Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1988 GMC Sierra. 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 ↗BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:DISC:ROTOR:DISC HUB
- Summary
- SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.
- Consequence
- SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH NEW ROTORS WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COATING. HOWEVER, IF REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LININGS ARE NECESSARY, IT WILL BE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE BRAKE LININGS ARE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS.
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 tires is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 2 | 33.3% |
| Power train | 1 | 16.7% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 16.7% |
| Suspension | 1 | 16.7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 16.7% |
How 1988 compares with other Sierra years
Best and worst Sierra years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | 6 | 1 |
| 1989 | 16 | 1 |
| 1990 | 18 | 1 |
| 1991 | 12 | 1 |
| 1992 | 30 | 3 |
| 1993 | 72 | 2 |
| 1994 | 190 | 3 |
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 Sierra 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 Sierra FAQ
How many recalls does the 1988 GMC Sierra have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 93V119000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1988 GMC Sierra problems?
Owners filed 6 complaints with NHTSA. Tires (2), Power train (1), Service brakes (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1988 Sierra compare with other years?
Among the 1982–1994 GMC Sierra model years at least five years old, the 1982 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1994 the most (190). 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.