Total Complaints
2 filings
STERLING 825SL · model year
1988 STERLING 825SL
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988STERLING825SL carries 2 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 825SL is seat belts with 1 filings, followed by visibility:windshield (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 1 investigation file overlapping the 1988 825SL. 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.
2
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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030716VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD SAFEVUE LAMINATED HPR DOT 122M 40 AS1 = THIS IS ON A 1988 STERLING (HAS BEEN REPLACED IN THE PAST). I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR WITH ONLY 69,000 MILES AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD BEEN GARAGED A LOT. THE LAMINATE HAS TURNED FOGGY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE OWNED AT LEAST 60 CARS SINCE 1951 AND NEVER HAD ONE TURN FOGGY LIKE THIS. IN SUNLIGHT IT LOOKS LIKE A 'DIRTY WINDSHIELD' BUT AT NIGHT IT GLARES AND LOOKS 'STEAMED UP'. I HAVE TRIED TO FIND A LOCAL DEALER. THIS IS A DANGEROUS WINDSHIELD!*AK
Mileage: 69,000
19970325SEAT BELTS
MOTORIZED SEAT BELT FAILED.
Compare 1988STERLING825SL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 STERLING 825SL have?▼
The 1988 STERLING 825SL has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 STERLING 825SL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 STERLING 825SL is SEAT BELTS with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD.
Is the 1988 STERLING 825SL 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.