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

Suspension complaints

1 reports

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55,000 miles · Jul 30, 2010

Suspension

Read full complaint

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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346419

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.