Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1988 GMC C1500. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC
- Summary
- UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.
- Consequence
- THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID CAN CATCH FIRE IF EXPOSEDTO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
- Remedy
- INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (6)
6 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 33.3% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 33.3% |
| Seats | 1 | 16.7% |
| Steering | 1 | 16.7% |
| Suspension | 1 | 16.7% |
| Tires | 1 | 16.7% |
How 1988 compares with other C1500 years
Best and worst C1500 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | 6 | 1 |
| 1989 | 4 | 2 |
| 1990 | 7 | 2 |
| 1991 | 5 | 1 |
| 1992 | 17 | 1 |
| 1993 | 21 | 1 |
| 1994 | 25 | 0 |
| 1995 | 32 | 0 |
| 1996 | 15 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1988 C1500 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1988 GMC C1500 FAQ
How many recalls does the 1988 GMC C1500 have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 93V016000 (power train). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1988 GMC C1500 problems?
Owners filed 6 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (2), Service brakes (2), Seats (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1988 C1500 compare with other years?
Among the 1985–1996 GMC C1500 model years at least five years old, the 1985 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1995 the most (32). The 1988 drew 6. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.