RoadVitals

1988 GMC Pickup Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
5
Latest May 5, 2004
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
12
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.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 GMC Pickup, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Electrical215.4%
  • Driver assistance17.7%
  • Engine17.7%
  • Interior & seats17.7%
  • Exterior lighting17.7%
  • Powertrain (other)17.7%
  • Seat belts17.7%
  • Suspension17.7%
  • Tires & wheels17.7%
  • Transmission17.7%
  • Brakes17.7%
  • Visibility17.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE SMOKED, AND TWO SECONDS LATER CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED.*AK

NHTSA ID 10072184 · filed May 5, 2004

THE SPARK PLUG ELECTRO BROKE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE WHILE VEHICLE TRAVELING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ID 958614 · filed Jan 12, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE REPLACED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA ID 507939 · filed Aug 27, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE REPLACED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA ID 507939 · filed Aug 27, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE REPLACED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA ID 507939 · filed Aug 27, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE REPLACED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA ID 507939 · filed Aug 27, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE REPLACED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA ID 507939 · filed Aug 27, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILS TO LOCK. *AK

NHTSA ID 485991 · filed Jul 7, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE REPLACED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA ID 507939 · filed Aug 27, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PE00020; AFTERMARKET FIRESTONE ATX TIRES P22575R15 AND ABOUT 15,000 MILES ON THE TIRES. REAR DRIVER'S TIRE TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH.*AK DOT# HYHHAT5383. *SLC

NHTSA ID 867493 · filed Aug 11, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE REPLACED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA ID 507939 · filed Aug 27, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE REPLACED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA ID 507939 · filed Aug 27, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE REPLACED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA ID 507939 · filed Aug 27, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .