1988 Chevrolet Corvette

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

16Owner complaints

Model-year median: 29

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1988 Chevrolet Corvette

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 16 owner complaints · 3 recall campaigns · 3 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Seat Belts: 8 reports
Electrical System: 4 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3 reports
Equipment: 2 reports
Power Train: 2 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all Corvette years →

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

What owners reported most

Seat Belts

8 Electrical System

4 Service Brakes, Hydraulic

3 Equipment

2 Power Train

All reported categories

Seats

2 Engine And Engine Cooling

1 Exterior Lighting

1 Steering

1 Suspension

1 Vehicle Speed Control

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: 6 of 16 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.

Seat Belts. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 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 reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

3 reports

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85,372 miles · Dec 10, 2003

Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train

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…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10051889

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 1999

Electrical SystemEquipmentPower Train

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #714589

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 1997

Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

ALTERNATOR FAILED REPEATEDLY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL/LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. ALSO, ABS BRAKES FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #514193

Recall campaigns

91V143000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Sep 4, 1991

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

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE LOCKUP OCCURS.

90V032000 · Suspension:rear:springs:leaf Spring Assembly

Feb 12, 1990

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

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: REPLACE FAULTY TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES.

88V017000 · Wheels:hubcap/cover

Feb 9, 1988

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

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: REPLACE WHEELS WITH MISSING WELDS.

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

Defect investigations

DP96006 · Brake Pull

Opened May 14, 1996 · Closed Oct 18, 1996

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

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 · Throttle Sticking

Opened Jan 30, 1992 · Closed Jan 29, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE90032 · Tie Rod Socket Failure

Opened Jan 12, 1990 · Closed Mar 22, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.