1988 Pontiac Lemans Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1988 Pontiac Lemans, and owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1988 Pontiac Lemans
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Buckle assembly (seat belts)
The safety belt buckle assemblies may not latch or may not release due to the fracture of the red release push button.
Remedy: Replace or repair the safety belt buckles.
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Buckle assembly (seat belts)
Seat belt buckles may not properly latch allowing the latch plate to be removed from the buckle without pressing the release button.
Remedy: Replace seat belt buckles.
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Filler pipe and cap (fuel system)
Fuel filler neck may have been incompletely welded, allowing fuel to leak from the neck assembly.
Remedy: Replace fuel filler neck assembly.
13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1988 Pontiac Lemans have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 7 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Fingers bent and twisted index and middle fingers are bent and twisted towards the baby fingers. Thunbs are bent outward away from hands. Hands are painful. Bending and twisting doesn't appear as badl”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 24, 2002 · Steering
“While driving front springs broke. There was no warning. One set broke while on cruise control. The other set broke while waiting at a stop light. Have not taken vehicle to dealer yet. *ak”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 21, 1999 · Suspension
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1988 Pontiac Lemans. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 24–30 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–27 / 27–36 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6/2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Manual 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Pontiac Lemans model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Pontiac Lemans model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 Pontiac Lemans | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 Pontiac Lemans | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 Pontiac Lemans | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 Pontiac Lemans | 4 | 0 |
| 1974 Pontiac Lemans | 3 | 0 |
| 1975 Pontiac Lemans | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 Pontiac Lemans | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 Pontiac Lemans | 3 | 2 |
| 1978 Pontiac Lemans | 7 | 0 |
| 1979 Pontiac Lemans | 4 | 0 |
| 1980 Pontiac Lemans | 4 | 0 |
| 1981 Pontiac Lemans | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 Pontiac Lemans | 3 | 13 |
| 1989 Pontiac Lemans | 1 | 15 |
| 1990 Pontiac Lemans | 2 | 25 |
| 1991 Pontiac Lemans | 2 | 24 |
| 1992 Pontiac Lemans | 1 | 21 |
| 1993 Pontiac Lemans | 1 | 18 |
Checking a specific 1988 Pontiac Lemans
How do I know if my 1988 Pontiac Lemans has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1988 Pontiac Lemans; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Pontiac dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 88V094000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Pontiac models
- G65,889 complaints
- Grand AM5,580 complaints
- Grand Prix5,426 complaints
- Bonneville1,979 complaints
- Vibe1,865 complaints
- Sunfire1,144 complaints
- Montana1,054 complaints
- Trans Sport973 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.