Total Complaints
4 filings
PONTIAC SUNBIRD · model year
1988 PONTIAC SUNBIRD
4 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988PONTIACSUNBIRD carries 4 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 SUNBIRD is engine and engine cooling:engine with 1 filings, followed by steering:hydraulic power assist system (1) and electrical system:wiring (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 17 investigation files overlapping the 1988 SUNBIRD. 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.
4
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20001025TIRES
THE TIRE WAS PUT ON AT FIRESTONE IN MAY OF THE SAME YEAR (NEW), AND IT BLEW OUT MY FRONT FENDER AND CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I PAYED FOR A NEW TIRE BECAUSE FIRESTONE WOULD NOT TAKE CARE OF THAT.*AK (DOT NUMBER: NONE TIRESIZE: P21560R-14)
19970514ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WIRING IN THE FUEL TANK SHORTED OUT, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SPARK. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT NO WARNING. DEALER REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
19960628STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING FAILS OCCASIONALLY. *DH
19950628ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET, CAUSING SMOKE TO ENTE RINTO VEHICLE. *AK
Compare 1988PONTIACSUNBIRD to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 PONTIAC SUNBIRD have?▼
The 1988 PONTIAC SUNBIRD has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 PONTIAC SUNBIRD?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 PONTIAC SUNBIRD is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING.
Is the 1988 PONTIAC SUNBIRD 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.
Vehicle Safety Guides
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.