Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1988 Pontiac Fiero, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling10
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Exterior lighting2
- Wheels1
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 Pontiac Fiero failed the safety check 1.55% of the time — 53% more often than the average 1988 passenger car (1.01%). Median odometer at inspection: 64,179 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
33 first registered in 1988 are on Dutch roads; 79% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde4
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld2
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)1
- Remvertraging / remwerking parkeerrem onvoldoende1
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af1
- Parkeerrem werkt niet op 2 wielen1
- Kentekenplaat; letter/cijfers niet goed leesbaar1
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm1
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In Finland
7 of these cars first registered in 1988 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 68,000 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
3 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 in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1988 Pontiac Fiero.
| 1990101 3 Jul 1990 | Engine NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.8 LITRE,6 CYLINDER ENGINES. AN INTERACTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENVIRONMENT AND MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE RELATED FACTORS CO… |
| 1990100 29 Jun 1990 | Engine AN INTERACTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENVIRONMENT AND MAINTENANCE RELATED FACTORS COULD CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WHICH COULD S… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
PCV GROMMET OIL LEAKS, TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LEAKS, PISTON CONNECTING ROD FAILURES BREAKING THROUGH ENGINE WALL CAUSING OIL SPILLAGE, FUEL RAIL LEAKS, COOLANT LEAKS, ROCKER COVER OIL LEAKS, AND MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE RELATED FACTORS, COULD CAUSE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.
DUE TO AN INTERACTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENVIRONMENT AND MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE RELATED FACTORS, THERE IS A RISK OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.
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
NHTSA investigations
REAR DISC BRAKES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation