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1988 problems

FaultScore report

1988 Chevrolet Corvette problems

Owners have filed 26 complaints about the 1988 Chevrolet Corvette with NHTSA between 1996 and 2023. The largest single group is the seat belts.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Chevrolet Corvette

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Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

Complaints

Crashes reported

Fires reported

Injuries reported

73,186 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

20%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

How 1988 compares with every other Chevrolet Corvette

Click any bar to open that year's report.

1 1 1 6 1 2 1 13 3 11 16 16 16 25 26 15 41 28 8 26 38 48 63 196 466 389 359 281 191 127 257 718 441 434 625 178 90 99 71 94 79 72 114 272 53 151 43 15 23 36 32 12

60 64 66 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1988 Chevrolet Corvette

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Seat Belts 8 30.8%

Median failure at 59,000 miles

Electrical System 4 15.4%

Brakes 3 11.5%

Median failure at 85,372 miles

Equipment & Accessories 2 7.7%

Median failure at 85,372 miles

Seats 2 7.7%

Median failure at 85,372 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 7.7%

Median failure at 85,372 miles

Lights 1 3.8%

Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 3.8%

Suspension 1 3.8%

Median failure at 55,000 miles

Steering 1 3.8%

Median failure at 20,235 miles

Engine & Cooling 1 3.8%

Median failure at 85,372 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

1,000 – 9,999 miles 1 10.0%

10,000 – 24,999 miles 1 10.0%

50,000 – 74,999 miles 3 30.0%

75,000 – 99,999 miles 5 50.0%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Sep 1996 peak 5 Nov 2023

NHTSA investigations into the 1988 Chevrolet Corvette

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

DP96006 Opened 14 May 1996 Closed 18 Oct 1996 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKE PULL

THE PETITIONS STATED THAT:WE REPRESENT THE OWNER OF A 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE WHICH, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, SUDDENTLY, VIOLENTLY, AND UNEXPECTEDLY PULLS TO THE LEFT.THIS IS A INTERMITTENT DEFECT WHICH DOES NOT OCCUR WITH AN REGULARITY.

EA92005 Opened 30 Jan 1992 Closed 29 Jan 1993 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

THROTTLE STICKING

PE90032 Opened 12 Jan 1990 Closed 22 Mar 1990 SUSPENSION

TIE ROD SOCKET FAILURE

Recalls on the 1988 Chevrolet Corvette

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

07E088000 24 Oct 2007

EQUIPMENT

CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.

Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

06E043000 19 May 2006

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

91V143000 4 Sep 1991

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATIONS AND OCCUPANT USAGE CONDITIONS, THE SAFETY BELTS CAN LOCKUP OR JAM IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR.

Risk: IF LOCKUP OCCURS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL BELT OUT OFTHE RETRACTOR. THE OCCUPANT OF A SEAT WITH AN UNUSABLE SAFETY BELT ISSUBJECT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT.

90V032000 12 Feb 1990

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY

REAR WHEEL TIE ROD ASSEMBLY MAY FATIGUE AND COULD FRACTURE AT THE INBOARD BEARING DUE TO HIGH INNER JOINT ROCKING TORQUE.

Risk: FRACTURE IN THIS ASSEMBLY COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

88V017000 9 Feb 1988

WHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER

MISSING WELD THAT ATTACHES WHEEL CENTER TO THE RIM COULD ALLOW WHEEL CENTER TO SEPARATE FROM THE RIM.

Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN PARTIAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROLAND BRAKES, LOSS OF TIRE AIR PRESSURE, AND SUDDEN CHANGE IN VEHICLE DIRECTION,WHICH COULD RESULT IN CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1993075 28 May 1993 2,478 units in Canada

Emissions

THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1105 - EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS. TWO (2) SUSPECT EVAPORATIVE EMISSION HOSES MAY DETERIORATE, CRACK AND LEAK. CORRECTION: SUSPECT EVAPORATIVE EMISSION HOSES WILL BE REPLACED WITH IMPROVED HOSES WHICH WILL BE SECURED WITH HOSE CLAMPS.

Recall 1991126 11 Sep 1991 10,758 units in Canada

Seats And Restraints

NOTE: OWNER SELF INSPECTION - REPAIR ONLY IF PROBLEM OCCURS. THE SEAT BELT MAY LOCK-UP OR JAM IN THE RETRACTOR. IF THIS OCCURS, VEHICLE OCCUPANTS WILL BE UNABLE TO USE THE SEAT BELT. THUS, IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, UNBELTED OCCUPANTS WILL BE MORE AT RISK OF INJURY. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND ANY RETRACTOR SIDE BELTS LOCKING UP OR JAMMED WILL BE REPLACED.

Recall 1990020 8 Feb 1990 2,478 units in Canada

Suspension

THE REAR WHEEL TIE ROD ASSEMBLY MAY FATIGUE AND FRACTURE AT THE INBOARD BEARING DUE TO HIGH INNER-JOINT ROCKING TORQUE. A FRACTURE IN THIS ASSEMBLY COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING

Recall 1988017 9 Feb 1988 308 units in Canada

Suspension

ON VEHICLES WITH 17" WHEELS, THE WELD ATTACHING THE WHEEL CENTRE TO THE RIM MAY BE MISSING. DEPENDING ON CONDITIONS, THE WELD CENTRE COULD SEPARATE FROM THE RIM OR ROTATE WITHIN THE RIM. THIS COULD RESULT IN PARTIAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKES, LOSS OF TIRE AIR PRESSURE AND SUDDEN CHANGE IN VEHICLE DIRECTION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: WHEELS WILL BE INSPECTED AND THOSE WITH MISSING WELDS WILL BE REPLACED.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Filed 27 Nov 2023 The Colony, TX

SEAT BELTS

the seatbelts on my vehicle will not retract leaving the seatbelt loose on the occupants resulting a injuries if the vehicle were to be involved in a collision, I have contacted GM, they have refused to fix the vehicle due to its age.

NHTSA complaint #11556995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 25 Jul 2023 The Colony, TX

SEAT BELTS

the seat belts will not retract leaving the driver and passenger seat belts loose while wearing them, the vehicle has an open recall for this issue, I have contacted GM about the issue and they put me in touch with a dealer, after some back and forth for several months the dealer indicated that GM will not be fixing this issue as parts are no longer available through GM, I authorized them to use aftermarket parts to get the vehicle repaired, after several supposed attempts they claim they cannot get the correct parts and they stated they will not be doing the safety recall on my vehicle. I have done the research, parts are offered by many suppliers and are readily available. GM just doesn't want to step up and take responsibility because the vehicle is 35 years old

NHTSA complaint #11534381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 21 Jan 2023 The Colony, TX

SEAT BELTS

This vehicle is included in a seat belt recall, the seat belts do not retract. I have attempted to contact dealer for repairs, they stated they would have to do some research on the recall and get back to me. This has not happened, they vehicle is inoperable due to the faulty seat belts

NHTSA complaint #11502977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 7 Jun 2022 Syracuse, NY

SEAT BELTS

In June 2020 my mechanic ran a recall check while performing my inspection. It showed 2 outstanding recalls for left and right seat belt retractor failures. I called 3 local Chevy dealers to set up a repair, and no one wanted to touch the vehicle. They all said to call GM. For the next few months I went back and forth with GM to set up repairs. They set up a reference number-9-6244952226. In a nutshell, they finally advised that they only repair recalls for a certain amount of time and I was out of luck because they no longer had the equipment in stock for repairs. I questioned why not just remove the 1988 seat belt retractors and retrofit retractors from a later model. They did not see my reasoning. I did not pursue this in 2021 due to covid, but I am driving the vehicle now and would like to make it safe. Can you help me? The recall numbers are N910058 and N910059. Thank you.

NHTSA complaint #11468031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 16 Jul 2020 at 61,000 miles Lehi, UT

SEAT BELTS

CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ON THE OPEN SEAT BELT RECALL. THEY STATED THEY NO LONGER MAKE THE SEAT BELT AND I AM ON MY OWN TO FIX THE RECALL. SEAT BELTS ARE FAILING AS PER THE RECALL AND ARE NO LONGER SAFE TO OPERATE.

NHTSA complaint #11339800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 7 Mar 2020 at 59,000 miles Drums, PA

SEAT BELTS

SEATBELTS ARE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. PASSENGER SIDE IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT RELEASE. DRIVER SIDE WORKS BUT WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES THE BELT DID NOT LOCK.

NHTSA complaint #11316762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 24 Aug 2012 at 5,000 miles Palisades Park, NJ

SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND MADE AN ABRUPT STOP. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE PUSHED FORWARD AND WERE NOT HELD IN POSITION ON THE SEATS. NEITHER THE CONTACT NOR THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 91V143000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO REBUILT THE SEAT BELT AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE RECURRED HOWEVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT OR PROVIDE RESTRAINT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA complaint #10472354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 30 Jul 2010 at 55,000 miles Easton, PA

SUSPENSION:REAR

HELLO, MY CAR IS AN 88 CORVETTE. I BROUGHT IT OUT THIS WEEK TO GET IT INSPECTED. I HAS BEEN GARAGED ALL WINTER. BEFORE TAKING IT TO THE INSPECTION PLACE I TOOK IT FOR A SHORT RIDE. TAKING A SLIGHT CURVE I NOTICED IT SEEMED A FLAT TIRE. FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE A BROKEN REAR LEFT TIRE ROD BAR. COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT BROKE? AFTER CHECKING ON THE INTERNET I SEE THAT WAS A PROBLEM AND IN SOME CASES ACCIDENTS OCCURRED. I E-MAILED GM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE YET TO GET AN ANSWER BACK AND MY CAR IS STILL NOT USABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10346419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 30 Aug 2007 Washington, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

1988 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT MOTOR DUE TO A SHORTED WIRE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS ONLY SMOKE THAT EMITTED FROM THE SEAT, WHICH WAS PUT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT.

NHTSA complaint #10201488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 19 Aug 2005 at 20,235 miles Colchester, CT

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL 89C17 ON 08/05/2005 CONCERNING TIE ROD ASSEMBLY. AND GM WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITHIN 5 DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, BUT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT, AND GM SUPPORTED THE DEALERSHIP. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER ON 8-8-05. THEY WERE UNABLE TO REVIEW HIS CAR UNTIL 8-18-05. THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM UNTIL 8-30-05. THE RECALL CONCERNED A DEFECT IN THE REAR WHEEL TIRE ROD ASSEMBLY THAT MAY FATIGUE OR FRACTURE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL OR/AND CRASH. THIS HAPPENED ON 7-25-05, AND HE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND GM WERE TELLING HIM THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10133507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 31 May 2005 Milton, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DT: CONTACT STATES THERE WAS A MELT DOWN IN THE FUEL CELL. THERE IS A SWITCH THAT COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED BY THE LOCAL SERVICE DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #10122581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 6 Jan 2004 at 85,372 miles Castro Valley, CA

SEATS

PROBLEMS WITH OIL LEAKS, DRIVER SEAT WAS BROKEN AND ELECTRIC ANTENNA STOPPED WORKING.*MR THREE WEEKS AFTER HAVING PURCHASED THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AS WELL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $2500.00 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP DENIED HIM OF A WARRANTY AFTER BEING PROMISED ONE. THE CONSUMER STATED NO ONE INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED BRAKES, A NEW CLUTCH, VALVE COVERS, GASKETS, INTAKE GASKETS AND TRANSMISSION SEALS. *CB