Complaints
73
Crashes
3
Fires
35
Injuries
2
Fatalities
2
Recalls
0
Worst 1988 Nissan Maxima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#112 complaints
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
Fires:5
#211 complaints
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors
Fires:7
#39 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Fires:9
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1988 Nissan Maxima.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 12 | — | 5 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 11 | — | 7 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 9 | — | 9 | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 5 | — | 4 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 4 | — | 4 | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail | 3 | — | 3 | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Hood | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Sunroof/Moonroof | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 1 | — | — | — |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
7
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
9
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Hood
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Sunroof/Moonroof
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1988 Nissan Maxima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Nissan Maxima Years
1988 Nissan Maxima — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1988 Nissan Maxima reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1988 Nissan Maxima has 73 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System with 12 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1988 Nissan Maxima?
Top reported problems: Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System (12 complaints); Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors (11 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (9 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1988 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA complaints for the 1988 Nissan Maxima include 3 crash-related reports, 35 fire reports, 2 injuries, and 2 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1988 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1988 Nissan Maxima as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1988 Nissan Maxima?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Maxima reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1988 Nissan Maxima
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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