IllustrationTHERE WAS A VERY BAD GAS SMELL IN CAR, TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND THEY SAID GAS WAS POURING OUT OF INJECTORS. CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER CORRECTED INJECTOR RECALL, AND THAT RECALL CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH MASS AIR FLOW AND IDLE AIR CONTROL. *AK
1988 Nissan Maxima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 99.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Maxima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 60 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports32 fire reports2 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
12 reportsWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUST STARTED TO BURNUP, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK
VEHICLE WAS IN GARAGE WITH THE IGNITION OFF AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. *AK
VEHICLE FIRE.
ENGINE FIRE.
CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WITH CHILD IN CAR AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA94018 · Fuel Injector Assembly Leakage
Opened Jun 23, 1994 · Closed Nov 8, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System
AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC FILE.SERVICE CAMPAIGN 95I-006.
PE94018 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Feb 22, 1994 · Closed Jun 23, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available