1988 Nissan Pulsar Problems
- Complaints
- 6filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- —no mileage reported
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 24 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl FWD · 22 city / 28 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1988 Nissan Pulsar (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 1988 Nissan Pulsar. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 3 complaints (50% of the total), followed by fuel system (2) and brakes (1). Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 3 technical service bulletins for this model year. Fuel system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the tank assembly filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
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.
- Engine cooling3 50%
- Fuel system2 33%
- Brakes1 17%
- Steering1 17%
- Suspension1 17%
Example complaints
Engine cooling: “When we were waiting before a red light or a stop sign, it became dead suddenly. This situation happened five times within one week. For these five times,we restarted it after a while for three times, jumped it one time and the other time we could not restart it at the accident scene(without trying to jump it) but made it the next day. We have changed the battery and sent it to auto repair. The mechanian checked it again and again and could not find any problem!”
NHTSA complaint #720261, filed 2000-03Fuel system: “Fuel injectors leak similarly to 300zx,200sx,and maxima that were voluntarily repaired by Nissan. There is a great fire danger and mileage and drivability problem. Nissan refuses to repair the problem, stating that there is no evidence of a defect in the injectors of the '88 Pulsar with multi-port injection eventhough it is the same manufacturer as the replaced '88 300 et al, and has the same exact safety problem.”
NHTSA complaint #705810, filed 1999-04Brakes: “Brake system failure. Private mechanic looked at vehicle and could not determine a reason for failure. Consumer driving at approximately 30 MPH when she rearended another vehicle in front of her at a stop light. Brakes were functional 2 months after accident, then failed again. Erratic operation with brake failure 3 times.”
NHTSA complaint #883287, filed 2001-03Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1988 Nissan Pulsar 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulsar NX FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 23 | 31 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Pulsar NX FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 22 | 28 | 24 | $2,800 |
| Pulsar NX FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 20 | 26 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Pulsar NX FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,200 |
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
- 87V191000Dec 18, 1987Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assemblyCovers: Nissan Pulsar 1987–1988
The soldered joint where inlet pipe attaches to the fuel tank may be cracked.
Recall details for the 1988 Nissan Pulsar → · Check a 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. 3 on record; the latest 3 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.
- 10032506Sep 13, 2010Equipment. Nissan: vent control valve replacement. When replacing the evap canister vent control valve for reason: use the one listed on page 2; for vent control valve replacement procedure, refer to the…
- 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 Pulsar
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 6 | — | 1 | — | 24 | — | Not enough data |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1988 Nissan Pulsar have?
NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 1988 Nissan Pulsar as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1988 Nissan Pulsar is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 3 complaints (50% of the total), followed by fuel system with 2.
Has the 1988 Nissan Pulsar been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1988 Nissan Pulsar get?
The EPA rates the 1988 Nissan Pulsar (Pulsar NX, 1.6L 4-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 22 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800 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.