IllustrationMISALIGNED FRONT END, CAUSING NOISE.
1988 Pontiac Lemans
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Lemans years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 0 of 13 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.
- Seat Belts. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
3 reportsA/C FAILURE.
TRANSAXLE FAILED, ALSO TRANSMISSION MOUNTS FAILED THREE TIMES, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. Z*SKD
Official recalls
393V154000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Sep 21, 1993
THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES MAY NOT LATCH OR MAY NOT RELEASE DUE TO THE FRACTURE OF THE RED RELEASE PUSH BUTTON.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BUCKLE MALFUNCTION WOULD PREVENT THE USE OF THESAFETY BELT SYSTEM, PLACING THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT IN INCREASED RISK OF INJURYIN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE OR REPAIR THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLES.
88V163000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Oct 18, 1988
SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY NOT PROPERLY LATCH ALLOWING THE LATCH PLATE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE BUCKLE WITHOUT PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR COLLISION, SEAT BELT COULDRELEASE, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.
Remedy: REPLACE SEAT BELT BUCKLES.
88V094000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Jun 14, 1988
FUEL FILLER NECK MAY HAVE BEEN INCOMPLETELY WELDED, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE NECK ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION IMPACT, FUEL SPILLAGE INEXCESS OF AMOUNT ALLOWED BY FMVSS 301 COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL FILLER NECK ASSEMBLY.
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
2PE91101 · Front Brake Disc/hub Sep
Opened Jul 17, 1991 · Closed Nov 4, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE89113 · Inadequate Brakes
Opened Apr 12, 1989 · Closed Nov 30, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS REPORT LOW PEDAL AND FREQUENT REPAIR OF BRAKESSERVICE BULLETIN REPORTS MISADJUSTMENT MAY CAUSE INCREASED FRONT PAD WEAR.UNSATISIFACTORY STOPPING DISTANCE ALSO REPORTED IN COMPLAINTS.===