Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1988 GMC Sierra, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Tires2
- Vehicle speed control1
- Power train1
- Suspension1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
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 GMC Sierra failed the safety check 1.77% of the time — 75% more often than the average 1988 passenger car (1.01%). Median odometer at inspection: 130,881 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
2 1988 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% 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
SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.
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 GMC told its dealers about the 1988 GMC Sierra: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10209734 | This service bulletin provides information for maintenance cleaning of the fuel injectors and gasoline detergent additive. |
| 10007838 | DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT, SLIP, BUSY/CYCLING TCC OR NOISY COOLING FAN. *TT |
| 10005412 | SPRING SLAP NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE GMT 400 SERIES TRUCK. *MN |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
W-CAR HINGE PIN FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation