1988 Buick Electra Problems
- Complaints
- 5filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 75,256miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 20 mpgcombined, 3.8L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 26 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1988 Buick Electra (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 1988 Buick Electra. The part named most often is steering, with 3 complaints (60% of the total), followed by tires (1) and vehicle speed control (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 75,256 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
Example complaints
Tires: “The contact owns a 1988 Buick Electra park avenue. The vehicle has firestone fr480 tires, size p205/75/r14. Within a 2-3 week time period, three of the four tires formed bubbles and then blew out. The contact noticed the bubbles on one of the tires prior to the blowout. Both rear tires and the front passenger side tire blew out, but no crash occurred. The latest failure occurred while driving approximately 15 MPH. There are currently no recalls on the tires. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The DOT number was unknown. The current mileage was 75,431 and failure mileage was 75,256. …”
NHTSA complaint #10270063, filed 2009-05, 75,256 milesVehicle speed control: “Consumer while parked with car running. Put foot on brake and started to put car in drive, when wheels started spinning, engine was revving. Consumer had both feet on brakes, and vehcile took off, flying into the other vehicle in front, pushing that vehicle into another vehicle. Consumer could not turn off engine, this caused a chain reaction.”
NHTSA complaint #871244, filed 2000-09Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 75,256 and 75,256 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1988 Buick Electra version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electra/Park Avenue FWD | 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 17 | 26 | 20 | $3,350 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1988 Buick Electra in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1988 Buick Electra.
Other model years of the Buick Electra
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5 | 90,000 | 1 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 1988 | 5 | 75,256 | 0 | — | 20 | — | Not enough data |
| 1986 | 12 | — | 3 | — | 20 | — | Not enough data |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1988 Buick Electra have?
NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 1988 Buick Electra as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1988 Buick Electra is reported most often?
Steering is named most often, in 3 complaints (60% of the total), followed by tires with 1.
Has the 1988 Buick Electra been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1988 Buick Electra get?
The EPA rates the 1988 Buick Electra (Electra/Park Avenue, 3.8L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1988 Buick Electra reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 75,256 miles and the middle half falls between 75,256 and 75,256 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.