ChevroletLumina1992Overview/chevrolet/lumina/1992/base/

1992 Chevrolet Lumina

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

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1992 Chevrolet Lumina is a passenger car that was equipped with an engine requiring a 4‑quart oil capacity and a 5W‑30 API viscosity rating. Its early‑generation reliability is reflected in 444 total owner complaints, with the most frequent issues centered on service brakes and hydraulic systems and four recall actions documented. Positioned within a model lineage that spanned 1990 to 2008, the 1992 version falls in a period that peaked at 584 complaints in 1995 before declining to just one complaint by 2008, indicating a gradual improvement in reliability over the vehicle’s life.

Model year200120001999199819971996199519941992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · 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 Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Lumina of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.1–9.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.10 sec — 1991 Z34 Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1991Z34 Coupe 3.4L V67.10 sec15.50 sec210 hpFWD
1990Euro Sedan 3.1L V69.80 sec17.90 sec140 hpFWD
1995LS Sedan 3.4L V68.40 sec16.30 sec160 hpFWD
1995Sedan 3.1L V69.50 sec17.00 sec160 hpFWD
1998LTZ Sedan 3.8L V67.60 sec15.80 sec200 hpFWD

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.

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

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; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 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 (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Timing Belt (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miTiming Belt (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 appears at the top of a downward trend in complaints and recalls that began in 1990, where complaints fell from 549 in 1990 to 444 in 1992 and then to 317 in 1993, while recalls dropped from nine to four. Investigations and TSBs also decreased from 18 to 4 and 12 to 18, respectively, indicating fewer serious safety investigations but an uptick in TSBs that year. Compared to 1991, the 1992 model had slightly fewer complaints (425 vs. 444) and a lower recall count (6 vs. 4), suggesting modest improvement. However, the 1992 year still reported 17 crash complaints and 13 fire complaints, with the most frequent issue being Service Brakes, Hydraulic (180 complaints). Given the relatively high brake‑related complaints and the decline in overall safety trends only beginning that year, a 1992 Lumina may not be the best choice; a later model year offers fewer complaints and a stronger safety record.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
18
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
444
Owner complaints
17 involved a crash · 13 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 444 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic180
Electrical System48
Engine & Engine Cooling34
Seat Belts33
Power Train21
Fuel System, Gasoline14
Wheels13
Structure12

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 18 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
018802004-01-01Power TrainNO TCC APPLY, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON, TCC SURGE, POSSIBLE P0740, P1870, OR…
990730030A2001-04-01Power TrainOWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES…
9909410042000-01-01Air BagsINFORMATION REGARDING SWITCHES TO TURN OFF AND ON FRONTAL AIR BAGS FOR PASSENGER CARS AND…
9909400042000-01-01SeatsGENERAL MOTORS BEGAN PROVIDING CHILD RESTRAIN SEAT TOP TETHER HARDWARE PACKAGES TO…
990866002A2000-01-01Latches/Locks/LinkagesTHIS BULLETIN INFORMS DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THE TRAP RESISTANT REAR COMPARTMENT (TRUNK) KIT…

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. 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 take?

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

Does the 1992 Lumina have open recalls?

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