1995 Chevrolet Lumina APV 3.8L

Summary:

A Good Driver

Faults:

Continuous problems with check engine light, always originating back to the EGR valve. Replacement cost of the valve is approx. $125.00. Is easy to replace however. Cures the problem for about 15,000 miles.

Power window switch on drivers side, needed replacement.

With cold Northeast winters, the interior plastic parts, (especially the rear seat to floor trim) break easily.

Door handles love to break.

Had an oil leak from the engine, that nobody seemed to be able to fix. This started at about 60,000 miles. It appeared to be the oil pan gasket, changed it three times, still had leak. Rear hatch door constantly coated with oil. End result was loosing the engine, cause would frequently run low on oil. Found the timing cover gasket had a split in it, during the rebuild.

Rebuild parts are hard to find, for the 1995 3.8l engine. Previous years list much easier.

General Comments:

I loved the appearance of this van... It has a long swooping windshield, and cuts through the air effortlessly. In fact, I coasted to a gas station, after running out of gas, a distance any other car would not have made.

This cars engine and handling performance is superior for a family car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 12th February, 2003

1995 Chevrolet Lumina LS 3.1 V6

Summary:

Lemon alert!

Faults:

New engine due to gasket problem... oil leaking into engine at 46K ($3000).

New fuel pump/system 50K ($700).

New wiper pump 90K ($15.99 and we put it in ourselves).

New intake gasket due to oil leaking into engine 90K ($600).

New driver's and passenger door lock needed at 92K, because I couldn't even get the door to close tight! Had to rig it with a bungee cord to get it to the mechanic! ($124)

New head gasket now needed at 93K due to oil leaking into the engine (estimate is $800... I'm still deciding whether to scrap the car or get it fixed).

General Comments:

This car has caused me nothing but problems with the gaskets and oil leaking into the engine. You'd think that with all I've read, that GM would make a better engine. See below for other opinions.

http://www.epinions.com/auto-review-5CCA-B41173F-392334FB-prod5

http://www.epinions.com/content_62234201732

http://www.carsurvey.org/review_25235.html

http://www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_24542.html

http://www.carsurvey.org/review_16187.html

http://www.carsurvey.org/review_14763.html

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 10th January, 2003

8th Jul 2003, 14:31

My problem is the paint coming off. First about 90% of the hoods paint came off as I was driving down the road. I had the hood paint and primer removed down to bare metal. that was two years ago and the hood still looks great. How paint is peeling off two or three places. The worst place being a one foot by two foot place on the right rear panel. In time I'm sure the only paint remaining will by on the hood.

24th Aug 2004, 09:11

My problem is the paint coming off. First about 95% of the paint on the hood and trunk came off in sheets (literally)when my son washed my car. All that remained was the cars primer. Now paint is peeling off five or six other places. I've heard of other's with Lumina's having the same problem. Is Chevrolet standing behind their paint job? I know that this has to be a manufacturer problem when the pain comes off in sheets like this.

1995 Chevrolet Lumina APV Minivan 3.8

Summary:

The Chevrolet Lumina APV Minivan is nothing more than a lemon

Faults:

Oil Coolant went bad in the radiator which caused containments to enter the transmission.

Drivers side automatic window goes down, but will not go back up on most occasions.

Read door won't open most times.

Automatic locks work only half the time and when they do it takes several times trying before it will finally lock.

Passenger door will not open from outside.

CD player does not work properly, CD goes in and pops right back out. Trying to turn the power off on the system only kept the CD locked in the player. A brand new CD by the way.

Drivers side seatbelt will not retract which causes it to get stuck in the door every time you get out of vehicle.

Only half of the rear defogger lines work.

I have owned this vehicle for less than 6 weeks and already I have replaced the transmission (Cost $1,540.27), the radiator (Cost $500.85), the wiper blades (Cost $23.89), the drivers side mirror (Cost $43.48), and I have an appointment in 3 days to have the passenger side door fixed, the drivers side mirror replaced and the drivers side window repaired.

Seats are worn badly and the steering wheel has chunks missing from it.

General Comments:

By the way, I purchased an extended warranty from Penn Warranty Corporation for an additional $180.00 (7500 miles or 6 months) from the dealership and even though I have several letters from several transmission shops, the owner of the dealership and even their (Penn Warranty Corporation) own inspector said the transmission was bad and would be covered, it was not.

I did expect a "few" repairs would have to be taken care of, especially since it is a 1995 vehicle, but what I have spent in this short time I could have purchased perhaps something with not as many problems. I have read up now on these vehicles and learned what a lemon this particular Minivan is!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 14th December, 2002

26th Mar 2004, 13:47

I purchased a Lumina APV Van new with a 3.8 liter engine.

It s the finest vehicle I ever owned and I have owned quite a few in the last 5o years.

We drive it on long trips only. (from California to North Dakota). It has power, speed, and mileage.

I would not hesitate to buy it again if it were available.

Just remember. Any car you buy, should be new so that you can take proper care of it from the onset!