1985 Nissan MAXIMA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 35 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 5.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 5.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 6 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 6; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 32 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 18 |
| 1996 | 10 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
1995: 18; 1996: 10; 2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10023942 · 2003-06-28 (June 28, 2003)
NISSAN MAXIMA FUEL INJECTORS LEAKED CAUSING LARGE FIRE IN ENGINE AREA. INJECTORS ARE ON RECALL BECAUSE OF DEFECT BUT I WAS NOT INFORMED. NISSAN REFUSES TO PAY FOR ALL DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE FIRE. NISSAN ADMITS INJECTORS ARE DEFECTIVE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023942 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 10063720 · 2004-03-23 (March 23, 2004)
FONTANA DEALER WHICH IS NOW PURCHASED BY SAN BERNARDINO NISSAN ADVISED ME SOMETIME IN 1993 THAT FUEL INJECTORS ARE TO BE CHANGED UNDER RECALL. I GAVE MY CAR WITH TRUST TO PERFORM NECESSARY REPLACEMENTS OF INJECTORS AND RELATED HOSES.THE JOB WAS NOT DONE. WHEN OTHER DEALER AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS DETECTED THAT THE JOB WAS NOT DONE AND THE ORIGINAL PARTS ARE THERE. I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, PLANET NISSAN [NOW SAN BERNARDINO NISSAN] TO CHECK AND CONFIRM. HE DID NOT CHECK MY CAR INSTEAD VERIFIED HIS RECORDS ONLY AND DENIED.THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063720 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 484291 · 1995-07-17 (July 17, 1995)
ENGINE DAMAGED BY ELECTRICAL FIRE. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484681 · 1995-07-31 (July 31, 1995)
FUEL HOSES LEAKED, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484681 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 485201 · 1995-06-12 (June 12, 1995)
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR, RESULTED IN ACCIDENT/INJURY. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 485742 · 1995-07-01 (July 1, 1995)
REAR WINDSHIELD HIT WITH ROCK/WINDOW WAS IMMEDIATELY DESTROYED FROM THE SMALL CRACK CAUSED BY THE ROCK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485742 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
86V096000 · Visibility:Windshield
Reported: 1986-07-16 (July 16, 1986)
THERE MAY BE INSUFFICIENT THICKNESS OF ADHESIVE IN THE CONTACT AREA BETWEEN THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD GLASS AND THE BODY. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS LACK OF ADHESIVE MAY CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO DISMOUNT IN AN ACCIDENT, THUS FAILING TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 212, WINDSHIELD MOUNTING AND WHICH MAY ALLOW THE OCCUPANTS TO BE EJECTED OUT OF THE CAR, CAUSING MORE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH.
Remedy: ADD MORE ADHESIVE TO BOTTOM OF FRONT WINDSHIELD GLASS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗