1987 Chevrolet Lumina problems
The Chevrolet Lumina is a mid-size car that was produced and marketed by the Chevrolet division of General Motors from 1989 until 2001.
Background
The first generation of the Lumina replaced the Chevrolet Celebrity and Chevrolet Monte Carlo under a single nameplate; the mechanically unrelated Chevrolet Lumina APV minivan served as the successor for the Celebrity station wagon. The model line was based on the front-wheel-drive GM10 platform (later designated the GM W platform), shared with Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac. For 1995, the second-generation Lumina was introduced, serving as a substantial exterior revision of the previous generation (the two-door coupe was renamed the Monte Carlo). For the 2000 model year, the Lumina was replaced by the Chevrolet Impala; the model line would retain the W platform through the 2016 model year.
Throughout its production, both generations of the Lumina were produced by General Motors Canada at Oshawa Car Assembly (Oshawa, Ontario). For markets outside of North America, the Chevrolet Lumina was derived from other large GM sedans. From 1998 to 2013, the Lumina was marketed in the Middle East and South Africa as a Chevrolet-badged version of the Holden Commodore produced in Australia. From 2005 to 2006, GM Philippines sold the Lumina as a Chevrolet-badged version of the Buick Regal (sharing much of its body with its American counterpart).
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Common 1987 Chevrolet Lumina problems
The Chevrolet Lumina, introduced in 1990, was intended to replace the aging Chevrolet Celebrity. However, it faced several common problems that affected its performance and reputation among car owners.
- Styling and Design: The Lumina's styling was outdated, with long stretches of body extending beyond its wheels and an unflattering mix of curves and straight lines. The design was based on a blueprint that was seven years old at the time of the car's introduction.
- Interior Quality and Ergonomics: The Lumina's interior was criticized for being less ergonomic than competitors, with a dashboard that was horizontally-oriented and an oddly scooped-out instrument cluster. The seats were often described as too flat, firm, and unsupportive, and forward visibility was hindered by chunky A-pillars.
- Electrical Problems: Premature rust and electrical problems were common issues in the Lumina, particularly in the high-performance Z34 models. The Z34 was the toughest high-performance version of the Lumina to find in junkyards, with only two documented examples.
- Poor Cooling and Internal Electrical Connection Issues: The first generation of the Lumina, introduced in 1987, suffered from poor cooling and internal electrical connection issues, which affected its reliability and performance.
- Lack of Finesse and Competitiveness: Despite being a larger car than the Ford Taurus, the Lumina lacked the finesse and competitive edge of its rival. It was not able to topple the Taurus in sales, and its lack of refinement and quality contributed to Chevrolet's descent into the status of a "meh-mobile" in the 1990s.
In summary, the Chevrolet Lumina faced several common problems, including engine and transmission issues, outdated styling, poor interior quality and ergonomics, electrical problems, and a lack of finesse and competitiveness. These issues contributed to the car's poor reputation and sales performance, particularly when compared to competitors like the Ford Taurus.
Is a Chevy Lumina a good car?
With a competent car and a pricing structure that undercuts Ford and Chrysler, Chevy's Lumina offers a fine blend of function, value and performance. This is one GM product that was done right the first time, just like the new Malibu, which should be investigated closely by buyers interested in the Lumina.
How long can a Chevy Lumina last?
Most of the 1995's and up that I know of have well over 200,000 miles on and still very strong. I had 278,000 on mine when I sold it. It still ran perfect and everything still worked on the car. The only issue that I had was an intake gasket at 200,000.
Why did Chevy discontinue the Lumina?
In North America Chevrolet discontinued the Lumina in 2000 due to dwindling sales and the success of the reborn Impala. The Lumina nameplate was still used in some markets, in parts of Asia it was applied to the mid-sized Buick Century/Regal and a badge engineered version of the Holden Commodore sports sedan.
What engine is in a Lumina?
| Chevrolet Lumina APV | |
|---|---|
| Platform | GM U platform: GMT199 |
| Related | Oldsmobile Silhouette Pontiac Trans Sport |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.1 L LG6 V6 3.4 L LA1 V6 3.8 L L27 V6 |
Is a Chevy Lumina a good car?
With a competent car and a pricing structure that undercuts Ford and Chrysler, Chevy's Lumina offers a fine blend of function, value and performance. This is one GM product that was done right the first time, just like the new Malibu, which should be investigated closely by buyers interested in the Lumina.
How long can a Chevy Lumina last?
Most of the 1995's and up that I know of have well over 200,000 miles on and still very strong. I had 278,000 on mine when I sold it. It still ran perfect and everything still worked on the car. The only issue that I had was an intake gasket at 200,000.
What engine is in a Lumina?
| Chevrolet Lumina APV | |
|---|---|
| Platform | GM U platform: GMT199 |
| Related | Oldsmobile Silhouette Pontiac Trans Sport |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.1 L LG6 V6 3.4 L LA1 V6 3.8 L L27 V6 |
Why did Chevy discontinue the Lumina?
In North America Chevrolet discontinued the Lumina in 2000 due to dwindling sales and the success of the reborn Impala. The Lumina nameplate was still used in some markets, in parts of Asia it was applied to the mid-sized Buick Century/Regal and a badge engineered version of the Holden Commodore sports sedan.
1987 Chevrolet Lumina car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Chevrolet Lumina problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Steering problems
- Fuel system problems
- Gasoline problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1987 Chevrolet Lumina vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1987 Chevrolet Lumina complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1987 Chevrolet Lumina.
STEERING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-06-06
- VIN: 2G1WL52M0V9
- Components: STEERING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. INSPECTOR NOTICED COOLANT AND OIL LEAKING FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD. AND ALSO STEERING RACK STARTED TO LEAK FLUID.*AK
Other years of Chevrolet Lumina
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