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1988 Chevrolet Corvette

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
16Owner complaints

Model-year median: 29

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
16
198515
198621
198716
198815
198934
199024
1991
Compare all Corvette years →

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

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
8Electrical System
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Equipment
2Power Train
2
All reported categories
Seats
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Exterior Lighting
1Steering
1Suspension
1Vehicle Speed Control
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: 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

Steering complaints

1 reports
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20,235 miles · Aug 19, 2005
Steering

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…

Read full complaint

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. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10133507

Official recalls

3

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

3

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