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1988 Pontiac Lemans

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

What owners actually said

13 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2002
SteeringInjury

FINGERS BENT AND TWISTED INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS ARE BENT AND TWISTED TOWARDS THE BABY FINGERS. THUNBS ARE BENT OUTWARD AWAY FROM HANDS. HANDS ARE PAINFUL. BENDING AND TWISTING DOESN'T APPEAR AS BADLY AS OTHER DRIVERS. PLEASE VIEW PHOTO AT HTTP://PHOTOS.YAHOO.COM/MIKETOMICH THIS INFORMATION IS BEING PROVIDED ON BEHALF OF J…

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FINGERS BENT AND TWISTED INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS ARE BENT AND TWISTED TOWARDS THE BABY FINGERS. THUNBS ARE BENT OUTWARD AWAY FROM HANDS. HANDS ARE PAINFUL. BENDING AND TWISTING DOESN'T APPEAR AS BADLY AS OTHER DRIVERS. PLEASE VIEW PHOTO AT HTTP://PHOTOS.YAHOO.COM/MIKETOMICH THIS INFORMATION IS BEING PROVIDED ON BEHALF OF JOAN LOPEZ BY MIKE TOMICH 989-665-2311. DT

NHTSA ODI #768828

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 1999
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING FRONT SPRINGS BROKE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. ONE SET BROKE WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL. THE OTHER SET BROKE WHILE WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT. HAVE NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER YET. *AK

NHTSA ODI #836981

Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL FILLER NECK LEAKED FUEL DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL. OWNER NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (88V-094.000). *AK

NHTSA ODI #517651

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 1997
Electrical System

PLASTIC COMPONENTS IN THE DASHBOARD THAT CONTROL THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD LIGHTS MELTED AND STARTED TO BURN.

NHTSA ODI #522208

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1996
Seat Belts

FAILURE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT, THE SHOULDER BELT IS LOCKED IN PLACE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #803080

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1996
Seat Belts

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR STOPPED WORKING (FAILED) . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

NHTSA ODI #802058

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 1995
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

THE SEAT BELT COME OUT OF BUCKLE WHEN CONSUMER WAS IN ACCIDENT. TT CONSUMER STATES SHE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH AND A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF HER VEHICLE ON IMPACT AND SEAT BELT CAME OPEN, AND CONSUMER AND CONSUMER WENT INTO CONSOLE, WAS THORWN AROUND IN VEHICLE, DAMAGE WAS FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, HOOD, AND RIGHT FEN…

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THE SEAT BELT COME OUT OF BUCKLE WHEN CONSUMER WAS IN ACCIDENT. TT CONSUMER STATES SHE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH AND A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF HER VEHICLE ON IMPACT AND SEAT BELT CAME OPEN, AND CONSUMER AND CONSUMER WENT INTO CONSOLE, WAS THORWN AROUND IN VEHICLE, DAMAGE WAS FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, HOOD, AND RIGHT FENDER, CONSUMER ALSO SUFFERED INJURIES.*JB

NHTSA ODI #974276

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

MISALIGNED FRONT END, CAUSING NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #484669

Mileage unknown · May 22, 1995
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

SEAT BELT FAILURE, SHOULDER BELT DID NOT KEEP DRIVER FROM HITTING WINDSHIELD. TT

NHTSA ODI #965662

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 1995
Seat Belts

VEHICLES FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT IT IS JAMMED IN ONE POSITION. TT

NHTSA ODI #964190

Official recalls

3

93V154000 · 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.

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

2

PE91101 · 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.===