1988 Nissan 200SX

The 1988 Nissan 200SX sits before the earliest model year captured in the federal year-by-year record (1991), so direct year-over-year comparison within that data is not possible. The 1988-specific data show 5 Fuel System, Gasoline complaints, plus 1 each in Seats, Engine & Engine Cooling, and Seat Belts, with 4 fire-related complaints and 0 crash-related complaints; the data does not specify root causes. Across the documented generation arc, complaints and recalls climb from 1 complaint and 0 recalls in 1991 to a peak of 58 complaints and 3 recalls in 1995, then fall to 0 complaints and 1 recall by 1999, while TSBs peak at 51 in 1997. Because 1988 predates this documented surge, its reported complaint counts are comparatively modest, though the four fire complaints warrant focused scrutiny. All told, 1988 appears to be a relatively favorable year to buy within this generation, provided a pre-purchase inspection concentrates on the fuel system and checks for any conditions related to the four reported fire complaints; the data does not specify whether those share a common cause.