Total Complaints
73 filings
NISSAN MAXIMA · model year
1988 NISSAN MAXIMA
73 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988NISSANMAXIMA carries 73 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 35 fires, 2 injuries, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1988 MAXIMA is fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system with 12 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:injectors (11) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (9). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1988 MAXIMA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
73
Complaints
3
Crashes
35
Fires
2
Injuries
2
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 12 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS | 11 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 9 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20090113TIRES
TIRE IN FRONT BLEW OUT ON SIDE WALL BIGO TIRES SAID GOOD LUCK GETTING FALKEN TO HONOR THE TIRE WARRANTY AND A DAY LATER MY REAR TIRE HAS NOW A BUBBLE ON THE SIDE WALL THAT WILL BE RESULTING IN THE SAME BLOW OUT SOONER OR LATER ACCORDING TO BIG O TIRES. *TR
20030114STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE'S STABLIZER WHEEL BROKE INTO CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
20020430FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
THERE IS A FUEL LEAKAGE IN VEHICLE DUE TO FUEL INJECTION. VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. 95I006000. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
20020109FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
GAS FUMES SMELL FROM ENGINE, SOUNDS OF AIR BLOWING FROM ENGINE, TRY TO ACCELLERATE AND THERE IS HESITATION DURING TAKE OFF. GAS FUMES COMING THRU FLOOR VENTS WHEN HEAT IS ON.R. *AK
20010330FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
THERE 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
20010330ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THERE 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
20010330VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
THERE 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
20010227FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
ALL 6 FUEL INJECTORS FAILED CAUSING GAS LEAKAGE AND GAS FUMES. NLM
20010117VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
CLOSED SUN ROOF BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH. *AK
20010108FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
TURNED OFF VEHICLE AND THEN WENT INSIDE OF STORE. THEN, SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER GLOVE COMPARTMENT. TRIED TO OPEN HOOD, AND FIRE WAS COMING FROM HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
20000407EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHT ASSY FORMS CONDENSATION, CAUSING SEVERAL LIGHT BULBS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
19991209FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
FUEL INJECTION WAS LEAKING WHICH CAUSED AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE.
19991029SEAT BELTS:FRONT
SHOULDER BELT LOCKS AT VARYING SPEEDS. YH
19991029SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
SHOULDER BELT LOCKS AT VARYING SPEEDS. YH
19991029SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
SHOULDER BELT LOCKS AT VARYING SPEEDS. YH
19991021FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
RECALL 95I-006 000 NISSAN/FUEL INGECTION SYSTEM: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN UNDER HOOD FIRE WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. CONSUMER BELIEVED NHTSA RECALL MAYBE WAS THE CAUSE OF FIRE. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. DEALER/MFR WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
19991005FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
I HAD THE FUEL INJECTOR SYSTEM REPLACE BY NISSAN (SERVICE CAMPAIGN NOTICE NOV.05,1997).BUT I'M STILL SMELLING GAS SOMETIMES.
19990614FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUST STARTED TO BURNUP, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK
19981201FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAILED FUEL INJECTOR SYSTEM WHICH LEAKED INTO ENGINE, PRIOR REPAIRS WERE DONE TO LEAKING FUEL INJECTORS.
19980312FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE, RESULTING IN TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF VEHICLE.
Compare 1988NISSANMAXIMA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 NISSAN MAXIMA have?▼
The 1988 NISSAN MAXIMA has 73 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 35 fires, 2 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 NISSAN MAXIMA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 NISSAN MAXIMA is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM with 12 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1988 NISSAN MAXIMA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.