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1988 Chevrolet Sprint

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

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1988 Chevrolet Sprint is a subcompact car powered by a straightforward powertrain mated to an automatic 3-speed transmission, delivering EPA-rated fuel economy of 32 city, 36 highway, and 34 combined mpg. Routine maintenance for this model calls for 4 quarts of 5W-30 API-rated engine oil, reflecting its simple mechanical design. In terms of owner-reported reliability, this model year recorded just 4 total complaints with visibility as the primary concern area, while zero recall campaigns were issued—indicating no widespread defects requiring manufacturer intervention. This combination of minimal complaints and a clean recall history positions the 1988 Sprint as a notably trouble-free iteration within the model's lifecycle, offering researchers a relatively defect-free example from this era of Chevrolet's entry-level offerings.

Model year1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy32/36/34 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	144.5 in
Overall width	60.2 in
Overall height	53.1 in
Wheelbase	88.6 in
Curb weight	1565 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	32 / 36 / 34 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	79 cu ft
Cargo volume	8 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 Sprint of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.50 sec — 1987 Turbo 3-door Hatchback

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1987	Turbo 3-door Hatchback 1.0L Turbo I-3	9.50 sec	17.20 sec	70 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0 qt
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 7,500 mi.

At 7,500 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake System (adjust)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Injection System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Fuel Cutoff Solenoid (inspect) · Fuel 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.

Owner complaints about the 1988 Chevrolet Sprint lead in one area — the visibility, 1 of 4 reports (25%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the visibility pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 4 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Visibility1

Electrical System1

Unknown Or Other1

Vehicle Speed Control1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

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 Sprint. 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.

Vehicles taking 4 qt

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

How much oil does the 1988 Sprint take?

4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1988 Sprint have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Sprint get?

EPA figures are 32 city / 36 highway / 34 combined mpg.