ChevroletLumina APV1992Overview/chevrolet/lumina-apv/1992/base/

1992 Chevrolet Lumina APV

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Lumina APV.

The 1992 Chevrolet Lumina APV is defined by its 4‑quart oil capacity and 5W‑30 API viscosity for the engine. It accumulated 84 owner complaints, a figure that sits between the peak 123 complaints of the 1990 model year and the single complaint recorded in 1997, placing its reliability in the middle of the model’s 1990‑1999 history. Two recalls have been issued, with the most frequently cited problem area being service‑brake hydraulic components.

Model year199619951994199319921991

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12737090. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12737090 alt 25012305
Engine air filter19166103 alt 25043119
Fuel filter25121293 discontinued
Spark plug05614046 alt 5614197
Front wiper blades10093142
Serpentine belt10041195 alt 88986811
Thermostat10192505 alt 19435095

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length194.5 in
Overall width72 in
Overall height64.6 in
Wheelbase109.8 in
Curb weight3468 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Timing Belt (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miDistributor Cap (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect)
At 60,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Ignition Timing (inspect) · PCV System (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1992 Chevrolet Lumina APV sits amid a steep rise in complaints after a dip in 1991, with 84 complaints and 2 recalls that year, compared to 123 complaints in 1990 and 50 in 1991. The recall count stays low throughout the decade—only 2 recalls in 1992 versus 4 in 1990 and 1994—while investigations fall from 8 in 1990 to 4 in 1992. The trend of complaint severity peaks in 1994 and 1995 (89 and 111 complaints, respectively), then drops sharply to single digits by 1997. In 1992, the top complaint categories—Service Brakes, Hydraulic (27), Seat Belts (18), Seats (13), and Structure (6)—highlight specific concerns, and the vehicle records 7 crash complaints and 2 fire complaints. Given the higher complaint volume relative to 1991 and the still‑moderate recall activity, 1992 is a cautious but not prohibitive year to purchase, provided the buyer verifies that the identified brake, seat belt, and structural issues have been addressed.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
11
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
84
Owner complaints
7 involved a crash · 2 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 84 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic27
Seat Belts18
Seats13
Structure6
Electrical System4
Tires3
Fuel System, Gasoline3
Visibility3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

94V027000Seat Belts:Rear/OtherReported 04/01/1994

VEHICLE FAILS TO CONFORM TO FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE SAFETY BELT OF THE LEFT THIRD ROW SEAT ON THE SIX PASSENGER VAN AND THE CENTER SECOND ROW SEAT OF THE SEVEN PASSENGER VAN MAY LOCK UP AND CANNOT BE… Remedy: OWNERS ARE BEING ASKED TO INSPECT THEIR VEHICLES TO DETERMINE IF THE SUSPECT RETRACTOR EXHIBITS A LOCKUP CONDITION. BASED ON THIS INSPECTION, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS…

96V015000Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And LinesReported 23/01/1996

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 11 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
990730030A2001-04-01Power TrainOWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES…
9907300301999-12-01Power TrainSOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60 OR 4T60-E TRANSXALES MAY COMMENT ON A…
96067A1997-06-01Engine And Engine CoolingSPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT - LINEAR EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION SYSTEM. *TW
6663091997-04-01Fuel System, GasolineENGINE HARD TO START (REPLACE FUEL PUMP PULSATOR). *TW
577106A1997-02-01Power TrainCOLD START RATTLE NOISE (DIAGNOSIS/SERVICE PROCEDURE). *TW

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Lumina APV. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1992 Lumina APV take?

4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 Lumina APV have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.