ChevroletNova1988Overview/chevrolet/nova/1988/base/

1988 Chevrolet Nova

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 Nova.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1988 Chevrolet Nova was a front-wheel-drive subcompact sedan powered by a four-cylinder engine with a 4-quart oil capacity using 5W-30 API viscosity, paired to a three-speed automatic transmission and achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 23 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined; this model year stands out in the Nova's reliability history with zero recalls and only 12 total owner complaints logged, with the power train being the most frequently cited concern—a notably clean record that positions the 1988 variant among the more dependable iterations of this platform.

Model year198819871986198519791978197719761975

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy23/29/26 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length166.5 in
Overall width64.6 in
Overall height52.8 in
Wheelbase95.7 in
Curb weight2253 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 29 / 26 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume86 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1050017 OR EQUIVALENT

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi.

At 10,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 10,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake System (adjust) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 20,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
At 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Throttle Position Sensor (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect)
At 120,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 1988 Chevrolet Nova dominate in one area — the power train, 5 of 12 reports (42%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 3 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the power train pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
12
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 12 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Power Train5
Seat Belts3
Electrical System2
Latches/Locks/Linkages,Tires1
Seats1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Nova. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1988 Nova take?

4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1988 Nova have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Nova get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 29 highway / 26 combined mpg.