Pontiac LeMans Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Pontiac LeMans model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1988 drew the fewest (13) and the 1990 the most (25).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 Among the fewest complaints |
13 | 3 | Seat belts | — | 24–30 |
| 1989 Among the fewest complaints |
15 | 1 | Seat belts | — | 22–30 |
| 1993 Among the fewest complaints |
18 | 1 | Seat belts | — | 25–30 |
| 1992 Among the most complaints |
21 | 1 | Seat belts | — | 25–30 |
| 1991 Among the most complaints |
24 | 2 | Seat belts | — | 23–30 |
| 1990 Among the most complaints |
25 | 2 | Seat belts | — | 23–30 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Pontiac LeMans years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
1990 Pontiac LeMans: 25 complaints
Most-reported: Seat belts 8 (32%); Service brakes 6 (24%); Power train 4 (16%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 1 injury. 2 recall campaigns listed.
1991 Pontiac LeMans: 24 complaints
Most-reported: Seat belts 12 (50%); Power train 4 (17%); Service brakes 4 (17%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries. 2 recall campaigns listed.
1992 Pontiac LeMans: 21 complaints
Most-reported: Seat belts 12 (57%); Exterior lighting 3 (14%); Service brakes 3 (14%).
Reports mention 2 crashes, 1 injury. 1 recall campaign listed.
The Pontiac LeMans years with the fewest complaints
1988 Pontiac LeMans: 13 complaints
Most-reported: Seat belts 7 (54%); Service brakes 3 (23%); Suspension 3 (23%).
Reports mention 2 crashes, 3 injuries. 3 recall campaigns listed.
1989 Pontiac LeMans: 15 complaints
Most-reported: Seat belts 6 (40%); Service brakes 4 (27%); Electrical system 2 (13%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 2 injuries. 1 recall campaign listed.
1993 Pontiac LeMans: 18 complaints
Most-reported: Seat belts 8 (44%); Electrical system 4 (22%); Engine and engine cooling 4 (22%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 1 fire, 6 injuries. 1 recall campaign listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Pontiac LeMans owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Pontiac LeMans recalls
- SUSPENSION:SINGLE AXLE:REAR:CONTROL ARM (1981 model year; 5,821,160 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 1981; 81V025000)
- INTERIOR SYSTEMS:ACTIVE RESTRAINTS:BELT BUCKLES (1988–1991 model years; 182,045 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 1993; 93V154000)
- INTERIOR SYSTEMS:SHOULDER BELTS (1990–1993 model years; 91,275 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 1994; 94V248000)
- INTERIOR SYSTEMS:ACTIVE RESTRAINTS:BELT BUCKLES (1988 model year; 85,063 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 1988; 88V163000)
- FUEL:FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY:PIPE:FILLER:NECK (1988 model year; 72,616 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 1988; 88V094000)
All 5 Pontiac LeMans recall campaigns · Pontiac LeMans problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Pontiac LeMans years FAQ
Which Pontiac LeMans year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1988 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (13). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Pontiac LeMans years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 1990, 1991 and 1992 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the seat belts. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Pontiac LeMans problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the seat belts (53 of 116 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Pontiac LeMans have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns covering the Pontiac LeMans. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Pontiac LeMans recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
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.