1988 Nissan VAN: complaints, problems and recalls

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 NO LONGER PRODUCES THE LOCK MECHANISM FOR REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 95,000. UPDATED 09/14/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE LATCH/LOCK IS NOW WORKING PROPERLY. UPDATED 09/16/09.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10280363 at NHTSA ↗

POWER STEERING HOSE FAILURE; NO PARTS AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 528302 at NHTSA ↗

TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 549152 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 832586 at NHTSA ↗

HAD COOLING RECALL DONE, VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING AGAIN. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 971881 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1990-08-06 (August 6, 1990)

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.

Reported: 1991-12-27 (December 27, 1991)

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.

Reported: 1993-03-15 (March 15, 1993)

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 PERFORMANCE WILL BE INSTALLED TO DETECT POTENTIAL ENGINE OVERHEATING.

Reported: 1994-02-25 (February 25, 1994)

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 REPAIRS THAT MAY BE NEEDED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER.

Reported: 1995-05-24 (May 24, 1995)

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 SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE.