Chevrolet Silverado · model year

1988 Chevrolet Silverado

18 NHTSA complaints. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

Complaints
18
Recalls
0

The verdict

The 1988 Chevrolet Silverado posts top-quartile complaint standing among its own model-year siblings.

Top 20%
fewest complaints, own model years
0
recall campaigns

The 1988 Chevrolet Silverado carries 18 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1988 Silverado is unknown or other with 3 filings, followed by electrical system:wiring:front underhood (2) and power train:automatic transmission (2). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1988 Silverado, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

18
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
1988 Chevrolet Silverado

PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.

NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.

Total Complaints

18 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

Component Count
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD 2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY 2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT 2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR 1
SEATS 1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER 1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM 1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR 1

Recent Complaints

20020521 TIRES:TREAD/BELT

THE TIRES WERE PUCHASED 04/03/01 AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES OF USE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE SEPARATED TREAD TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 20/59. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY INVOLVED.*AK

20011210 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

"WHAT IS THE LATEST ON THIS ISSUE?"NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

20010626 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

ON APRIL 17TH, 2001,I PURCHASED A 1989 CHEVY GMC FOR $4,200 AFTER LEAVING A $100 CASH DEPOSIT THE DAY BEFORE. I PAID $3,000 CASH AND $1,129 IN A CHECK. I DROVE THAT TRUCK FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS. I KEPT HEARING A RATTLE. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRUCK WAS GOING TO THROW A ROD. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD DREW THE SITUATION. HE SAID HE WAS GLAD I CAME AND TALKED DIRECTLY TO HIM. I SAW THIS 1988 CHEVROLET SILVERADO ON HIS LOT. I TRADED THE CHEVY GMC FOR THE SILVERADO FOR AND ADDITIONAL $1,600 AND PAID THE DIFFERENCE. THIS WAS ON MAY 14, 2001. ON MAY 15TH, WHEN I DROVE MY 'NEW' TRUCK TO A FRIENDS' HOUSE, WE NOTICED A LEAK. WHEN WE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, WE FOUND THE TRUCK LEAKED ANTIFREEZE. I TEMPORARILY STOPPED THE LEAK AND CONTACTED THE DEALER ON THE 16TH. HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE TRUCK IN. WHEN I GOT THE TRUCK TO HIS LOT, HE TOLD ME T TAKE THE TRUCK TO HIS MECHANIC. I TOLD HIM I WOULD NOT TAKE IT THERE; HE HAD TO DO IT. HE DID SO AND HIS MECHANIC REPAIRED IT IN

20010626 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ON APRIL 17TH, 2001,I PURCHASED A 1989 CHEVY GMC FOR $4,200 AFTER LEAVING A $100 CASH DEPOSIT THE DAY BEFORE. I PAID $3,000 CASH AND $1,129 IN A CHECK. I DROVE THAT TRUCK FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS. I KEPT HEARING A RATTLE. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRUCK WAS GOING TO THROW A ROD. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD DREW THE SITUATION. HE SAID HE WAS GLAD I CAME AND TALKED DIRECTLY TO HIM. I SAW THIS 1988 CHEVROLET SILVERADO ON HIS LOT. I TRADED THE CHEVY GMC FOR THE SILVERADO FOR AND ADDITIONAL $1,600 AND PAID THE DIFFERENCE. THIS WAS ON MAY 14, 2001. ON MAY 15TH, WHEN I DROVE MY 'NEW' TRUCK TO A FRIENDS' HOUSE, WE NOTICED A LEAK. WHEN WE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, WE FOUND THE TRUCK LEAKED ANTIFREEZE. I TEMPORARILY STOPPED THE LEAK AND CONTACTED THE DEALER ON THE 16TH. HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE TRUCK IN. WHEN I GOT THE TRUCK TO HIS LOT, HE TOLD ME T TAKE THE TRUCK TO HIS MECHANIC. I TOLD HIM I WOULD NOT TAKE IT THERE; HE HAD TO DO IT. HE DID SO AND HIS MECHANIC REPAIRED IT IN

20001219 TIRES:TREAD/BELT

CONTINENTAL GENERAL AMER GHS TIRE (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND TO THE TRUCK BED, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAULTY TIRE. *SLC

20000920 UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE ORIGINAL PAINT HAS PEELED OFF IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS, THE HOOD, BOTH DOORS AND THE ROOF. IT APPEARS TO BE BUBBLING AND FLAKING OFF TO EXPOSE THE PRIMER.

20000824 Fire ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, ANOTHER DRIVER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER CONSUMER'S CAR, CONSUMER GOT OUT AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP, AND A MECHANIC SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE.*AK

20000405 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELLING 55MPH VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT, ENGINE REVVED, AND TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. CONTACTED DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP. *AK

20000405 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELLING 55MPH VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT, ENGINE REVVED, AND TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. CONTACTED DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP. *AK

20000223 SEATS

BOTH SEAT RAILS ARE EXPERIENCING CRACKING. ONE SIDE ALREADY BROKE, AND THE OTHER SIDE IS CRACKING. ALSO, WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED IT CAUSES THE SEAT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

20000223 SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

BOTH SEAT RAILS ARE EXPERIENCING CRACKING. ONE SIDE ALREADY BROKE, AND THE OTHER SIDE IS CRACKING. ALSO, WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED IT CAUSES THE SEAT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

20000103 UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY PICKUP HAS BEEN CONSISTANTLY PEELING FROM PRIMER ON MY DOOR MY HOOD AND ON MY ROOF MY TRUCK IS 2 TONE BLACK ON GOLD THE BLACK IS CHIPPING THE WORST BUT NOW MY GOLD IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME. NO SAFETY DEFECT INDICATED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

19990528 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ONGOING/ INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD TURN OFF BY THEMSELVES WHILE RUNNING, CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO BUMP MOTOR TO GET THE WIPERS STARTED AGAIN. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THATVEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN #. *AK

19990311 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

LEFT TANK ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAS RUSTED OUT AND FORMED A HOLE ON TOP OF TANK, WHERE ELECTRICAL WIRES ARE LOCATED. COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF SPARKS ARE EXPOSED. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. REPAIRWORK DONE AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *AK *ML

19990309 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWO TIMES.

19981104 Fire ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AREA. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK WAS BURNED.THE TRUCK WAS TOTALLED. OWNER NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK

19980313 UNKNOWN OR OTHER

UNSPECIFIED.

19980205 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED SEVERAL TIMES ,PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR.

Compare 1988 Chevrolet Silverado to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1988 Chevrolet Silverado have?▼
The 1988 Chevrolet Silverado has 18 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 Chevrolet Silverado?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 Chevrolet Silverado is UNKNOWN OR OTHER with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1988 Chevrolet Silverado safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Data vintage: August 2026. 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.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1988 Chevrolet Silverado; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.