Total Complaints
26 filings
CHEVROLET CORVETTE · model year
26 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988CHEVROLETCORVETTE carries 26 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1988 CORVETTE is seat belts with 7 filings, followed by electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator (2) and seats:front assembly:power adjust (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1988 CORVETTE, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
26 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL | 1 |
the seatbelts on my vehicle will not retract leaving the seatbelt loose on the occupants resulting a injuries if the vehicle were to be involved in a collision, I have contacted GM, they have refused to fix the vehicle due to its age.
the seat belts will not retract leaving the driver and passenger seat belts loose while wearing them, the vehicle has an open recall for this issue, I have contacted GM about the issue and they put me in touch with a dealer, after some back and forth for several months the dealer indicated that GM will not be fixing this issue as parts are no longer available through GM, I authorized them to use aftermarket parts to get the vehicle repaired, after several supposed attempts they claim they cannot get the correct parts and they stated they will not be doing the safety recall on my vehicle. I have done the research, parts are offered by many suppliers and are readily available. GM just doesn't want to step up and take responsibility because the vehicle is 35 years old
This vehicle is included in a seat belt recall, the seat belts do not retract. I have attempted to contact dealer for repairs, they stated they would have to do some research on the recall and get back to me. This has not happened, they vehicle is inoperable due to the faulty seat belts
In June 2020 my mechanic ran a recall check while performing my inspection. It showed 2 outstanding recalls for left and right seat belt retractor failures. I called 3 local Chevy dealers to set up a repair, and no one wanted to touch the vehicle. They all said to call GM. For the next few months I went back and forth with GM to set up repairs. They set up a reference number-9-6244952226. In a nutshell, they finally advised that they only repair recalls for a certain amount of time and I was out of luck because they no longer had the equipment in stock for repairs. I questioned why not just remove the 1988 seat belt retractors and retrofit retractors from a later model. They did not see my reasoning. I did not pursue this in 2021 due to covid, but I am driving the vehicle now and would like to make it safe. Can you help me? The recall numbers are N910058 and N910059. Thank you.
CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ON THE OPEN SEAT BELT RECALL. THEY STATED THEY NO LONGER MAKE THE SEAT BELT AND I AM ON MY OWN TO FIX THE RECALL. SEAT BELTS ARE FAILING AS PER THE RECALL AND ARE NO LONGER SAFE TO OPERATE.
Mileage: 61,000
SEATBELTS ARE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. PASSENGER SIDE IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT RELEASE. DRIVER SIDE WORKS BUT WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES THE BELT DID NOT LOCK.
Mileage: 59,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND MADE AN ABRUPT STOP. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE PUSHED FORWARD AND WERE NOT HELD IN POSITION ON THE SEATS. NEITHER THE CONTACT NOR THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 91V143000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO REBUILT THE SEAT BELT AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE RECURRED HOWEVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT OR PROVIDE RESTRAINT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
Mileage: 5,000
HELLO, MY CAR IS AN 88 CORVETTE. I BROUGHT IT OUT THIS WEEK TO GET IT INSPECTED. I HAS BEEN GARAGED ALL WINTER. BEFORE TAKING IT TO THE INSPECTION PLACE I TOOK IT FOR A SHORT RIDE. TAKING A SLIGHT CURVE I NOTICED IT SEEMED A FLAT TIRE. FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE A BROKEN REAR LEFT TIRE ROD BAR. COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT BROKE? AFTER CHECKING ON THE INTERNET I SEE THAT WAS A PROBLEM AND IN SOME CASES ACCIDENTS OCCURRED. I E-MAILED GM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE YET TO GET AN ANSWER BACK AND MY CAR IS STILL NOT USABLE. *TR
Mileage: 55,000
1988 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT MOTOR DUE TO A SHORTED WIRE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS ONLY SMOKE THAT EMITTED FROM THE SEAT, WHICH WAS PUT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL 89C17 ON 08/05/2005 CONCERNING TIE ROD ASSEMBLY. AND GM WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITHIN 5 DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, BUT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT, AND GM SUPPORTED THE DEALERSHIP. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER ON 8-8-05. THEY WERE UNABLE TO REVIEW HIS CAR UNTIL 8-18-05. THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM UNTIL 8-30-05. THE RECALL CONCERNED A DEFECT IN THE REAR WHEEL TIRE ROD ASSEMBLY THAT MAY FATIGUE OR FRACTURE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL OR/AND CRASH. THIS HAPPENED ON 7-25-05, AND HE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND GM WERE TELLING HIM THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. *AK
Mileage: 20,235
DT: CONTACT STATES THERE WAS A MELT DOWN IN THE FUEL CELL. THERE IS A SWITCH THAT COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED BY THE LOCAL SERVICE DEALER. *AK
PROBLEMS WITH OIL LEAKS, DRIVER SEAT WAS BROKEN AND ELECTRIC ANTENNA STOPPED WORKING.*MR THREE WEEKS AFTER HAVING PURCHASED THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AS WELL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $2500.00 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP DENIED HIM OF A WARRANTY AFTER BEING PROMISED ONE. THE CONSUMER STATED NO ONE INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED BRAKES, A NEW CLUTCH, VALVE COVERS, GASKETS, INTAKE GASKETS AND TRANSMISSION SEALS. *CB *JB
Mileage: 85,372
PROBLEMS WITH OIL LEAKS, DRIVER SEAT WAS BROKEN AND ELECTRIC ANTENNA STOPPED WORKING.*MR THREE WEEKS AFTER HAVING PURCHASED THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AS WELL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $2500.00 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP DENIED HIM OF A WARRANTY AFTER BEING PROMISED ONE. THE CONSUMER STATED NO ONE INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED BRAKES, A NEW CLUTCH, VALVE COVERS, GASKETS, INTAKE GASKETS AND TRANSMISSION SEALS. *CB *JB
Mileage: 85,372
PROBLEMS WITH OIL LEAKS, DRIVER SEAT WAS BROKEN AND ELECTRIC ANTENNA STOPPED WORKING.*MR THREE WEEKS AFTER HAVING PURCHASED THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AS WELL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $2500.00 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP DENIED HIM OF A WARRANTY AFTER BEING PROMISED ONE. THE CONSUMER STATED NO ONE INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED BRAKES, A NEW CLUTCH, VALVE COVERS, GASKETS, INTAKE GASKETS AND TRANSMISSION SEALS. *CB *JB
Mileage: 85,372
PROBLEMS WITH OIL LEAKS, DRIVER SEAT WAS BROKEN AND ELECTRIC ANTENNA STOPPED WORKING.*MR THREE WEEKS AFTER HAVING PURCHASED THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AS WELL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $2500.00 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP DENIED HIM OF A WARRANTY AFTER BEING PROMISED ONE. THE CONSUMER STATED NO ONE INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED BRAKES, A NEW CLUTCH, VALVE COVERS, GASKETS, INTAKE GASKETS AND TRANSMISSION SEALS. *CB *JB
Mileage: 85,372
PROBLEMS WITH OIL LEAKS, DRIVER SEAT WAS BROKEN AND ELECTRIC ANTENNA STOPPED WORKING.*MR THREE WEEKS AFTER HAVING PURCHASED THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AS WELL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $2500.00 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP DENIED HIM OF A WARRANTY AFTER BEING PROMISED ONE. THE CONSUMER STATED NO ONE INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED BRAKES, A NEW CLUTCH, VALVE COVERS, GASKETS, INTAKE GASKETS AND TRANSMISSION SEALS. *CB *JB
Mileage: 85,372
THE PLUG ON THE HEAD LIGHT COVER THAT HIDES THE AJUSTMENT SCREW KEPT FALLING OUT. *MJS
THE SEAT BELT WAS GETTING CAUGHT IN THE RETRACTOR, CONSUMER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT AND THE PROBLEM STARTED TO HAPPEN AGAIN. *MJS
NO SUMMARY
NO SUMMARY
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.