Engine
3.1L 6-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 69 of 99 complaints with a usable failure date.
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Body & structure
39 complaint records1 crash report
"RIGHT STEERING CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM SUBFRAME DUE TO CORROSIVE SUBFRAME CAUSED BY AIR CONDITIONER DISCHARGE. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse body & structure parts in the directory →
Seats
15 complaint records3 crash reports
"BOLT ON THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE SEAT BACK UP RIGHT BROKE; WITH NO SEAT BACK, VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN WITHOUT POSSIBLY CAUSING ACCIDENT. TT..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse seats parts in the directory →
Steering
13 complaint records1 crash report
"THE POWER STEERING IS BEING AFFECTED BECAUSE OF HEAT. IT CAUSES THE FLUID NOT TO GET TO THE SYSTEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse steering parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| RQ99002 opened Mar 1999 | OPEN | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATION - led to recall 97V058000 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... |
| RQ97017 opened Oct 1997 | OPEN | Structure | CRADLE BOLT FAILURES - led to recall 97V058000 There is no summary currently available |
| EA00011 opened Apr 2000 | closed Jan 2001 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATION - led to recall 00V189000 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 |
| EA97019 opened Sep 1997 | closed Jun 1999 | Seats | FRONT SEAT BACK COLLAPSE - led to recall 99I003000 ALLEGED FRONT SEAT BACK COLLAPSE DUE TO RECLINER BOLT |
| PE97016 opened Apr 1997 | closed Sep 1997 | Seats | FRONT SEAT BACK COLLAPSE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ALLEGED TO EXPERIENCE INADVERTENT FRONT SEAT BACK COLLAPSE DUE TO FRACTURE OF FRONT SEAT RECLINER MOUNTING BOLTS. |
Show 3 more closed investigations
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE96065 opened Nov 1996 | closed Apr 1997 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ALLEGED ENGINE SUBFRAME MOUNT/INSULATOR - led to recall 97V058000 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 opened Sep 1993 | closed Feb 1994 | Suspension | WHEEL FAILURES - led to recall 94V041001 There is no summary currently available |
| EA92035 opened Oct 1992 | closed Nov 1993 | Vehicle Speed Control | APV FUEL LINE FIRES There is no summary currently available |
Recall campaigns
Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97V058000 | Structure | 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,... | Normally free |
| 91V046000 | Seat Belts | A RIGHT HAND SEAT/SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THE SECOND ROW LEFT HAND SEAT POSITION (DIRECTLY BEHIND DRIVER). | Normally free |
| 89V164000 | Seats | THE REAR MODULAR SEAT FRAME HOLD-DOWN HOOKS MAY NOT MEET THE REQUIRED PULL FORCE AT THE REAR SET ANCHORAGE. | Normally free |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001028 2001-02-08 | Suspension | 81,828 | Vehicles located in the high corrosion provinces east of the Manitoba/Ontario border. Certain vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the frame/cradle retainer bolts pull through the retainers due to corrosion of the retainer. |
| 2000080 2000-03-21 | Accessories | 200,580 | On certain vehicles operated in areas of high salt use, the spare tire hoist cable may corrode and eventually break. This would allow the spare tire to fall off the vehicle possibly resulting in a road hazard for other vehicles. |
| 2000052 2000-03-06 | Steering | 13,717 | On certain vehicles located in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, extreme levels of moisture and salt can result in corrosion at or near the engine cradle mounts resulting in possible failure of the mounts. |
| 1997094 1997-05-07 | Steering | 10,255 | THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING SHAFT MAY... |
| 1997028 1997-02-12 | Seats And Restraints | 15,561 | NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT BUCKET SEATS AND RECLINER MECHANISMS. THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM LOWER BOLTS MAY LOOSEN, FATIGUE AND BREAK. |
Show 8 more Canadian recalls
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995100 1995-06-16 | Suspension | 1,193 | On certain vehicles, cracks may develop in the wheel mounting surface, and, should the cracks become severe enough, the wheel could completely separate from the vehicle. |
| 1995010 1995-01-31 | Steering | 82,835 | On certain vehicles, the rear engine cradle bolts may pull through due to corrosion of the retainers. If this should occur, the cradle would no longer be supported at these mounting locations and the steering shaft may separate from the... |
| 1994042 1994-03-01 | Suspension | 13,262 | On certain vehicles, the steel wheels may develop cracks in the wheel mounting surface and, should the cracks become severe enough, the wheel could completely separate from the vehicle. |
| 1991045 1991-03-13 | Seats And Restraints | 72 | THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 209 - SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES. RIGHT-HAND SEAT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR INSTALLED IN THE SECOND ROW LEFT-HAND SEAT POSITION. |
| 1991022 1991-02-12 | Seats And Restraints | 40,417 | On certain vehicles, the front shoulder seat belt webbing may separate at the seat belt upper guide loops (driver and/or passenger side). |
| 1990173 1990-11-06 | Lights And Instruments | 62,052 | THE BRAKE STOPLAMP SWITCH CONTACTS MAY EITHER NOT CLOSE OR NOT OPEN RESULTING IN TWO POSSIBLE SETS OF CONDITIONS. FIRST, IF THE SWITCH CONTACTS WILL NOT CLOSE, THE BRAKE STOPLAMPS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT ENGAGE. |
| 1990044 1990-03-15 | Seats And Restraints | 42,748 | Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 210 - Seatbelt Assembly Anchorages. Anchor bolt may pull through the upper anchorage plate. |
| 1989141 1989-10-03 | Seats And Restraints | 45 | THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 207- ANCHORAGE OF SEATS. REAR MODULAR SEAT FRAME HOLD DOWN HOOKS DO NOT MEET THE REQUIRED PULL FORCE AT THE REAR SEAT ANCHORAGE. |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 436303 Jan 1995 | Fuel System | FUEL TANK THUD/CLUNK. *TW | |
| 431051 Dec 1994 | Structure | SLIDING DOOR RATTLES. *TW | |
| 9319010 May 1993 | Structure | BINDING/STICKING OR HARD TO OPEN FUEL FILLER DOOR (NEW SPRING AND RELEASE CABLE). *TW |
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Walk the body slowly in daylight.Panel gaps, rust at the rockers and wheel arches, and cracked trim are this vehicle's structure complaints. Open and close the liftgate or trunk and look at the latch area.
- Run every power seat adjustment and check the seat frame.Motors that stall and seats that rock on their tracks are this vehicle's seat complaints.
- Drive one straight highway stretch and one slow parking lot.Wander or a shimmy over bumps at speed, and heavy or dropped assist at low speed, are the two faces of this vehicle's steering cluster. A clunk on turn-in points at the linkage.
- Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 3 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Chevrolet Lumina Apv →