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1988 Pontiac Grand PrixProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 88 owner complaints about the 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 11 safety recalls.

71
CarFlaw IndexOne of the best years59% below the Grand Prix median · #21 of 21 years by complaints
Safety recalls11Free fix at dealersOwner complaints888 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem47Service brakes, hydraulic

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 17, 2016. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix has problems

88 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic472
Structure100
Electrical system82
Suspension60
Parking brake51
Engine and engine cooling40
Seats40
Steering40
Seat belts32
6 other systems81

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

11 recalls

1988 Pontiac Grand Prix recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Structure

Recall 00V-189 · Jul 11, 2000 · 713,435 vehicles

Risk. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Wheels

Recall 95V-115 · Jun 5, 1995 · 22,361 vehicles

Risk. IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Wheels

Recall 94V-041 · Mar 28, 1995 · 198,163 vehicles

Risk. IF WHEEL SEPARATION OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OCCURS, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 7 more recalls
–no report yet

Seat belts

Recall 90V-054 · Mar 14, 1990 · 673,000 vehicles

Risk. SEAT BELT MAY NOT SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, AND IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELT MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN A PASSENGER, RESULTING IN INCREASED…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Mechanical: linkage and cable

Recall 88V-175 · Nov 4, 1988 · 3,857 vehicles

Risk. PARKING BRAKE CANNOT BE PROPERLY APPLIED AND VEHICLEWILL NOT MEET THE GRADE HOLDING REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 105.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Manual transmission: column shift assembly

Recall 88V-045 · Mar 28, 1988 · 17,745 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION TO BE IN AGEAR OTHER THAN THAT DISPLAYED BY THE SHIFT INDICATOR.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Pontiac.

Best & worst years

1988 vs. every other Grand Prix year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Grand Prix median. How we score

'65'66'70'72'73'74'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
11 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix, and the recalls they led to.

  1. THROTTLE NON-RETURNC89001 · closed Jan 16, 1990
    No recall
  2. BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILUREEA91051 · closed Jun 30, 1992
    Led to recall 92V-086
  3. STICKING THROTTLEEA92024 · closed Jan 31, 1994
    No recall
  4. PARKING BRAKE CABLEPE89145 · closed Sep 22, 1989
    No recall
  5. FAILURE STOP LAMP SWITCHPE90088 · closed Oct 31, 1990
    Led to recall 90V-185
  6. STEERING WHEEL SEPARATIONPE91072 · closed Jul 8, 1991
    No recall
  7. W-CAR HINGE PIN FAILUREPE91133 · closed Dec 5, 1991
    No recall
  8. CORRODED REAR DISK BRAKESPE94063 · closed Dec 21, 1994
    No recall
  9. STRUCTURERP01001 · closed Jun 13, 2002
    Led to recall 00V-189
  10. CRADLE BOLT FAILURESRQ97017 · still open
    Led to recall 97V-058
  11. ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATIONRQ99002 · still open
    Led to recall 97V-058
In owners' words

What Grand Prix owners report

Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

THE REAR DISC BRAKES DO NOT HELP STOP THE CAR. THE CALIPER PINS DO NOT FLOW AND THE BRAKES DO NOT MAKE CONTACT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Complaint 981157 · Mar 25, 1996
FRONT PADS ARE WEARING BECAUSE REAR PADS DO NOT WORK. TT CONSUMER STATES BRAKING CAPICITY REDUCED DUE TO EXCESS FRICTION CAUSED BY REAR BRAKE CALIPERS NOT WORKING.*JB
Complaint 974218 · Oct 31, 1995
PULLED OFF LEFT REAR TIRE, NOTICED LEFT REAR DISC ROTOR WAS SITTING AT AN ANGLE, REAR CALIBERS FROZEN; BOTH FACES OF ROTORS RUSTED/CORRODED; BRAKE FAILURE. TT
Complaint 962092 · Mar 16, 1995

Own a 1988 Grand Prix?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.