IllustrationDRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT BROKE/ CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK AND ALARM SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *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
What owners actually said
60 reportsFAILURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN, THE STEERING WHEEL IS SOFT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN MAKING A TURN. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT SYSTEM FAILED. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THERE WAS SMOKE, WENT HOME TO CHECK, CAR WAS ON FIRE . FIRE WAS A RESULT OF A RECALL ON THE FUEL INJECTORS. NISSAN DOES NOT WANT TO REIMBURSE FOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SMELLED SMOKE, PULLED VEHICLE OVER, OPENED HOOD AND CAR WAS ON FIRE.*AK
ENGINE FIRE.
A/T: WHILE ACCELERATING, HEARD NOISE, LET UP ON GAS, HEARD HUMMING NOISE, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, COASTED SIDE OF ROAD AVOIDING ACCIDENT SPEED 65 MPH. *AK
CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WITH CHILD IN CAR AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
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