RoadVitals

1988 Chevrolet Corvette Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Nov 27, 2023
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Sep 24, 1996

What this page shows

Our database holds 16 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Chevrolet Corvette. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–16 of 16

Seat belts
Filed Nov 27, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID
11556995
Incident
Nov 27, 2022
Seat belts
Filed Jul 25, 2023

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

NHTSA ID
11534381
Incident
Dec 1, 2022
Seat belts
Filed Jan 21, 2023

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

NHTSA ID
11502977
Incident
Dec 16, 2022
Seat belts
Filed Jun 7, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID
11468031
Incident
Jun 23, 2020
Seat belts
Filed Jul 16, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID
11339800
Incident
Jul 16, 2020
Mileage
61,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Mar 7, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID
11316762
Incident
Feb 21, 2020
Mileage
59,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Aug 24, 2012

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.

NHTSA ID
10472354
Incident
Feb 1, 1995
Mileage
5,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 30, 2010

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

NHTSA ID
10346419
Incident
Jul 28, 2010
Mileage
55,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 30, 2007

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

NHTSA ID
10201488
Incident
Jul 1, 2007
Steering
Filed Aug 19, 2005

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

NHTSA ID
10133507
Incident
Aug 8, 2005
Mileage
20,235 mi
Electrical
Filed May 31, 2005

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

NHTSA ID
10122581
Incident
Apr 1, 2005
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Dec 10, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10051889
Mileage
85,372 mi
Exterior lightingSeat belts
Filed Nov 27, 2000

THE PLUG ON THE HEAD LIGHT COVER THAT HIDES THE AJUSTMENT SCREW KEPT FALLING OUT. *MJS

NHTSA ID
557927
BrakesHeating & air conditioningDriver assistance+2 more
Filed Nov 10, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
714589
Incident
Jan 10, 1999
BrakesElectrical
Filed Apr 17, 1997

ALTERNATOR FAILED REPEATEDLY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL/LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. ALSO, ABS BRAKES FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
514193
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 24, 1996

POWER SEAT FAILURE, OVERHEATING AND CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORT DUE A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE SEAT. *AK

NHTSA ID
801745
Incident
Aug 31, 1996

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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