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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 →
60Owner complaints

Model-year median: 99

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
54
198560
1986176
198760
198862
1989106
199076
1991
Compare all Maxima years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Fuel System, Gasoline
28Engine And Engine Cooling
12Seat Belts
7Electrical System
6Steering
3
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
2Visibility
2Exterior Lighting
1Power Train
1Structure
1Suspension
1Tires
1

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 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 1995
Fuel System, GasolineFire

CONSUMER SMELLED GAS WHILE DRIVING, LIFTED HDOD AND ENGINE IGNITED DUE TO FUEL INJECTION HOSE FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #967580

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 1995
Fuel System, GasolineFire

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED WITH IGNITION OFF.CAR WAS TOTALED.(EA94-018) TT

NHTSA ODI #966802

Mileage unknown · May 11, 1995
Electrical SystemFire

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE CAR WAS PARKED, WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. TT

NHTSA ODI #965161

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ENGINE FIRE. *AW

NHTSA ODI #489529

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 1995
Engine And Engine Cooling

MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE GONE BAD ON THE CAR. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

NHTSA ODI #962368

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 1995
Seat Belts

DRIVERS SIDE MOTORIZED BELT DOES NOT WORK. TT

NHTSA ODI #960975

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 1995
Fuel System, GasolineFire

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, WHILE DRIVING SMELL GAS FUMES , SMOKE COMING OUT OF ENGINE. TT

NHTSA ODI #959678

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 1995
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TT

NHTSA ODI #958682

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 1995
Fuel System, Gasoline

LEAKING GAS FROM FUEL INJECTORS. TT

NHTSA ODI #958403

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1995
Fuel System, Gasoline

SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE A/C AND HEATER WHEN ON. TT

NHTSA ODI #958305

Official recalls

0

No 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

2

EA94018 · 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