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U.S. public vehicle records

Nissan MAXIMA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

6,448 owner complaints analyzed

27 distinct recall campaigns

78,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1982 to 2023 model years. Data snapshot: . 4,489 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1,246 of 6,448 complaints (19.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting2,19634.1%
Braking behavior69610.8%
Steering behavior6079.4%
Engine operation3795.9%
Electrical and battery issues3044.7%
Fuel system concerns1091.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train
1,246
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
1,102
Electrical System
467
Steering
452
Engine
374
Air Bags
357
Unknown Or Other
308
Vehicle Speed Control
227
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train1246
Power Train:Automatic Transmission1102
Electrical System467
Steering452
Engine374
Air Bags357
Unknown Or Other308
Vehicle Speed Control227

Power Train: 1,246; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1,102; Electrical System: 467; Steering: 452; Engine: 374; Air Bags: 357; Unknown Or Other: 308; Vehicle Speed Control: 227

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
516
25,000 to 49,999
528
50,000 to 74,999
1,013
75,000 to 99,999
1,173
100,000 to 149,999
981
150,000 and above
278
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000516
25,000 to 49,999528
50,000 to 74,9991013
75,000 to 99,9991173
100,000 to 149,999981
150,000 and above278

Under 25,000: 516; 25,000 to 49,999: 528; 50,000 to 74,999: 1,013; 75,000 to 99,999: 1,173; 100,000 to 149,999: 981; 150,000 and above: 278

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1,173). 1,959 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
207
1996
160
2000
153
2001
98
2002
146
2003
208
2004
278
2005
193
2006
207
2007
195
2008
320
2009
362
2010
506
2011
642
2012
364
2013
410
2014
402
2015
338
2016
298
2017
207
2018
150
2019
160
2020
119
2021
86
2022
60
2023
65
2024
50
2025
45
2026
19
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
1995207
1996160
2000153
200198
2002146
2003208
2004278
2005193
2006207
2007195
2008320
2009362
2010506
2011642
2012364
2013410
2014402
2015338
2016298
2017207
2018150
2019160
2020119
202186
202260
202365
202450
202545
202619

1995: 207; 1996: 160; 2000: 153; 2001: 98; 2002: 146; 2003: 208; 2004: 278; 2005: 193; 2006: 207; 2007: 195; 2008: 320; 2009: 362; 2010: 506; 2011: 642; 2012: 364; 2013: 410; 2014: 402; 2015: 338; 2016: 298; 2017: 207; 2018: 150; 2019: 160; 2020: 119; 2021: 86; 2022: 60; 2023: 65; 2024: 50; 2025: 45; 2026: 19

Pattern summary

Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2,196 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 696 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 607 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 554027 · 2000-08-28 (August 28, 2000)

MANUAL TRANSMISSION THROW OUT BEARING FAILED. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 554027 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 975388 · 1995-11-24 (November 24, 1995)

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAD TO JUMP OUT OF A MOVING VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION FAILED. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 975388 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 504163 · 1996-05-13 (May 13, 1996)

BRAKES FAILED. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504163 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 980732 · 1996-03-14 (March 14, 1996)

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED OR LET UP, VEHICLE THUMPS AS VEHICLE WAS HIT AND CONTROL IS LOST. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 980732 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10033449 · 2003-08-25 (August 25, 2003)

FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTORS. ROYED INJECTORS AND OWER STEERING PUMP, NUMEROUS OIL SEALS, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, ETC. IN ADDITION THERE WAS GENERAL SOOT ALL OVER THE ENGINE, WHICH WIIL NOT COME OFF.*AK FURTHERMORE, IT WAS A DANGEOUS SITUATION, AND HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPT.. NISSAN AGREED TO FIX/REPLACE FUEL INJECTORS "ONLY".

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033449 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10069981 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AS A RESULT OF ADMITTED DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTORS(ON RECALL). NISSAN REPLACED FUEL INJECTORS AT NO CHARGE, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE OTHER DAMAGED ITEMS SUCH AS, POWER STEERING, "SEVERE" SEAL DAMAGE CAUSING LARGE OIL LEAK, AND OTHER DAMAGES. I HAVE CALLED AND WRITTEN NISSAN. ALSO, NO APOLOGIES FOR MY INCONVENIENCES.

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069981 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 490472 · 1996-03-05 (March 5, 1996)

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 490472 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 484625 · 1995-07-21 (July 21, 1995)

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484625 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 484291 · 1995-07-17 (July 17, 1995)

ENGINE DAMAGED BY ELECTRICAL FIRE. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484291 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 966557 · 1995-06-09 (June 9, 1995)

JUST DRIVEN VEHICLE AND WENT TO START AGAIN AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO FUEL INJECTOR RUBBER HOSE FAILURE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 966557 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 979646 · 1996-02-23 (February 23, 1996)

FUEL INJECTOR LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE. CREATES A POTENTIAL FOR VEHICLE FIRE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 979646 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2007
1
2008
0
2009
1
2010
1
2011
0
2012
0
2013
0
2014
0
2015
0
2016
8
2017
4
2018
2
2019
1
2020
1
2021
0
2022
0
2023
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20071
20080
20091
20101
20110
20120
20130
20140
20150
20168
20174
20182
20191
20201
20210
20220
20230

2007: 1; 2008: 0; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 0; 2012: 0; 2013: 0; 2014: 0; 2015: 0; 2016: 8; 2017: 4; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 0; 2022: 0; 2023: 0

Year-by-year records

Nissan MAXIMA model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
198210Not available
1983200
19841700
1985351+1
19864210
19871180-1
19884300
1989451+1
19906110
19913910
1992562+1
1993553+1
1994462-1
19951000-2
19964500
1997871+1
19988910
19991540-1
200036000
20011723+3
20022056+3
20032063-3
20041,4252-1
200594820
200657620
20071291-1
2008780-1
20093391+1
201027510
20111060-1
201210700
20136200
20149500
2015100
20161428+8
20171034-4
2018362-2
2019181-1
20202110
202130-1
2022500
2023100