1988 Nissan Maxima Problems
- Complaints
- 60filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- —no mileage reported
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 18 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl FWD · 16 city / 22 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1988 Nissan Maxima (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Complaints on this model year center on the gasoline fuel system, where owners describe fuel smells, leaks around the injectors and, in several cases, engine-compartment fires. A smaller group reports overheating and cooling system trouble, under-dash electrical fires, and steering looseness.
- Fuel system
Fuel injector leaks, fuel smell and engine fires
- 19 complaints (32%)
- typically at 8.3 yrs old
- 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2002
Owners describe a strong gasoline smell under the hood, sometimes reaching the cabin through the vents, and fuel visibly leaking around the injectors. Complaints describe hesitation on acceleration and a hissing sound alongside the smell. Several owners report the vehicle caught fire, sometimes while parked or pulling into a parking space, and a few mention earlier injector repairs or a service campaign; some say the dealer declined reimbursement for fire-related repairs. Reports span many years of ownership, with no consistent mileage pattern in the sample.
What to check: Ask whether injector service work has been done and by whom, and check the engine bay around the injectors for fuel odor or staining. A sniff test after the car has sat cold is a reasonable first step.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #851391, filed 1999-10“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.”
NHTSA complaint #884714, filed 2001-03 - Electrical system
Under-dash and engine bay electrical fires
- 16 complaints (27%)
- typically at 8.3 yrs old
- 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2001
Complaints describe smoke and flames coming from under the glovebox or dashboard, sometimes shortly after the car was shut off and left parked. Owners report wiring to the ignition switch burned through and, in one case, the vehicle was totaled. Another owner linked an under-hood fire to the fuel injection system rather than to wiring. Reported across a wide range of ownership ages; the sample gives no mileage detail.
What to check: Inspect the wiring and fuse area under the dash for melted insulation, scorching or amateur splice repairs, and ask whether any electrical work was done. The service bulletin on battery and electrical precautions is worth asking about.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #877677, filed 2001-01“Consumer was driving and there was smoke, went home to check, car was on fire . Fire was a result of a recall on the fuel injectors. Nissan does not want to reimburse for repairs.”
NHTSA complaint #803294, filed 1996-10 - Steering
Steering wheel and column looseness
Mentioned in 4 of 15 sampled complaints
Owners describe the steering wheel feeling soft or loose and the vehicle losing control while making a turn. One complaint describes a stabilizer wheel breaking and causing a loss of control while driving. Reported on vehicles with no mileage detail given in the sample.
What to check: With the car parked, check the steering wheel for play or softness and have the column and front suspension inspected for looseness before driving at speed.
- Seat belts
Seat belt and restraint concerns
- 13 complaints (22%)
- typically at 8.4 yrs old
- 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2001
A small number of owners raise concerns about occupant restraint performance in a collision, describing belts that did not hold or restrain as expected. Complaints in this group are sparse in detail and generally describe crash outcomes rather than a specific part failure, and one owner reports the hood striking the windshield area during a frontal impact. Filed at various ages of the vehicle; no mileage detail in the sample.
What to check: Pull each belt fully out and let it retract to check for fraying, cuts or slow retraction, and confirm the buckle latches and releases cleanly on every seating position.
Buying note. Fuel system condition is the main thing to look at on this model year: check for fuel odor around the injectors and ask for service records. Also inspect under-dash wiring, the cooling system and steering play before purchase, since those areas account for most of the remaining reports.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 15 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 60 consumer complaints for the 1988 Nissan Maxima. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 32 a fire, 2 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 2 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Fuel system28 47%
- Engine cooling12 20%
- Seat belts7 12%
- Electrical system6 10%
- Steering3 5.0%
- Vehicle speed control2 3.3%
- Exterior lighting1 1.7%
- Body and structure1 1.7%
- Suspension1 1.7%
Also reported: Tires (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1).
Example complaints
Fuel 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.”
NHTSA complaint #756142, filed 2001-12Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1988 Nissan Maxima version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxima FWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 16 | 24 | 19 | $3,550 |
| Maxima FWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 16 | 22 | 18 | $3,700 |
| Maxima Wagon FWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 16 | 22 | 18 | $3,700 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1988 Nissan Maxima in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 2 on record; the latest 2 are shown.
- 10031305Sep 30, 2010Tires. Nissan: tire pressure monitoring system (tpms) warning light on/flashing. No models or model years listed. *pe updated on 08-11-2011.
- 10030165Apr 6, 2009Electrical system. Nissan: the 12 volt battery is an important part of the vehicle electrical system and is required to stay connected when the engine is running. To prevent damage to vehicle electronic components…
Other model years of the Nissan Maxima
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 5 | 2,700 | 0 | 5 | 24 | — | Not enough data |
| 2020 | 22 | 23,000 | 1 | 5 | 24 | — | Stable |
| 2019 | 18 | 12,500 | 1 | — | 24 | — | Falling |
| 2018 | 36 | 36,500 | 2 | 5 | 25 | 44 · Typical | Falling |
| 2017 | 106 | 27,908 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 100 · More | Stable |
| 2016 | 142 | 40,000 | 8 | 5 | 25 | 100 · More | Stable |
| 2014 | 96 | 50,400 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 44 · Typical | Falling |
| 2013 | 62 | 62,000 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 17 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2012 | 107 | 55,000 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 55 · Typical | Falling |
| 2011 | 106 | 67,500 | 0 | — | 22 | 40 · Typical | Falling |
| 2010 | 275 | 65,000 | 1 | — | 22 | 87 · More | Falling |
| 2009 | 339 | 70,500 | 1 | — | 22 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2008 | 79 | 75,000 | 0 | — | 21 | 30 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2007 | 129 | 85,000 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 576 | 83,500 | 2 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 948 | 85,000 | 2 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 1,426 | 80,000 | 2 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 206 | 86,600 | 3 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 205 | 64,200 | 6 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 172 | 72,000 | 3 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 360 | 60,000 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 165 | 79,000 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 113 | 110,000 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1997 | 102 | 85,696 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 96 | 100,300 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 152 | 129,000 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 89 | 114,500 | 2 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 78 | 108,000 | 3 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 110 | 134,500 | 2 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 76 | 173,922 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 106 | 130,000 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 62 | 146,945 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 60 | — | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 176 | 152,500 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1986 | 60 | — | 1 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1985 | 54 | 90,000 | 1 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1984 | 30 | — | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1983 | 5 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Nissan Maxima model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1988 Nissan Maxima?
Complaints on this model year center on the gasoline fuel system, where owners describe fuel smells, leaks around the injectors and, in several cases, engine-compartment fires. The issues reported most often: Fuel injector leaks, fuel smell and engine fires; Under-dash and engine bay electrical fires; Steering wheel and column looseness.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1988 Nissan Maxima have?
NHTSA recorded 60 consumer complaints for the 1988 Nissan Maxima as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1988 Nissan Maxima is reported most often?
Fuel system is named most often, in 28 complaints (47% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 12.
Has the 1988 Nissan Maxima been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1988 Nissan Maxima get?
The EPA rates the 1988 Nissan Maxima (Maxima, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.