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1988 Nissan Pickup

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
9Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7

0Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
5
19859
19865
19879
198813
198914
1990
Compare all Pickup years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
6Power Train
2Tires
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 9 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

2 reports
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137,700 miles · Mar 15, 2008
Power Train

THERE IS SOMETHING DEFECTIVE WITH THE STARTER AND FLYWHEEL MECHANISM OF MY 1988, 4 CYCLE., AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, NISSAN PKUP TRUCK. THE STARTER AND THE FLY WHEEL HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND IT HAS GONE OUT AGAIN. THIS WILL MAKE THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND IT IS CLEARLY SOME SORT OF DEFECT. I AM REALLY UPSET B…

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THERE IS SOMETHING DEFECTIVE WITH THE STARTER AND FLYWHEEL MECHANISM OF MY 1988, 4 CYCLE., AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, NISSAN PKUP TRUCK. THE STARTER AND THE FLY WHEEL HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND IT HAS GONE OUT AGAIN. THIS WILL MAKE THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND IT IS CLEARLY SOME SORT OF DEFECT. I AM REALLY UPSET BECAUSE, IT HAS COST ME A LOT OF MONEY IN REPAIRS OVER TIME. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW BACK IN 1988, AND IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED AT APPROX. 5000 MILES, AND THE DEALER DID NOTHING TO HELP REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THEY WERE VERY RUDE, AND TOLD ME THAT THE TRUCK WAS MINE. THE DEALERSHIP MOVED OR WENT OUT OF BUSINESS SINCE THEN, AND I HAVE BEEN STUCK WITH THIS LEMON FOR YEARS. IT HAS BEEN REALLY FRUSTRATING SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO CONTACT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED BY A FRIEND TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOUR OFFICE. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10221317

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2002
Power Train

SPEEDOMETER POINTER CURVED MAKING THE SPEEDOMETER TO BE INOPERATIVE, APPARENTLY AS A RESULT OF TEMPERATURE IN THE STATE WHERE THE CONSUMER LIVES.*NLM

NHTSA ODI #786470

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE89123 · Loss Of Steering

Opened May 23, 1989 · Closed Aug 1, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

SUMMARY:TWO ALLEGATIONS OF STEERING BOX MALFUNCTION HAVE BEENRECEIVED.IN THE FIRST INSTANCE THE DRIVER CLAIMS HE SUDDENLYHAD NO CONTROL OVER STEERING.IN THE SECOND INSTANCE THEDRIVER CLAIMS THE STEERING BOX LOCKED UP.===