Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1988 Chevrolet Corvette, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Seat belts8
- Electrical system4
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Seats2
- Power train2
- Equipment2
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Exterior lighting1
- Suspension1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1988 Chevrolet Corvette failed the safety check 0.69% of the time — 32% less often than the average 1988 passenger car (1.01%). Median odometer at inspection: 69,011 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
46 first registered in 1988 are on Dutch roads; 91% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde12
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm6
- Band beschadigd4
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen3
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af2
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld2
- Remleiding beschadigd1
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage1
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In Finland
37 of these cars first registered in 1988 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 105,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
40 1988 cars are on the New Zealand register; 93% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1988 Chevrolet Corvette.
| 1993075 28 May 1993 | Emissions THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1105 - EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS. TWO (2) SUSPECT EVAPORATIVE EMISSION HOSES MAY DETERIORATE, CRACK AND LEAK. CORRE… |
| 1991126 11 Sept 1991 | Seats And Restraints NOTE: OWNER SELF INSPECTION - REPAIR ONLY IF PROBLEM OCCURS. THE SEAT BELT MAY LOCK-UP OR JAM IN THE RETRACTOR. IF THIS OCCURS, VEHICLE OCCUPANTS WILL BE UNA… |
| 1990020 8 Feb 1990 | Suspension THE REAR WHEEL TIE ROD ASSEMBLY MAY FATIGUE AND FRACTURE AT THE INBOARD BEARING DUE TO HIGH INNER-JOINT ROCKING TORQUE. A FRACTURE IN THIS ASSEMBLY COULD RES… |
| 1988017 9 Feb 1988 | Suspension ON VEHICLES WITH 17" WHEELS, THE WELD ATTACHING THE WHEEL CENTRE TO THE RIM MAY BE MISSING. DEPENDING ON CONDITIONS, THE WELD CENTRE COULD SEPARATE FROM THE RIM… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATIONS AND OCCUPANT USAGE CONDITIONS, THE SAFETY BELTS CAN LOCKUP OR JAM IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR.
REAR WHEEL TIE ROD ASSEMBLY MAY FATIGUE AND COULD FRACTURE AT THE INBOARD BEARING DUE TO HIGH INNER JOINT ROCKING TORQUE.
MISSING WELD THAT ATTACHES WHEEL CENTER TO THE RIM COULD ALLOW WHEEL CENTER TO SEPARATE FROM THE RIM.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Chevrolet told its dealers about the 1988 Chevrolet Corvette: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 39547 | REAR LIFT WINDOW HARD TO OPEN/HINGE LOOSE TO GLASS. *TW |
| 10006297 | NO SERIAL DATA COMMUNICATIONS USING THE TECH 1 WITH A 1986 OR NEWER CAMARO, FIREBIRD OR CORVETTE WITH A 5.0 OR 5.7 LITRE ENGINE. SIT BULLETIN 1450640. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
BRAKE PULL
THROTTLE STICKING
TIE ROD SOCKET FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation