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1988 Pontiac Grand Prix

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

Engine ElectricTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix Electric utilizes an electric engine paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle's reliability record includes 12 recalls and 120 total owner complaints, with the top complaint area identified as the hydraulic service brakes. Compared to the model's 1990-2008 complaint history, which fluctuated between a low of 102 in 1996 and a high of 859 in 1997, this model year maintains a relatively low complaint volume.

Model year2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 1988

Quick specs

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

EPA efficiency18/26/21 MPGeEPA · verified

EPA electric range0 miEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12737090. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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	12737090
Engine air filter	25043119 discontinued
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued
Spark plug	19354418
Front wiper blades	10093142
Serpentine belt	88986811 discontinued · alt 14092201
Thermostat	19435095 alt 10226107

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	194.1 in
Overall width	70.9 in
Overall height	53.1 in
Wheelbase	107.5 in
Curb weight	3038 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	65/35

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	18 / 26 / 21 MPGe
Electric range	0 mi
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.5 qt
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	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · PCV System (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
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 Grand Prix falls just before the federal record begins in 1990, but the early 1990s data (1990–1992) provides context for that model year when it was 2–4 years old. During that period, complaints remained moderate (218–221 in 1990–1991, dropping to 142 by 1992), while recalls decreased from 9 to 2, suggesting initial manufacturing issues were being addressed through the warranty period. The top complaint areas for 1988 centered heavily on service brakes hydraulic (57 complaints), substantially outpacing structure, electrical, and suspension issues—though the data does not specify the exact nature of the brake problems. Across the generation covered (1990–2008), complaint volumes fluctuated significantly, with notable spikes in 1997 (859 complaints) and 2004 (454 complaints), indicating that certain model years within this platform experienced more widespread issues. The 1988 model shows 6 crash-related complaints and 1 fire complaint, which falls within typical ranges for this era. Given the moderate early complaints, declining recalls, and the fact that 1988 sits at the front end of this generation's records with no outstanding safety investigations specific to that year, it represents a reasonably solid choice within this generation—provided a pre-purchase inspection confirms the brake system is in good condition.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

120

Owner complaints

6 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 120 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic57

Structure10

Electrical System10

Suspension7

Power Train6

Engine & Engine Cooling5

Steering5

Seats4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 12 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…

00V189000StructureReported 11/07/2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
990309004	1999-10-01	Suspension	CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF GRINDING / SCRAPING / GROANING NOISE FROM REAR SUSPENSION. *TT
476147	1994-12-01	Engine And Engine Cooling	RATTLING NOISE/ENGINE OVERHEATING. *TW

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 Grand Prix. 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 12737090 Engine air filter 25043119 Fuel filter 25171792 Spark plug 19354418

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 1988 Grand Prix have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 12 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What is the EPA range and efficiency of the Grand Prix?

EPA figures are 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPGe. EPA electric range is 0 miles.