The 1988 Nissan Van has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,862,462 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS95V1030021995-05-242,730,462 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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 PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING94V0310001994-02-2533,000 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
IF THE REMEDY SPECIFIED FOR RECALL 93V036000 WAS NOT PERFORMED CORRECTLY OR THE VEHICLE HAS NOT RECEIVED THE REMEDY, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
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 CONFIRM THE PRIOR RECALL WAS COMPLETED PROPERLY. ALSO, NISSAN WILL PERFORM ANY RECALL-RELATED…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING93V0360001993-03-1533,000 affected
Defect
NISSAN HAS MADE A PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION THAT A DEFECT EXISTS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONENT(S) THAT MAY FAIL DUE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HEAT.
Consequence
THE UNDETERMINED ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONENT(S) CANCAUSE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY TO VEHICLEOCCUPANTS.
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 STEERING FLUID COOLER. TO COMPLETE THE REMEDY, A WARNING SYSTEM TO MONITOR COOLING SYSTEM…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING91V2110001991-12-2733,000 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED WITH A LOW COOLANT LEVEL, THECOOLING SYSTEM TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE WOULD RISE VERY QUICKLY. COOLANTREACHING THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAN IGNITE AND CAUSE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENTFIRE.
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 COMPONENTS WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED OR WOULD DETERIORATE WITH TIME.
STEERING90V1360001990-08-0633,000 affected
Defect
POWER STEERING HOSES MAY LEAK FLUID THAT CAN SPREAD TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
Consequence
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE MANIFOLD MAY BECOME HOTENOUGH TO IGNITE THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENTFIRE.
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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
1
Total complaints6
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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 of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they stated that the manufacturer…”
“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 the vehicle by the engine. *ak”
“Power steering hose failure; no parts available.”
“Had cooling recall done, vehicle is overheating again. Tt”
“Fuel injectors failed. Nlm”
“Transmission failed. Nlm”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA95007 Opened 1995-03-10 · closed 1995-08-02
TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE93019 Opened 1993-03-31 · closed 1993-07-28
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1988 Nissan Van as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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