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1988 Chevrolet Celebrity

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
39Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

5Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
15
198533
198644
198739
198839
19897
19901
1991
Compare all Celebrity years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Steering
11Electrical System
8Engine And Engine Cooling
8Seat Belts
6Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4
All reported categories
Exterior Lighting
2Power Train
2Tires
2Equipment
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Structure
1Suspension
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 39 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

6 reports
Clear category filter
75,000 miles · Feb 10, 2003
Seat Belts

1988 CHEVEROLET CELEBRITY. MANUFACRURER DOES NOT STOCK OR SELL REPLACEMENT SEAT BELTS OR PARTS. THE PART IS A PLASTIC CLIP THAT GOES OVER THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. PROBABLY A $1.00 PART. BUT THE LOCAL DEALER SAYS THAT THEY CANNOT PROVIDE THE CLIP OR THE BELT. AM I SUPPOSED TO THROW AWAY A CAR THAT IS OTHERWISE PERFECT?? IS NO…

Read full complaint

1988 CHEVEROLET CELEBRITY. MANUFACRURER DOES NOT STOCK OR SELL REPLACEMENT SEAT BELTS OR PARTS. THE PART IS A PLASTIC CLIP THAT GOES OVER THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. PROBABLY A $1.00 PART. BUT THE LOCAL DEALER SAYS THAT THEY CANNOT PROVIDE THE CLIP OR THE BELT. AM I SUPPOSED TO THROW AWAY A CAR THAT IS OTHERWISE PERFECT?? IS NOT THE MANUFACURER REQUIRED TO PROVIDE AVAILABILITY OF REPLACEMENT SAFETY PARTS? THERE ARE MILLIONS OF THESE GM CARS STILL ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #10005627

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 1998
Seat Belts

SEAT BELTS DO NOT HOLD CAR SEATS EFFICIENTLY, POOR STABILITY.

NHTSA ODI #532691

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 1996
Electrical SystemSeat BeltsSteering

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. *SD

NHTSA ODI #503965

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 1996
Seat Belts

THE PLASTIC COVERING AROUND THE SEATBELT RELEASE BOTTON HAS BROKEN OFF *AK

NHTSA ODI #979854

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 1996
Seat Belts

THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DON'T HOLD PASSENGERS FIRMLY, SEAT BELTS FEEL VERY LOOSE. TT

NHTSA ODI #978047

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 1995
Seat Belts

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS BROKEN. TT

NHTSA ODI #966294

Official recalls

2

88V048000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Apr 1, 1988

FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET COULD DEVELOP METAL CRACKS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE CRACKS MAY RESULT IN DISENGAGEMENT OF THE LOWERCONTROL ARM. IF THIS OCCURS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT COULD RESULT INLOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: INSPECT ALL VEHICLES AND REPLACE ENGINE CRADLE ASSEMBLY ON ALL SUSPECT VEHICLES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

5

PE94048 · SUB-FRAME Absorber Failure

Opened Jun 21, 1994 · Closed Dec 30, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

There is no summary currently available

PE91142 · Steering Wheel Separation

Opened Oct 25, 1991 · Closed Jan 22, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available

DP89012 · Steering Failure

Opened Jun 27, 1989 · Closed Oct 12, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other

STEERING FAILURE

PE89035 · Stop Lamps

Opened Jan 19, 1989 · Closed May 24, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

SUMMARY:A CHEVROLET SERVICE BULLETIN DATED JULY 1988 INDICATES THAT BOTHSOCKETS MUST BE REPLACED USING PART NUMBER 5972532.THIS SERVICE STOCKUSES A NEW HEAT RESISTANT MATERIAL.PRODUCTION STOCK WAS ALSO CORRECTEDBEGINNING WITH VINS J7163799 AND JJ187909.===

EA89010 · Brake Ineffectiveness

Opened Jan 17, 1989 · Closed May 8, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available