VehicleVerdict

1990 Chevrolet Lumina body & structure problems

The 1990 Chevrolet Lumina has 66 body & structure complaints filed with NHTSA — 11% of the year's total, and the first year with meaningful reports in this category.

66

Body & Structure complaints

11%

Share of year

4

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Body & Structure complaints by year

Lumina body & structure complaints by model year66 complaints1990: 66 complaints1991: 52 complaints1992: 16 complaints1993: 6 complaints1994: 14 complaints1995: 35 complaints1996: 9 complaints1997: 14 complaints1998: 10 complaints1999: 2 complaints2000: 1 complaints2001: 1 complaints
Lumina body & structure complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

00V189000Body & StructureJuly 11, 2000 · 713,435 units

Defect

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 COLUMBIA, WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HEAVY. A CONDITION WHERE ONE OR BOTH FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS CAN PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINERS.

Consequence

IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

97V058000Body & StructureApril 8, 1997 · 676,535 units

Defect

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 CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NOT LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.

Consequence

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

What owners report

THE REAR BRAKES ALWAYS FAILED ON THIS CAR. THE CALIPERS JUST STOPPED WORKING, THAT AND THE CRADLE BOLT FALLING OFF CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL IN A TURN AND SMACK A CURB WHICH RESULTED IN THE STRUT HOUSING BE BENT ALONG WITH THE RIM. *AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · May 15, 2000 · crash

Common questions

How many body & structure complaints does the 1990 Chevrolet Lumina have?

NHTSA has 66 complaints about the 1990 Chevrolet Lumina body & structure — 11% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1990 Chevrolet Lumina body & structure?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the body & structure: 00V189000, 97V058000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.