1988 Nissan Van Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 1988 Nissan Van, and owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
5 safety recalls for the 1988 Nissan Van
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Buckle assembly (seat belts)
The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." if a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.
Remedy: Owners should promptly check the condition and operation of both front safety belt buckles and carefully inspect the red release button for any breaks or cracks. They should ensure that both buckles are operating…
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Hoses/lines/piping/fittings (engine and engine cooling)
Engine compartment fires and other thermal incidents have occurred on vehicles which had received all of the remedies provided by a previous safety-related recall (NHTSA campaign no. 93v036000). The fires are attributed to errors in installing the remedy specified in the recall.
Remedy: Nissan will offer to repurchase these vehicles from the owners. The vehicles will then be destroyed. For owners that decline the repurchase offer nissan will provide a reinspection of their vehicle, free of charge, to…
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Hoses/lines/piping/fittings (engine and engine cooling)
Nissan has made a preliminary determination that a defect exists in engine compartment component(s) that may fail due to the engine compartment heat.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new design cooling system including the fan belts, radiator, water pump, alternator, freeze plug shields, and associated hoses. The remedy will also include a new auxiliary electric fan and power…
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Hoses/lines/piping/fittings (engine and engine cooling)
The cooling system hoses deteriorate and fail because of inadequate heat resistance. Failure first occurs at the clamp connections, causing coolant fluid to be leaked or sprayed onto the engine compartment components.
Remedy: Replace the defective cooling system hoses with improved heat resistant hoses, modify the coolant recovery system to prevent sudden increases in cooling system temperature and pressure, and replace engine compartment…
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Hose, piping, and connections (steering)
Power steering hoses may leak fluid that can spread to the exhaust manifold.
Remedy: Install new heat resistant power steering hoses. Also, install new fan coupling to increase air flow volume through engine compartment and replace any other damaged components.
5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1988 Nissan Van have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 95,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 1998 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl*the contact owns a 1988 nissan van. While the vehicle was parked, the front passenger side manual door lock failed to disengage while locked. The door would only unlock manually from the exterior o”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 13, 2009 · Latches/locks/linkages
“When driving at any speed the vehicle will cut off. Also, when the consumer starts the vehicle/ backs out, vehicle will cut back off. Consumer states there is a bucking noise coming from the front of”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 22, 1998 · Engine and engine cooling
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1988 Nissan Van (Van (cargo), Van (passenger)). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 17–18 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–16 / 20 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Vans |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Nissan Van model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Nissan Van model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 Nissan Van | 6 | 7 |
| 1988 Nissan Van | 5 | 5 |
| 1989 Nissan Van | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 Nissan Van | 5 | 0 |
| 1994 Nissan Van | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1988 Nissan Van
How do I know if my 1988 Nissan Van 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. 5 campaigns currently list the 1988 Nissan Van; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
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 (for example 90V136000).
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
- Altima15,472 complaints
- Pathfinder7,355 complaints
- Rogue7,322 complaints
- Maxima6,955 complaints
- Murano5,958 complaints
- Sentra5,954 complaints
- Frontier3,357 complaints
- Versa3,325 complaints
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.