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1988 Chevrolet Celebrity

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
39Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

5Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
15
198533
198644
198739
198839
19897
19901
1991
Compare all Celebrity years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Steering
11Electrical System
8Engine And Engine Cooling
8Seat Belts
6Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4
All reported categories
Exterior Lighting
2Power Train
2Tires
2Equipment
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Structure
1Suspension
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 39 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

8 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE CRADLE MOUNTING BOLT AND ATTACHING HARDWARE RUSTED THROUGH AND SHEERED AT BODY FRAME. ATTACHING LOCKING NUT AND REMAINDER OF MOUNTING BOLT STILL INSIDE BODY FRAME. ENGINE SHIFTS AND FRONT CONTROL ARM SHIFT DURING OPERATION. LOSS OF SECOND RIGHT SIDE MOUNTING SUPPORT STRUCTURE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING AND CRASH.…

Read full complaint

ENGINE CRADLE MOUNTING BOLT AND ATTACHING HARDWARE RUSTED THROUGH AND SHEERED AT BODY FRAME. ATTACHING LOCKING NUT AND REMAINDER OF MOUNTING BOLT STILL INSIDE BODY FRAME. ENGINE SHIFTS AND FRONT CONTROL ARM SHIFT DURING OPERATION. LOSS OF SECOND RIGHT SIDE MOUNTING SUPPORT STRUCTURE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING AND CRASH. GM REFERRED ME TO LOCAL DEALER, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALL AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED BY THE OWNER, WHICH WOULD INDETAIL CUTTING OPEN THE FRAME AND REPLACING LOCKING NUT AND ASSOCIATED HARDWARE AND REWELDING FRAME. CONTACTED NHTSA WHO ALSO COULD NOT LOCATE A RECALL FOR THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE. THERE ARE SIMILAR RECALLS OUT FOR GM VEHICLES WITH CRADLE PROBLEMS. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS ACCIDENT FREE. THE DEFECT TO MY BELIEF IS DESIGN AND WEATHER INDUCED. PROPER HARDWARE AND DESIGN WOULD PREVENT THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #711340

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED, DUE TO OVERHEATING.

NHTSA ODI #530670

Mileage unknown · May 6, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury

WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION THE ENGINE STOPED, WHEN STARTED AGAIN THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #516953

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON VEHICLE OVERHEATED. CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #979865

Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 1995
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXPERIENCED PREMATURE WEAR OF CAMSHAFT. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ODI #976731

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 1995
Engine And Engine Cooling

BELT TENSIONER MALFUNCTIONS, REPLACED FOUR TIMES IN THREE YEARS. TT

NHTSA ODI #974879

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 1995
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSteering

PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY THE VEHICLE PULLS TO ONE SIDE WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO STEER. TT

NHTSA ODI #962659

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 1995
Engine And Engine Cooling

MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE WORE OUT, CAUSING A JERKY MOTION WHEN CAR SLOWS DOWN. TT

NHTSA ODI #960521

Official recalls

2

88V048000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Apr 1, 1988

FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET COULD DEVELOP METAL CRACKS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE CRACKS MAY RESULT IN DISENGAGEMENT OF THE LOWERCONTROL ARM. IF THIS OCCURS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT COULD RESULT INLOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: INSPECT ALL VEHICLES AND REPLACE ENGINE CRADLE ASSEMBLY ON ALL SUSPECT VEHICLES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

5

PE94048 · SUB-FRAME Absorber Failure

Opened Jun 21, 1994 · Closed Dec 30, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

There is no summary currently available

PE91142 · Steering Wheel Separation

Opened Oct 25, 1991 · Closed Jan 22, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available

DP89012 · Steering Failure

Opened Jun 27, 1989 · Closed Oct 12, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other

STEERING FAILURE

PE89035 · Stop Lamps

Opened Jan 19, 1989 · Closed May 24, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

SUMMARY:A CHEVROLET SERVICE BULLETIN DATED JULY 1988 INDICATES THAT BOTHSOCKETS MUST BE REPLACED USING PART NUMBER 5972532.THIS SERVICE STOCKUSES A NEW HEAT RESISTANT MATERIAL.PRODUCTION STOCK WAS ALSO CORRECTEDBEGINNING WITH VINS J7163799 AND JJ187909.===

EA89010 · Brake Ineffectiveness

Opened Jan 17, 1989 · Closed May 8, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available