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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 is defined by its 3-speed automatic transmission and an engine requiring 4 quarts of 5W-30 API oil, delivering an EPA-rated 23 city, 29 highway, and 26 combined mpg. Within the model's reliability history, this year stands out as notably stable, marked by a complete absence of recalls and only 12 total owner complaints. For researchers, this means the 1988 Nova is a highly dependable point in the vehicle's lineage, though the power train remains the primary focal point for any historical maintenance analysis.

Model year1988 1987 1986 1985 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975

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

Transmission

Automatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	166.5 in
Overall width	64.6 in
Overall height	52.8 in
Wheelbase	95.7 in
Curb weight	2253 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	23 / 29 / 26 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	86 cu ft
Cargo volume	14 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular 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 Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE 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 mi	Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 10,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake System (adjust) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 20,000 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
At 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Throttle Position Sensor (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect)
At 120,000 mi	Accessory 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.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

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.

Vehicles taking 4 qt

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

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.