ChevroletLumina APV1994Overview/chevrolet/lumina-apv/1994/base/

1994 Chevrolet Lumina APV

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 Lumina APV.

Body VAN

The 1994 Chevrolet Lumina APV, a VAN, is defined by a 4‑quart oil capacity and 5W‑30 API viscosity. Its mechanical profile is underscored by that 4‑quart oil capacity and 5W‑30 API rating, and it experienced four recalls with seat‑belt complaints as the top issue. Within the 1990‑1999 complaint history, the 1994 model records 89 total owner complaints, placing it well below the 123 complaints of the peak year 1990 yet above the single‑complaint low of 1997. Thus, the 1994 APV marks a notable improvement in reliability toward the later years of the generation.

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 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731175 alt 12737090
Engine air filter19166106 alt 25040929
Fuel filter25121293 discontinued
Spark plug19354418 alt 5614197
Front wiper blades10093142
Serpentine belt88986821 discontinued · alt 88986811
Thermostat24507563 alt 10130979

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length198.4 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height53.1 in
Wheelbase107.5 in
Curb weight3269 lb
Track (front / rear)59.4 / 57.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)64/36

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. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Engine Oil10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.0 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 30,000 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 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 60,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Ignition Timing (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.

In 1994 the Lumina APV saw 89 complaints and 4 recalls, a rise from 54 complaints and 3 recalls in 1993 but a decline from the 111 complaints and 3 recalls of 1995, placing it near the mid‑range of the decade’s trend. The investigation count dipped to 2 in 1994 from 4 in 1993, while the number of TSBS reports climbed to 32, matching the 32 TSBS incidents of 1995 and indicating persistent safety‑related issues. The most common complaint categories—Seat Belts (14), Service Brakes (12), Electrical System (9), and Power Train (7)—suggest that occupant protection and drivetrain reliability were the primary concerns that year, with 8 crash and 9 fire complaints underscoring ongoing safety risks. Compared to the sharp drop in complaints after 1995, 1994 sits at the high end of the generation’s complaint trajectory, implying that earlier and later years may have benefited from corrective actions that were not yet fully implemented. For a prospective buyer, 1994 represents a model year with noticeable safety and reliability issues; it would be prudent to seek a vehicle with a clean service record or to consider a later year when complaint counts and TSBS incidents had decreased significantly.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
32
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
89
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 9 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 89 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts14
Service Brakes, Hydraulic12
Electrical System9
Power Train7
Visibility6
Air Bags5
Structure4
Latches/Locks/Linkages4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

94V015000Seat Belts:Front:RetractorReported 21/01/1994

THE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS MAY BE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AND MAY LOCK-UP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON SLOPES OF LESS THAN 15 DEGREES, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS AND REINSTALL THEM PROPERLY.

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 32 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIC4696E2019-11-22EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
PIC4696D2019-09-05EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
PIC4696C2018-05-31EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
1300890092013-09-01Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
990730030A2001-04-01Power TrainOWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES…

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 1994 Lumina APV take?

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

Does the 1994 Lumina APV have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.