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#BS-1988-NISMAX-533A

1988 Nissan Maxima

Based on reports from 73 owners and 1 recall for this exact model.

Complaints
73
Crashes
3
Fires
35
Recalls
1
TSBs
2
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 73 complaints, 3 crashes, 35 fires, and 1 recalls. Complaint rate is 2.0x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection SystemHIGH

12 owners reported fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system issues.

!Inspect the Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:injectorsMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System (12 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System12 (16%)
Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:injectors11 (15%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline9 (12%)
Fuel System5 (7%)
Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood4 (5%)
Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly4 (5%)
Seat Belts3 (4%)
Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail3 (4%)

1988 Nissan Maxima: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System Issues

Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System complaints account for 16% of all reports filed for the 1988 Nissan Maxima, with 12 owners filing complaints with NHTSA.

Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:injectors Issues

Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:injectors complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 1988 Nissan Maxima, with 11 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:injectors-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline complaints account for 12% of all reports filed for the 1988 Nissan Maxima, with 9 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Fuel System Issues

Fuel System complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 1988 Nissan Maxima, with 5 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

2
00
6
01
1
02
1
03
1
09

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1988 Nissan Maxima. Recent trend: stable.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (1 recall)

95I006000Mar 1996

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. THE CAMPAIGN WILL REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTORS AND RELATED HOSES OF AFFECTED VEHICLES WHICH COULD LEAK.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Nissan Maxima is the 2004 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.

1988 Nissan Maxima vs. Class Average (Compact Cars)

This vehicle

73

Class avg

37

2.0x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical compact cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 73 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 1 recall found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Nissan Maxima Model Years

202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994199319921991199019891988198719861985198419831982
View all Nissan Maxima years →

1988 Nissan Maxima: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1988 Nissan Maxima?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1988 Nissan Maxima is related to the fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system, with 12 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1988 Nissan Maxima reliable?
The 1988 Nissan Maxima has 73 complaints, 3 crash reports, and 35 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 2.0x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 1988 Nissan Maxima problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 1988 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
Yes, the 1988 Nissan Maxima has 1 recall on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Nissan Maxima problems start?
Mileage data is limited for this vehicle. The full report analyzes available data to identify failure patterns by mileage range.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 73 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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