RecallMyCar

1988 Nissan Maxima Recalls, Complaints & Specs

No safety recalls list the 1988 Nissan Maxima, and owners have filed 60 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

0
safety recalls
60
owner complaints to NHTSA
2 / 32
complaints citing a crash / fire
18–19
MPG combined (EPA)

No safety recalls on record

NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1988 Nissan Maxima. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.

60 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1988 Nissan Maxima have filed 60 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 32 describe a fire. Reports cite 2 injuries and 1 death. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 26 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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 sam”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 13, 2009 · Tires

“Consumer stated vehicle's stablizer wheel broke into causing vehicle to lose control. Please provide additional information. Ts”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 14, 2003 · Steering

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1988 Nissan Maxima (Maxima Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined18–19 mpg
City / Highway16 / 22–24
FuelRegular
EPA classCompact Cars, Small Station Wagons
Engine6 cyl, 3 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Nissan Maxima model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Nissan Maxima model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1982 Nissan Maxima04
1983 Nissan Maxima05
1984 Nissan Maxima030
1985 Nissan Maxima154
1986 Nissan Maxima160
1987 Nissan Maxima0176
1988 Nissan Maxima060
1989 Nissan Maxima162
1990 Nissan Maxima1106
1991 Nissan Maxima176
1992 Nissan Maxima2110
1993 Nissan Maxima378
1994 Nissan Maxima289
1995 Nissan Maxima0152
1996 Nissan Maxima096
1997 Nissan Maxima1102
1998 Nissan Maxima1113
1999 Nissan Maxima0165
2000 Nissan Maxima0360
2001 Nissan Maxima3172
2002 Nissan Maxima6205
2003 Nissan Maxima3206
2004 Nissan Maxima21,426
2005 Nissan Maxima2948
2006 Nissan Maxima2576
2007 Nissan Maxima1129
2008 Nissan Maxima079
2009 Nissan Maxima1339
2010 Nissan Maxima1275
2011 Nissan Maxima0106
2012 Nissan Maxima0107
2013 Nissan Maxima062
2014 Nissan Maxima096
2015 Nissan Maxima01
2016 Nissan Maxima8142
2017 Nissan Maxima4103
2018 Nissan Maxima236
2019 Nissan Maxima118
2020 Nissan Maxima122
2021 Nissan Maxima03
2022 Nissan Maxima05
2023 Nissan Maxima01

Checking a specific 1988 Nissan Maxima

How do I know if my 1988 Nissan Maxima has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Nissan dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Nissan models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.