30 of the
598 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Lumina APV
are about the doors, latches and locks —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1991.
I 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 TIME. MY THREE YEAR OLD WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE BUILT-IN CAR SEAT WHICH IS NEXT TO THE DOOR. THE FIRE HAPPENED SO FAST. I MIGHT ADD I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR OR AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER. MY CAR WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #10187857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: 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.
NHTSA complaint #10156611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: 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.
NHTSA complaint #10156611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE TAILGATE LOCK FAILED TO LOCK OR UNLOCK WHEN APPLIED. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK THE TAILGATE LOCK CYLINDER RETAINER CAME OFF WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOCK CYLINDER FALLING OUT OF THE TAILGATE.
NHTSA complaint #10090228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE 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 COMPLAINT I HAVE SUBMITTED IS THAT OF THE ENGINE'S "CHOKING OUT" OR A KIND OF "VAPOR LOCK" KIND OF PROBLEM. WHEN THE ENGINE GETS HOT, AND IT IS WARM OUTSIDE, I HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME RESTARTING THE ENGINE AND KEEPING IT RUNNING. IT IS LIKE IT DOESN'T GET ENOUGH GAS OR SOMETHING. IF I REV IT UP A LOT, IT EVENTUALLY MAY FALL INTO A SUITABLE IDLE, AND WILL OPERATE. BUT DURING THE REVVING PROCESS, IT CHOKES OUT. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT THIS SPRING I'VE NOTICED THAT IT IS MUCH WORSE. MECHANICS ARE BAFFLED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
NHTSA complaint #721288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO GET INSIDE OF VEHICLE THROUGH DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S DOORS. THE KEY WON'T UNLOCK DOORS, AND HANDLES WILL NOT WORK. WILL NEED TO GET INTO VEHICLE THROUGH THE SLIDING DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #858690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PASSENGER'S DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF THE INTERNAL DOOR LATCH WHICH IS TOO SHORT. IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN EVEN IF REPLACED WITH A NEW ROD/STICK.
NHTSA complaint #854582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE TRYING TO OPEN SLIDING DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. CONUSMER TRIED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, STILL DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFOMATON.
NHTSA complaint #855857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #854677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE HAVE HAD ALL THE DOOR HANDLES BREAK, CAUSING THE PASSENGERS TO BE UNABLE TO OPEN OR CLOSE THEIR DOORS. THE REAR BACK HATCH HAS BROKEN THREE TIMES AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $150 FOR EACH REPAIR. AFTER READING THE TOM AND RAY ARTICLE IN THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC ON JAN. 1, 2000, I BELEIVE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #716717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT 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.
NHTSA complaint #713795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NOTICED 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.
NHTSA complaint #849328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S DOOR LOCKS BROKE. ALSO, ABS BRAKING LIGHT STAYS ON, INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #839437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I 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 THE INTERSTATE WITH THE FACTORY INSTALLED CRUISE CONTROL SET, I NOTICED THE SPEED STARTED TO INCREASE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. I HAD TO USE THE BRAKES TO CONTROL THE SPEED AS I COULD NOT TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE SO I TURNED IT OFF AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED IN. THE DEALER SAID THE CRUISE HAD GONE BAD SO I HAD THEM DISCONNECT RATHER THAN PAY $600. TO REPLACE IT. IN THE LAST WEEK I HAVE HAD TWO OF THE SEATBELT RETRACTORS STOP WORKING (FRT PASSENGER AND 2ND ROW LEFT). WHEN I TOLD THE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY COULD REPLACE THEM FOR $400. I FELT COMPELLED TO REPORT THE PROBLEMS SPECIFICALLY THE CRUISE AND SEATBELTS AS THEY ARE SAFETY ISSUES AND THE CRUISE IS POTENTIALLY A HAZARD. THE SEATBELTS MAKE THE CAR LEGALLY UNABLE TO TRANSPORT PASSENGERS UNLESS I PAY $400. TO HAVE THEM FIXED. AND THERE ARE 5 MORE RETRACTORS THAT I SUSPECT MAY FOLLOW THE FIRST TWO. THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST.
NHTSA complaint #706768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #819778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #819778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WITH THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND REPAIRS WERE MADE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. CURRENTLY, PASSENGER DOOR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER CONTACTED AND WILL REMEDY PROBLEM AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #829761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.