The 1988 Lada Samara has 5 recalls, the most serious involving the clutch cable disconnecting from the clutch fork, leaving the clutch engaged even when the pedal is pressed and causing unexpected vehicle movement.
On the braking side, the handbrake lever requires more than 80 pounds of force to apply, meaning most drivers cannot pull it hard enough to hold the car on a slope. That same recall also covers the glove box door, which can fly open during a collision and strike an occupant. There are also two related bumper recalls: in a front-end impact, the headlight wiper mechanism can crack the headlight lenses, and at the rear, the bumper does not adequately absorb impact and allows the taillight lenses to break. Finally, the seatbelt warning light may fail to illuminate, leaving the driver without a reminder that belts are unfastened before pulling away.