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1988 Pontiac Sunbird

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

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1988 Pontiac Sunbird arrived as a compact model equipped with a three‑speed automatic transmission and posted EPA fuel‑economy figures of 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway and a combined 20 mpg, while its overall owner‑complaint tally was modest at four, with tires noted as the most frequent issue and three factory recalls recorded. This relatively low complaint count places the 1988 year ahead of the later 1990‑1999 period, during which annual complaints rose to a high of 46 in 1993 and fell to a low of one in 1995, indicating that the 1988 Sunbird sits at the more reliable end of the model’s early‑to‑mid‑1990s reliability trajectory.

Model year1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986

Quick specs

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

EPA fuel economy18/25/20 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 12737092. Note the factory fuel filter and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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	12737092 alt 25325404
Engine air filter	25043317 alt 25043119
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued
Spark plug	05613932 alt 19302733
Front wiper blades	15184702
Serpentine belt	10198884 discontinued · alt 09433720
Thermostat	10192505

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	175.6 in
Overall width	66.1 in
Overall height	53.9 in
Wheelbase	101.2 in
Curb weight	2370 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	64/36

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	18 / 25 / 20 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	91 cu ft
Cargo volume	13 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Premium Gasoline

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 every 3,000 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.

Every 3,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
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) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Distributor Cap (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Ignition Timing (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 Sunbird shows a remarkably clean record, with only four total complaints logged across all categories—one each in tires, electrical system, steering, and engine & engine cooling—and zero crash or fire incidents. In contrast, the federal data reveals a clear upward trend in complaints and recalls for the generation starting in 1990, with complaints surging from 15 to a peak of 46 by 1993, accompanied by multiple recalls and investigations through 1994. The 1988 model year sits well before this escalation, implying it may have avoided the systemic issues that plagued later examples. While the data doesn’t specify root causes for the few reported concerns, the minimal complaint volume suggests a more dependable build. Overall, the 1988 Pontiac Sunbird appears to be a good year to buy within this generation.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 4 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Tires1

Electrical System1

Steering1

Engine & Engine Cooling1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 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…

88V095000Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/TrunkReported 14/06/1988

REAR LAMP WIRING HARNESS MAY CONTAIN OPEN OR INTERMITTENT CIRCUITS AFFECTING BACK UP LAMP OR LICENSE PLATE LAMP OPERATION. Remedy: INSTALL NEW WIRING HARNESS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
000524001	2000-04-01	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	INFORMATION REGARDING SNOW INTRUSION INTO REAR DRUM BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. **MR

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 Sunbird. 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 12737092 Engine air filter 25043317 Fuel filter 25171792 Spark plug 05613932

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 Sunbird have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Sunbird get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 25 highway / 20 combined mpg.