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1988 Sterling 825SL

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
2Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
1988
Compare all 825SL years →

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

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
1Visibility
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: 1 of 2 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 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 1 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

What owners actually said

2 reports
69,000 miles · Jul 16, 2003
Visibility

WINDSHIELD SAFEVUE LAMINATED HPR DOT 122M 40 AS1 = THIS IS ON A 1988 STERLING (HAS BEEN REPLACED IN THE PAST). I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR WITH ONLY 69,000 MILES AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD BEEN GARAGED A LOT. THE LAMINATE HAS TURNED FOGGY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE OWNED AT LEAST 60 CARS SINCE 1951 AND NEVER…

Read full complaint

WINDSHIELD SAFEVUE LAMINATED HPR DOT 122M 40 AS1 = THIS IS ON A 1988 STERLING (HAS BEEN REPLACED IN THE PAST). I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR WITH ONLY 69,000 MILES AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD BEEN GARAGED A LOT. THE LAMINATE HAS TURNED FOGGY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE OWNED AT LEAST 60 CARS SINCE 1951 AND NEVER HAD ONE TURN FOGGY LIKE THIS. IN SUNLIGHT IT LOOKS LIKE A 'DIRTY WINDSHIELD' BUT AT NIGHT IT GLARES AND LOOKS 'STEAMED UP'. I HAVE TRIED TO FIND A LOCAL DEALER. THIS IS A DANGEROUS WINDSHIELD!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10028421

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 1997
Seat Belts

MOTORIZED SEAT BELT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #514279

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.