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1988 Pontiac Bonneville

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 Bonneville.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1988 Pontiac Bonneville is presented with an EPA fuel‑rating of 17/26/20 mpg and paired with a four‑speed automatic transmission. Owner‑reported issues total just 20 complaints, with the electrical system noted as the most frequent trouble spot and a single recall on record. Looking at the Bonneville’s complaint history from 1990 to 2005, the 1988 model’s low total sits far below the 1998 peak of 299 complaints and even the 2005 low of 27, indicating a relatively trouble‑free start to the nameplate’s later reliability trend.

Model year2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1988

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy17/26/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731175
Engine air filter	24577608
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued
Spark plug	19354416 alt 19300749
Front wiper blades	22155381 alt 22154521
Serpentine belt	88986824 alt 10230725
Thermostat	24506986 alt 12337860

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	198.8 in
Overall width	72 in
Overall height	55.5 in
Wheelbase	110.6 in
Curb weight	3223 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	17 / 26 / 20 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	108 cu ft
Cargo volume	15 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Bonneville of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.1–7.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.10 sec — 1995 SE Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1995	SE Sedan 3.8L Supercharger V6	7.10 sec	15.40 sec	225 hp	FWD
1996	SE Sedan 3.8L Supercharger V6	7.70 sec	15.80 sec	225 hp	FWD
1998	SE Sedan 3.8L V6	7.30 sec	15.50 sec	205 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 1050017 OR EQUIVALENT

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · PCV System (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1988 Pontiac Bonneville occurs before the earliest federal complaint record (1990), yet the subsequent years show a clear rise in complaints, peaking at 299 in 1999. The target year’s top complaint area was Electrical System with 6 complaints, and it generated 3 crash complaints and 1 fire complaint. Compared with the 1990‑1992 period, which recorded 44, 29, and 132 complaints respectively, the 1988 model likely experienced a similar or lower complaint volume, as the upward trend had not yet manifested. Consequently, based on the available data, the 1988 Bonneville does not appear to be a problematic year, making it a reasonable purchase candidate.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

3 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 20 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System6

Seat Belts2

Unknown Or Other2

Structure2

Fuel System, Gasoline2

Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

Equipment1

Power Train1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Bonneville. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 24577608 Fuel filter 25171792 Spark plug 19354416

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 1988 Bonneville have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Bonneville get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 26 highway / 20 combined mpg.