERE TOLD IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANY LONGER DUE TO THE MILEAGE. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND IT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE COMPANY. I INTEND TO SEND A LETTER TO THE COMPANY ALSO. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1212.1%ODI 10057642DRIVER'S SEAT BACK BROKE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO FALL BACKWARDS INTO REAR SEATS. *AK | 36.4% | 33.9%ODI 891032DRIVER'S SEATBACK BROKE AND COLLAPSED BACKWARDS WHILE TRAVELING UP AN INCLINE AT 30 MPH. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WAERE NOTIFIED,AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST. WAS INFORMED VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY/ NOT COVER UNDER A RECALL. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK | 24.4%ODI 7511633 SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FAIL TO RETRACT. FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK IS LOOSE, FALLS BACK WHEN LEANED ON. FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ARM REST IN UNMOVABLE. CHEVROLET SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO REPAIR THESE SAFETY COMPONENTS.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 11.0%ODI 10029177 · 77,500 mi1995 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV DRIVERS SIDE SEAT TRACK/FRAME BREAKS, CAUSING THE BACK OF THE SEAT TO RECLINE SUDDENLY. I HAD A 1994 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV WHICH WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN FEBUARY OF 2001, IN WHICH THE SEAT TRACK/FRAME BROKE. MINE JUST BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. LUCKILY I WAS IT AT A TIME WHEN THERE WASN'T MUCH TRAFFIC, AND I GOT STOPPED WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TALKED TO AN UPHOLESTRY SHOP AND A DEALER AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS COMMON ON THESE VANS. *AK | 12.9%ODI 810796OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING, PULLING FROM A STOP SIGN, DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK COLLAPSED.OWN ER NOTES THAT DEALERS REPLACED A FAULTY SEAT LATCH. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1212.1%ODI 10037614 · 107,351 miWHILE THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO HIS DRIVEWAY HE HEARD ALOUD BANG. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY LOST STEERING CONTROL AND THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED 360 DEGREES NON STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE SUBFRAME RUSTED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE AND RACK AND PINION TO COLLAPSE TO THE GROUND. *AK *NLM | 612.8%ODI 10197533 · 168,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST STEERING ABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REAR TWO BOLTS THAT HOLD THE ENGINE FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO DISCONNECT. AS OF JULY 26, 2007, THE DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 168,000. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ | 11.3%ODI 8012012WHILE MAKING A TURN AT LOW SPEED, VEHICLE LOST STEERING. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE REAR CRADLE BOLT ON THE FRONT SUBFRAME PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION, THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER SUPPORT THE MOUNTING, WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE SHAFT TO SEPARATE.*JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 21.9% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 33.0%ODI 721288THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAVE REPORTED IS THAT OF FAULTY DOOR LATCHES. WE HAVE HAD THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S-SIDE DOOR LATCH FIXED THREE TIMES. IT DETACHES ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR, USUALLY WHEN THE POWER DOOR LOCK IS CLICKED AT THE SAME TIME AS SOMEONE IS PULLING ON THE DOOR LATCH TO GET IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE REAR HATCH DOOR LATCH BROKE AND WAS REPLACED. IT WAS CHEAPLY MADE. NOW THE SLIDING SIDE DOOR'S LATCH SEEMS TO HAVE BROKEN, AS WE CANNOT EXIT THE VAN USING THAT DOOR LATCH, BUT IT WILL WORK ON THE OUTSIDE. THE OTHER COMP… | 612.8%ODI 10156611 · 206,000 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED ONLY THE SLIDING SIDE DOOR WILL OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER DOOR AND LIFT GATE FAILED FIRST SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE DOOR HANDLES WILL PULL UP HOWEVER THE LOCK WILL NOT DISENGAGE. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 05/30/06 ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO THE DRIVER'S DOOR STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. CONTACT HAS TO ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE SLIDING DOORS. *TT | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 24.4%ODI 808043THE REAR GATE LATCH DOES NOT WORK, TRIED TO GET IT FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES. *AK | 23.1%ODI 805658FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S DOOR LATCH KEEPS BREAKING, THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT. THERE ARE INDICATIONS OF PROHIBITING OCCUPANTS FROM EXITING THE VEHICLE. *AK | 65.8%ODI 713795FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LATCH HAS BROKEN TWICE IN SAME DAY, GARAGE WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT FUNCTION FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, ONLY THE INSIDE. TODAY THE DRIVER'S DOOR LATCH ALSO BROKE WHEN OPENING IN PARKING LOT AND NOW WILL ONLY OPEN FROM INSIDE VEHICLE, LEAVING ME ACCESS ONLY THROUGH THE SIDE DOOR. THE ELECTRIC WIPERS AND WINDOWS HAVE REFUSED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO OPERATE WHEN RAINING, MAKING IT EITHER IMPOSSIBLE TO TRAVEL IN THE RAIN OR VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THERE WAS NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE ON. | 12.9%ODI 10187857 · 218,000 miI SMELLED SMOKE IN MY VEHICLE, SO I PULLED OVER. IT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE VENT. MY FRIEND THOUGHT IT WAS ELECTICAL, SO HE STARTED PULLING FUSES TO STOP THE PROBLEM. I DISCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE MOTOR THAT OPENED AND CLOSED THE AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER ON THE VAN. I TOLD MY FRIEND TO JUST GET OUT AND I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY, BUT BY THE TIME THEY HAD ARRIVED MY CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I AM THANKFUL THAT I DID NOT HAVE MY CHILDREN WITH ME AT THE TIME AS I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD HAVE GOTTEN THEM OUT IN TIM… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1998: 1 complaints · 1999: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Structure:Body:Door |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body:Door | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.