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Worst Vehicles of 1988

The most problematic 1988 model year vehicles ranked by NHTSA complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.

Other Years

1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983

All-Time Worst|Most Reliable|Browse by Class

How scoring works: Each complaint counts as 1 point, each recall as 5 points, and each federal investigation as 10 points. Click any vehicle to view its full reliability profile.

#VehicleComplaintsRecallsInvest.TSBsScore

#11988 Ford TaurusMidsize Cars

462 complaints6 recalls23 invest.54 TSBs

#21988 Mercury SableMidsize Cars

189 complaints6 recalls20 invest.51 TSBs

#31988 Ford Aerostar

230 complaints5 recalls12 invest.31 TSBs

#41988 Buick RegalMidsize Cars

181 complaints11 recalls12 invest.1 TSBs

#51988 Lincoln ContinentalLarge Cars

147 complaints9 recalls11 invest.47 TSBs

#61988 Pontiac Grand PrixMidsize Cars

119 complaints12 recalls11 invest.2 TSBs

#71988 Chevrolet BerettaCompact Cars

90 complaints5 recalls17 invest.

#81988 Ford EscortCompact Cars

206 complaints2 recalls5 invest.25 TSBs

#91988 Dodge Caravan

135 complaints5 recalls8 invest.1 TSBs

#101988 Ford F150Standard Pickup Trucks

170 complaints2 recalls6 invest.25 TSBs

#111988 Chevrolet CorsicaCompact Cars

82 complaints5 recalls13 invest.

#121988 Ford TempoCompact Cars

176 complaints2 recalls5 invest.34 TSBs

#131988 Oldsmobile Cutlass

107 complaints6 recalls8 invest.1 TSBs

#141988 Plymouth Voyager

109 complaints5 recalls8 invest.1 TSBs

#151988 Ford MustangSubcompact Cars

132 complaints5 recalls5 invest.27 TSBs

#161988 Hyundai ExcelSubcompact Cars

64 complaints4 recalls12 invest.8 TSBs

#171988 Ford ThunderbirdCompact Cars

116 complaints2 recalls7 invest.24 TSBs

#181988 Toyota CamryCompact Cars

88 complaints4 recalls8 invest.19 TSBs

#191988 Jeep WranglerSpecial Purpose Vehicles

55 complaints6 recalls9 invest.3 TSBs

#201988 Eagle PremierLarge Cars

114 complaints7 recalls2 invest.7 TSBs

#211988 Jeep CherokeeSpecial Purpose Vehicle 2WD

118 complaints4 recalls3 invest.4 TSBs

#221988 Lincoln Town CarLarge Cars

123 complaints5 recalls2 invest.27 TSBs

#231988 Chevrolet Astro

69 complaints5 recalls7 invest.4 TSBs

#241988 Ford F250Standard Pickup Trucks

85 complaints3 recalls6 invest.27 TSBs

#251988 Ford RangerSmall Pickup Trucks

117 complaints2 recalls2 invest.28 TSBs

#261988 Ford F350

34 complaints4 recalls8 invest.36 TSBs

#271988 Mercury CougarCompact Cars

72 complaints1 recalls5 invest.22 TSBs

#281988 Chevrolet CelebrityMidsize Cars

62 complaints3 recalls5 invest.

#291988 Mercury Grand MarquisLarge Cars

98 complaints3 recalls1 invest.27 TSBs

#301988 Honda AccordCompact Cars

102 complaints2 recalls1 invest.

#311988 Honda CivicTwo Seaters

51 complaints8 recalls3 invest.4 TSBs

#321988 Mazda 626

58 complaints6 recalls3 invest.4 TSBs

#331988 Plymouth SundanceCompact Cars

45 complaints3 recalls4 invest.

#341988 Ford Bronco IiSpecial Purpose Vehicle 2WD

59 complaints0 recalls4 invest.19 TSBs

#351988 Nissan MaximaCompact Cars

73 complaints1 recalls2 invest.2 TSBs

#361988 Chevrolet C10

7 complaints5 recalls6 invest.

#371988 Chevrolet C20

4 complaints5 recalls6 invest.

#381988 Pontiac Grand AmCompact Cars

34 complaints3 recalls4 invest.3 TSBs

#391988 Chevrolet CavalierSubcompact Cars

14 complaints3 recalls6 invest.1 TSBs

#401988 Oldsmobile 88

46 complaints0 recalls4 invest.

#411988 Chevrolet CamaroSubcompact Cars

20 complaints5 recalls4 invest.1 TSBs

#421988 Blue Bird Tc2000

0 complaints11 recalls3 invest.

#431988 Ford BroncoSpecial Purpose Vehicles

68 complaints1 recalls1 invest.21 TSBs

#441988 Gmc SafariVans

8 complaints3 recalls6 invest.4 TSBs

#451988 Acura LegendCompact Cars

42 complaints2 recalls3 invest.3 TSBs

#461988 Chevrolet CorvetteTwo Seaters

26 complaints5 recalls3 invest.2 TSBs

#471988 Mazda 929Midsize Cars

40 complaints2 recalls3 invest.6 TSBs

#481988 Isuzu TrooperSpecial Purpose Vehicles

20 complaints2 recalls5 invest.4 TSBs

#491988 Dodge Dakota

65 complaints3 recalls1 TSBs

#501988 Pontiac SunbirdSubcompact Cars

4 complaints3 recalls6 invest.1 TSBs

Shopping for a 1988 model?

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Check Your CarBased on 2.1M+ owner complaints

Data sourced from NHTSA complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.