IllustrationTIRE FAILLURE, SIDEWALL SEPARATION DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH ON HIGHWAY. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF FAILED TIRE THAT CAN BE EMAILED IF REQUESTED.
1988 Nissan Pickup
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Pickup years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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: 2 of 9 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.
- Seat Belts. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
9 reportsTHERE IS SOMETHING DEFECTIVE WITH THE STARTER AND FLYWHEEL MECHANISM OF MY 1988, 4 CYCLE., AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, NISSAN PKUP TRUCK. THE STARTER AND THE FLY WHEEL HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND IT HAS GONE OUT AGAIN. THIS WILL MAKE THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND IT IS CLEARLY SOME SORT OF DEFECT. I AM REALLY UPSET B…
Read full complaint
THERE IS SOMETHING DEFECTIVE WITH THE STARTER AND FLYWHEEL MECHANISM OF MY 1988, 4 CYCLE., AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, NISSAN PKUP TRUCK. THE STARTER AND THE FLY WHEEL HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND IT HAS GONE OUT AGAIN. THIS WILL MAKE THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND IT IS CLEARLY SOME SORT OF DEFECT. I AM REALLY UPSET BECAUSE, IT HAS COST ME A LOT OF MONEY IN REPAIRS OVER TIME. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW BACK IN 1988, AND IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED AT APPROX. 5000 MILES, AND THE DEALER DID NOTHING TO HELP REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THEY WERE VERY RUDE, AND TOLD ME THAT THE TRUCK WAS MINE. THE DEALERSHIP MOVED OR WENT OUT OF BUSINESS SINCE THEN, AND I HAVE BEEN STUCK WITH THIS LEMON FOR YEARS. IT HAS BEEN REALLY FRUSTRATING SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO CONTACT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED BY A FRIEND TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOUR OFFICE. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *TR
SPEEDOMETER POINTER CURVED MAKING THE SPEEDOMETER TO BE INOPERATIVE, APPARENTLY AS A RESULT OF TEMPERATURE IN THE STATE WHERE THE CONSUMER LIVES.*NLM
CONTACTED LOCAL NISSAN DEALER (CONNELL 510-893-9111) 11/21/2001 FOR REPAIR, NO REPAIR AS OF 12/26/2001. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATBELTS ARE BROKEN.*AK
PASSIVE RESTRAINTS: SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS BROKEN. RECEIVED NOTICE FROM NISSAN ,CAMPAIGN #95-V-103-002 IN 1993. CALLED AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT, DIDN'T HAVE PART. WORK HAS NOT BEEN DONE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE PART WHEN HE CALLED. *AK
SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED.
VEHICLES DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE AND BECAME INOPERATIVE. TT
SEAT BEAT BUCKLE REPLACED DUE TO BUCKLE LOCKING AND NOT UNLATCHING WHEN RELEASE BUTTON IS PUSHED. TT
DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE, THEREFORE SEATBELT INOPERATIVE. TT
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
1PE89123 · Loss Of Steering
Opened May 23, 1989 · Closed Aug 1, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
SUMMARY:TWO ALLEGATIONS OF STEERING BOX MALFUNCTION HAVE BEENRECEIVED.IN THE FIRST INSTANCE THE DRIVER CLAIMS HE SUDDENLYHAD NO CONTROL OVER STEERING.IN THE SECOND INSTANCE THEDRIVER CLAIMS THE STEERING BOX LOCKED UP.===