1988 Pontiac Grand Prix

▲ Better than typical
1988 Pontiac Grand Prix
RENDERED 2026-08-02T09:47:32.611Z

This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Pontiac Grand Prix Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1988 highlighted. 1980: 0 complaints 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1982: 0 complaints 1983: 2 complaints 1984: 3 complaints 1984 1985: 3 complaints 1986: 2 complaints 1987: 2 complaints 1988: 88 complaints 1988 1989: 139 complaints 1990: 176 complaints 1991: 172 complaints 1992: 114 complaints 1992 1993: 131 complaints 1994: 213 complaints 1995: 169 complaints 1996: 79 complaints 1996 1997: 810 complaints 1998: 499 complaints 1999: 412 complaints 2000: 461 complaints 2000 2001: 308 complaints 2002: 330 complaints 2003: 106 complaints 2004: 454 complaints 2004 2005: 148 complaints 2006: 239 complaints 2007: 220 complaints 2008: 142 complaints 2008
1988: 88 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19800
19810
19820
19832
19843
19853
19862
19872
198888
1989139
1990176
1991172
1992114
1993131
1994213
1995169
199679
1997810
1998499
1999412
2000461
2001308
2002330
2003106
2004454
2005148
2006239
2007220
2008142

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 24%

24% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 21 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

CALIPERS ARE SEIZING. TT

NHTSA ODI report, 19951204

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 17%

17% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 15 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

CORRODED REAR DISC CALIPER PINS PREVENTED THE CALIPERS FROM RELEASING, CAUSING BRAKE PADS TO OVERHEAT, ONCE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19950307

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 9%

9% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 8 distinct reports on file.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 8%

8% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 7 distinct reports on file.

STRUCTURE 6%

6% of complaints: structure — 5 distinct reports on file.

Show complaint excerpts

WHILE DRIVING CRADLE BOLTS BROKE, CAUSING ENGINE TO FALL, AND VEHICLE TO BREAK DOWN.*AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20020904

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 19880331 — wheels

WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED TO SPECIFICATIONS.

Remedy: INSPECTION OF VEHICLE AND ASSURE PROPER TORQUE REPLACES ANY MISSING LUG NUT OR LOOSE STUD.

Campaign 88V035000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19880415 — power train

AN INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE AND THE BELLCRANK CLIP IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAN RESULT IN DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION CABLE.

Remedy: A NEWLY DESIGNED BELLCRANK CLIP WILL BE INSTALLED.

Campaign 88V045000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19880422 — seat belts

THE FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHED TO THE UPPER REAR CORNER OF THE DOOR MAY INTERFERE WITH THE GARNISH MOLDING.

Remedy: A NEWLY DESIGNED GUIDE LOOP NUT AND SPACER WILL BE INSTALLED TO ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR INTERFERENCE CONDITIONS.

Campaign 88V049000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19880422 — latches/locks/linkages

THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE.

Remedy: REPLACE SECONDARY LATCH WITH A NEW LATCH.

Campaign 88V065000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19881122 — parking brake

THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE MAY BE DISCONNECTED FROM THE LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER.

Remedy: INSTALL A RETAINER ON LEFT REAR CALIPER IF CABLE IS NOT ALREADY RETAINED WITH A COTTER PIN AND ADJUST PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.

Campaign 88V175000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19890306 — C (closed 19900116)

THROTTLE NON-RETURN

I 19890721 — PE (closed 19890922)

PARKING BRAKE CABLE

I 19900611 — PE (closed 19901031)

FAILURE STOP LAMP SWITCH

R 19900723 — seat belts

FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT FASTENER MAY PULL THROUGH DOOR MOUNTED ANCHOR PLATE.

Remedy: REPLACE FRONT SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP ATTACHMENT NUTS AND INSTALL NEW GUIDE COVER.

Campaign 90V054000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19910501 — PE (closed 19910708)

STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION

I 19911001 — PE (closed 19911205)

W-CAR HINGE PIN FAILURE

I 19911126 — EA (closed 19920630)

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE

I 19920626 — EA (closed 19940131)

STICKING THROTTLE

R 19920911 — exterior lighting

BRAKE STOPLAMPS MAY NOT ILLUMINATE OR, IN SOME CASES, STOPLAMPS MAY NOT STAY ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED DUE TO A FAULTY STOPLAMP SWITCH. ALSO, IN VEHICLES WITH CRUISE CONTROL, A

Remedy: INSTALL AN IMPROVED DESIGN STOPLAMP SWITCH.

Campaign 92V086000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19940505 — wheels

CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.

Campaign 94V041000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19940812 — PE (closed 19941221)

CORRODED REAR DISK BRAKES

R 19950614 — wheels

CRACKS DEVELOP IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. IF THESE CRACKS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH, THE WHEEL WILL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MANUFACTURING DATE CODES STAMPED ON EACH WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE AND IF A WHEEL FALLS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED DATE CODE RANGE, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY.

Campaign 95V115000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19970611 — structure

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE,

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

Campaign 97V058000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19971002 — RQ (open)

CRADLE BOLT FAILURES

I 19990304 — RQ (open)

ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATION

R 20000928 — structure

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA,

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

Campaign 00V189000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20011128 — RP (closed 20020613)

STRUCTURE

R 20061018 — fuel system, gasoline

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURE

Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

Campaign 06E043000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1988 Pontiac Grand Prix — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (21 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (15 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (8 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 88V035000 (wheels) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 88V045000 (power train) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 88V049000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 88V065000 (latches/locks/linkages) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 88V175000 (parking brake) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 90V054000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 92V086000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 94V041000 (wheels) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 95V115000 (wheels) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 97V058000 (structure) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 00V189000 (structure) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E043000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1996 ▲ 2003 ▲ 1992

WORST YEARS

■ 1997 ■ 1998 ■ 2000

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix is rated "better than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix?

The most-reported component is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper, accounting for 24% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix have?

12 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.