1993 Nissan MAXIMA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
55 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
108,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 55 complaints (16.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 18.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 10.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 7.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 7.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 5.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 3; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2
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 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 46 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 | 9 |
| 1996 | 8 |
| 2000 | 14 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1995: 9; 1996: 8; 2000: 14; 2001: 5; 2002: 3; 2003: 5; 2004: 3; 2005: 4; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2013: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 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 10003387 · 2003-01-25 (January 25, 2003)
NISSAN MAXIMA-1993-52000 MILES-ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILED(BRAKE LIGHT ON).DEALER TURNED LIGHT OFF, ADDED FLUID, TOLD ME "NO PROBLEM".NEXT DAY, AND EVERY DAY AFTER , BRAKE LIGHT STAYED ON. AFTER A FEW DAYS, BRAKES FELT SQUISHY. RETURNED TO DEALER THURS. JAN.23.03, WHO NOW SAID, "NEED NEW ANTI-LOCK BRAKE - $1250". I AGREED. NEW PART WOULD BE IN ON MONDAY, JAN. 27,03; RECOMMENDED I LEAVE CAR, BECAUSE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE- (WILL HAVE BEEN WITHOUT CAR FOR 4-5 DAYS).
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003387 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009136 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
BRAKE SYSTEM.. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS NOISE AND A DELAYED REACTION. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS ALL NEW BRAKES PADS, HOWEVER THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009136 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012209 · 2003-04-02 (April 2, 2003)
DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER SHARPLY TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ANOTHER DRIVER STOPPED TO INFORM THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER THAT THE AXLE APPEARED TO HAVE BROKEN. THE AXLE WAS REPLACED. A LOUD NOISE HAD DEVELOPED, WHICH WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD AND MUFFLER. THE ABS BRAKES DEVELOPED A LEAK AND MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH KEPT THE WARNING LIGHT ON. THE CONSUMER ALSO OWNS A NISSAN PATHFINDER, AND FOUND THAT ANY IMPACT TO THE FRONT END WOULD MAKE A DENT, THERE IS NO SUPPORT IN THE FRONT BUMPER. *MR …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012209 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018185 · 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND AS A RESULT THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO THE FACE. *NLM *SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018185 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021283 · 2003-06-09 (June 9, 2003)
GOODYEAR EAGLE 205-65-15 TIRE BLEW OUT SUDDENLY. THERE WAS NO IMPACT PRIOR TO THE BLOWOUT, IT JUST SUDDENLY OCCURRED. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO GOODYEAR, AND THEY SECURED THE TIRE AND HAVE DENIED ANY PROBLEM WITH THEIR TIRE. SUDDEN NHTSA FOR THEIR REVIEW AND INVESTIGATION IN THE EVENTS OTHERS HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO SUCH INCIDENTS .*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021283 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055928 · 2004-01-27 (January 27, 2004)
WHILE HAVING THE BRAKES REPAIRED, THE MECHANIC FOUND A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE FUEL TANK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO PREVENT A FIRE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065672 · 2004-04-07 (April 7, 2004)
THE FIBERGLASS MATERIAL UNDER THE HOOD CAUGHT ON FIRE AT HIGH TEMPERATURE ENGINE OPERATION. THE MATERIAL WAS OLD AND FRAYED. AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE AS A RESULT. I NOTIFIED NISSAN AND THEY HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO HELP ME. THEY OFFERED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AT A CHARGE (BY PHONE). WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY DIDNT WANT TO TOUCH IT AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. I ASKED NISSAN IF THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE INSULATION, OR RECALL INFO AND THEY REPLIED NO. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD AN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068698 · 2004-04-22 (April 22, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH OR LESS BRAKE FAILED. FOLLOWING THE BRAKE FAILURE, FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT BEING SUSTAINED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068698 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
94V007000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 1994-01-12 (January 12, 1994)
IN SOME UNDERBODY IMPACTS THE AIRBAG SENSOR ACTIVATES AND SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE AIRBAG, LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG TO INFLATE.
Consequence: AIRBAG INFLATION MAY OCCUR WHEN IT IS NOT NEEDED TO PROTECT THE DRIVER AND MAY RESULT IN MINOR INJURIES TO THE DRIVER FROM THE INFLATING AIRBAG.
Remedy: A TUNNEL SENSOR OF DIFFERENT DESIGN WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗94V194000 · Wheels
Reported: 1994-10-05 (October 5, 1994)
THE ALUMINUM WHEELS WERE CLEAR COATED SEVERAL TIMES TO PROTECT THE METAL FINISH. SOME EXCESSIVE COATING CAN LEAVE THE WHEEL NUTS AN EXCESSIVE DISTANCE FROM THE WHEEL HUB WHEN TIGHTENED, ALLOWING THEM TO LOOSEN OVER TIME.
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE HUB BOLTS TO BREAK AND RESULT IN THE WHEEL SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CLEAR PLASTIC COATING FROM THE BRAKE ROTOR MATING SURFACE ON THE BACK OF EACH WHEEL AND FROM THE WHEEL NUT MATING SURFACES. THE WHEELS WILL BE REINSTALLED AND THE WHEEL NUTS TIGHTENED. WHEELS, HUB BOLTS, AND NUTS WILL BE REPLACED IF NECESSARY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗95V244000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
Reported: 1995-12-15 (December 15, 1995)
IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A MIXTURE OF MUD AND SALT TO GET TRAPPED BETWEEN THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND WHEEL HOUSING. THE TRAPPED MUD AND SALT CAN RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND THE WHEEL HOUSING.
Consequence: SIGNIFICANT CORROSION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE MAY RESULT IN FUEL LEAKS WHICH IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. IN ADDITION, THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS MOUNTED TO THE WHEEL HOUSING AND IN THE EVENT OF SIGNIFICANT CORROSION, AND THE MOUNTING COULD FAIL IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN DEPENDING UPON THE EXTENT OF THE CORROSION.
NHTSA campaign record ↗