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1990 Chevrolet Lumina Recalls, Complaints & Specs

7 safety recalls list the 1990 Chevrolet Lumina, and owners have filed 427 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

7
safety recalls
427
owner complaints to NHTSA
24 / 8
complaints citing a crash / fire
20–21
MPG combined (EPA)

7 safety recalls for the 1990 Chevrolet Lumina

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Structure

    NHTSA 00V189000 Reported 713,435 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front and rear frame/cradle bolts and retainers.

  2. Structure

    NHTSA 97V058000 Reported 676,535 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear cradle bolts and retainers.

  3. Wheels

    NHTSA 95V115000 Reported 22,361 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface. If these cracks become severe enough, the wheel will completely separate from the vehicle.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the manufacturing date codes stamped on each wheel of the vehicle and if a wheel falls within the specified date code range, the dealer will replace that wheel assembly.

  4. Wheels

    NHTSA 94V041000 Reported 198,163 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface. If these cracks become severe enough, the wheel will completely separate from the vehicle.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the manufacturing codes stamped on each wheel of the vehicle and if a wheel falls within the specified date code range, the dealer will replace that wheel assembly.

  5. Seat belts

    NHTSA 91V005000 Reported 412,792 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Front shoulder safety belt webbing may separate at front belt upper guide loops on either side of the front seat.

    Remedy: Install a controlled rotation bracket on driver and passenger side front seat belt guide loops.

  6. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 90V185000 Reported 476,422 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Brake stoplamps may not illuminate or, in some cases, stoplamps will not stay illuminated all the time when brakes are applied due to a faulty stoplamp switch. Also in vehicles equipped with cruise control, a faulty stoplamp switch can result in resumption of the cruise control function upon release of the brake pedal.

    Remedy: Install an improved design stoplamp switch.

  7. Seat belts

    NHTSA 90V054000 Reported 673,000 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Front shoulder belt guide loop attachment fastener may pull through door mounted anchor plate.

    Remedy: Replace front shoulder belt guide loop attachment nuts and install new guide cover.

427 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1990 Chevrolet Lumina have filed 427 complaints with NHTSA; 24 describe a crash and 8 describe a fire. Reports cite 16 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 111,344 miles. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 167 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 chevrolet lumina. The contact stated that the floor panels on the front driver and passenger sides were exposed. Also, the front passenger side door failed to open on from”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 23, 2016 · Structure

“Dt*: the contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the car suddenly pulled to the right. When the contact regained control of the vehicle, the steering wheel was in the upside down position. The vehic”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 30, 2006 · Steering

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1990 Chevrolet Lumina. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined20–21 mpg
City / Highway17–18 / 24–27
FuelRegular
EPA classMidsize Cars
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.5/3.1 L
TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd; Automatic 4-spd

Compare Chevrolet Lumina model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet Lumina model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1987 Chevrolet Lumina01
1990 Chevrolet Lumina7427
1991 Chevrolet Lumina3352
1992 Chevrolet Lumina2342
1993 Chevrolet Lumina1243
1994 Chevrolet Lumina0126
1995 Chevrolet Lumina6492
1996 Chevrolet Lumina2245
1997 Chevrolet Lumina1347
1998 Chevrolet Lumina3223
1999 Chevrolet Lumina2103
2000 Chevrolet Lumina530
2001 Chevrolet Lumina321
2002 Chevrolet Lumina10
2008 Chevrolet Lumina01

Checking a specific 1990 Chevrolet Lumina

How do I know if my 1990 Chevrolet Lumina has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 1990 Chevrolet Lumina; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V189000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Chevrolet models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.