Total Complaints
10 filings
NISSAN PICKUP · model year
1988 NISSAN PICKUP
10 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988NISSANPICKUP carries 10 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 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 PICKUP is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 4 filings, followed by visibility:glass, side/rear (1) and seat belts (1). 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 54 investigation files overlapping the 1988 PICKUP, and 5 remain open. 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.
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 4 |
| VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100329TIRES
TIRE FAILLURE, SIDEWALL SEPARATION DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH ON HIGHWAY. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF FAILED TIRE THAT CAN BE EMAILED IF REQUESTED.
Mileage: 187,700
20080315POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
Mileage: 137,700
20021106POWER TRAIN
SPEEDOMETER POINTER CURVED MAKING THE SPEEDOMETER TO BE INOPERATIVE, APPARENTLY AS A RESULT OF TEMPERATURE IN THE STATE WHERE THE CONSUMER LIVES.*NLM
20020109SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
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
19970605SEAT BELTS
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
19960417SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED.
19960417VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
WINDOWS IN DOOR INOPERATIVE, WINDOWS WILL NOT STAY IN TRACKS. *DSH
19950515SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLES DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE AND BECAME INOPERATIVE. TT
19950505SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BEAT BUCKLE REPLACED DUE TO BUCKLE LOCKING AND NOT UNLATCHING WHEN RELEASE BUTTON IS PUSHED. TT
19950301SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE, THEREFORE SEATBELT INOPERATIVE. TT
Compare 1988NISSANPICKUP to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 5 Open
PE25005Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Driver Airbag Inflator Rupture
PE24020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Inner Tie Rod Failures
PE24017Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Side curtain air bags may deploy inadvertently
PE24007Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Reduced Power After Engine Stall
PE23020Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of motive power due to broken crankshaft with no ability to restart.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 NISSAN PICKUP have?▼
The 1988 NISSAN PICKUP has 10 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 NISSAN PICKUP?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 NISSAN PICKUP is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR and SEAT BELTS.
Is the 1988 NISSAN PICKUP 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.