ChevroletLumina APV1996Overview/chevrolet/lumina-apv/1996/base/

1996 Chevrolet Lumina APV

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Lumina APV.

Body VAN

The 1996 Chevrolet Lumina APV is a minivan that takes 4.5 quarts of 10W-30 API oil, and its 46 owner complaints alongside 2 recalls — with visibility as the leading trouble area — slot it neatly into the middle of the model's documented 1990-1999 reliability record. Read against the lineup's 1990 high of 123 complaints and the 1997 low of just 1, the 1996 model year marks a transitional year where the platform's earlier visibility issues had eased considerably but had not yet bottomed out into the near-silent service years that followed. For a researcher, that positioning makes it a useful pivot point for tracing how the Lumina APV's complaint curve flattened across the decade.

Model year199619951994199319921991

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-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 a BCI 75 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

Battery groupBCI 75 · 525 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205/70R15;OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ, na, 6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731175 alt 19210286
Engine air filter19166106
Fuel filter25121293 discontinued
Spark plug19301813 alt 12562911
Front wiper blades15214346
Serpentine belt19244954 alt 24505203
Thermostat10226107 alt 24507563

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length191.3 in
Overall width74 in
Overall height65.7 in
Wheelbase109.8 in
Curb weight3426 lb
Track (front / rear)59.1 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 10W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)24X Sensor: 8 ft-lbs, 7X Sensor: 6 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)8 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)103 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)96 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts75 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts76 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts70 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub104 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub104 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5000-7000 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug TypeAC 41-940

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.25-3.00 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeGM part number 12345923 or equivalent.
Oil Capacity8.00-11.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance525 cca
Standard BCI Group Number78

Service checks

Pressure Test15; Do not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Pressure Test15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Pressure Test20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle38 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs / 81 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket148 ft-lbs / 20 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.003 in / 0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.039 in / 0.433 in / 1.276 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.039 in / 0.433 in / 1.276 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.987 in / 0.385 in / 1.224 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages
144 ft. lbs.44 ft. lbs
290

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 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 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate)
Every 15,000 miTiming Belt (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace)
At 60,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (replace) · Spark Plugs (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 1996 Lumina APV sits at the low‑point of the generation’s complaint curve, with only 46 complaints versus a high of 123 in 1990 and a steady rise through the mid‑1990s; recalls also dip to just two, matching the smallest recall counts after 1991. However, technical service bulletin (TSB) activity spikes sharply in 1996 to 49, the highest of the decade, indicating that while owners reported fewer problems, manufacturers were addressing many issues behind the scenes. The top complaint categories that year—Visibility (8), Seats (6), Service Brakes, Hydraulic (5), and Electrical System (4)—are modest in absolute terms, and the data show only two crash‑related and four fire‑related complaints, with no root causes specified. Compared with the preceding years, the reduction in complaints and recalls suggests an improvement in overall reliability, but the surge in TSBs warns that latent defects required attention. **Takeaway:** 1996 appears to be a relatively strong year to buy, provided you verify that any TSB‑related repairs were completed on the specific vehicle.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
49
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
46
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 4 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 46 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Visibility8
Seats6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic5
Electrical System4
Engine & Engine Cooling4
Structure3
Power Train3
Steering2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

07E021000Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly:Pressure Relief DevicesReported 12/03/2007

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE… Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

02V286000Steering:Rack And PinionReported 04/11/2002

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 49 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
17-NA-0732023-02-21EquipmentThis warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
PIP4723F2022-01-14Service Brakes, HydraulicThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D2020-01-31Electrical SystemThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
19NA2732019-12-02Electrical SystemThis informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to…
PIC4696E2019-11-22EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…

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 1996 Lumina APV take?

4.5 qt of 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1996 Lumina APV have open recalls?

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