Pontiac›6000›1988›Overview/pontiac/6000/1988/base/

1988 Pontiac 6000

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 6000.

The 1988 Pontiac 6000 is a compact sedan built on the GM A-body platform, powered by a four‑cylinder engine that requires a modest 4‑quart oil capacity with 10W‑30 or 5W‑30 viscosity, reflecting its moderate performance and fuel economy. In its debut year, the model garnered a relatively low number of owner complaints—only 19 in total—with steering issues emerging as the most frequent concern, while three factory recalls addressed minor defects. This modest complaint profile places the 1988 6000 in a comparatively reliable segment of the Pontiac lineup, suggesting that early owners experienced fewer long‑term mechanical headaches than later model years.

Model year1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30OEM · 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 Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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	12737090 alt 25012305
Engine air filter	25043317 alt 25043119
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued
Spark plug	05614046 alt 19354418
Front wiper blades	15184702
Serpentine belt	19244954 alt 14092212
Thermostat	19435095 alt 10101864

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	189 in
Overall width	72 in
Overall height	53.5 in
Wheelbase	104.7 in
Curb weight	2765 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	63/37

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt

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	EGR System (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 model year falls prior to the federal record provided, which documents a spike of 11 complaints and 2 recalls in 1990 followed by a decline to 6 complaints by 1991, placing the target year at the early end of the generational arc before documented federal activity intensified. For 1988 specifically, steering and seat belts each generated 5 complaints—the highest individual category counts—followed by fuel system gasoline issues (3) and hydraulic brake concerns (2), though the data does not specify underlying causes. Notably, the model year recorded zero crash-related and zero fire-related complaints, indicating no documented catastrophic safety incidents in the federal database. Given its placement before the 1990 complaint peak and the absence of severe safety-related reports, 1988 represents a favorable acquisition year, contingent upon careful inspection of steering and restraint systems.

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 filed with NHTSA, by component

All 19 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering5

Seat Belts5

Fuel System, Gasoline3

Service Brakes, Hydraulic2

Suspension,Power Train1

Power Train1

Engine & Engine Cooling1

Electrical System1

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…

88V164000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And FittingsReported 18/10/1988

FUEL FEED HOSE COULD LEAK AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY. Remedy: INSTALL NEW FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY.

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 6000. 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 Engine oil filter 12737090 Engine air filter 25043317 Fuel filter 25171792 Spark plug 05614046

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 6000 take?

4 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1988 6000 have open recalls?

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