1988 Pontiac Lemans

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 →

13Owner complaints

Model-year median: 0

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

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 Pontiac Lemans

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 13 owner complaints · 3 recall campaigns · 2 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: 7 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3 reports
Suspension: 3 reports
Engine And Engine Cooling: 2 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline: 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 Lemans years →

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

What owners reported most

Seat Belts

7 Service Brakes, Hydraulic

3 Suspension

3 Engine And Engine Cooling

2 Fuel System, Gasoline

All reported categories

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: 0 of 13 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 7 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 →
Suspension. 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.

2 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Power Train complaints

2 reports

Clear category filter

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 1995

EquipmentPower TrainSeat Belts

A/C FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #481913

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 1995

Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

TRANSAXLE FAILED, ALSO TRANSMISSION MOUNTS FAILED THREE TIMES, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. Z*SKD

NHTSA ODI #481095

Recall campaigns

93V154000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

Sep 21, 1993

THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES MAY NOT LATCH OR MAY NOT RELEASE DUE TO THE FRACTURE OF THE RED RELEASE PUSH BUTTON.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BUCKLE MALFUNCTION WOULD PREVENT THE USE OF THESAFETY BELT SYSTEM, PLACING THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT IN INCREASED RISK OF INJURYIN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE OR REPAIR THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLES.

88V163000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

Oct 18, 1988

SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY NOT PROPERLY LATCH ALLOWING THE LATCH PLATE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE BUCKLE WITHOUT PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR COLLISION, SEAT BELT COULDRELEASE, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: REPLACE SEAT BELT BUCKLES.

88V094000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap

Jun 14, 1988

FUEL FILLER NECK MAY HAVE BEEN INCOMPLETELY WELDED, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE NECK ASSEMBLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION IMPACT, FUEL SPILLAGE INEXCESS OF AMOUNT ALLOWED BY FMVSS 301 COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE FUEL FILLER NECK ASSEMBLY.

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

PE91101 · Front Brake Disc/hub Sep

Opened Jul 17, 1991 · Closed Nov 4, 1991

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

There is no summary currently available

PE89113 · Inadequate Brakes

Opened Apr 12, 1989 · Closed Nov 30, 1989

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

SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS REPORT LOW PEDAL AND FREQUENT REPAIR OF BRAKESSERVICE BULLETIN REPORTS MISADJUSTMENT MAY CAUSE INCREASED FRONT PAD WEAR.UNSATISIFACTORY STOPPING DISTANCE ALSO REPORTED IN COMPLAINTS.===

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