IllustrationFAILURE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT, THE SHOULDER BELT IS LOCKED IN PLACE. *AK
1988 Pontiac Lemans
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Lemans years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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
Seat Belts complaints
7 reportsTHE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR STOPPED WORKING (FAILED) . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
THE SEAT BELT COME OUT OF BUCKLE WHEN CONSUMER WAS IN ACCIDENT. TT CONSUMER STATES SHE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH AND A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF HER VEHICLE ON IMPACT AND SEAT BELT CAME OPEN, AND CONSUMER AND CONSUMER WENT INTO CONSOLE, WAS THORWN AROUND IN VEHICLE, DAMAGE WAS FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, HOOD, AND RIGHT FEN…
Read full complaint
THE SEAT BELT COME OUT OF BUCKLE WHEN CONSUMER WAS IN ACCIDENT. TT CONSUMER STATES SHE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH AND A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF HER VEHICLE ON IMPACT AND SEAT BELT CAME OPEN, AND CONSUMER AND CONSUMER WENT INTO CONSOLE, WAS THORWN AROUND IN VEHICLE, DAMAGE WAS FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, HOOD, AND RIGHT FENDER, CONSUMER ALSO SUFFERED INJURIES.*JB
SEAT BELT FAILURE, SHOULDER BELT DID NOT KEEP DRIVER FROM HITTING WINDSHIELD. TT
VEHICLES FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT IT IS JAMMED IN ONE POSITION. TT
CONSUMER WAS LOCK IN SEAT BELT TRY TO RELEASE THE BELT TO GET OUT COULDN'T RELEASE BELT THIS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT. TT
A/C FAILURE.
Official recalls
393V154000 · 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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
2PE91101 · 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.===