1997 NISSAN MAXIMA

123 complaints filed with NHTSA.

123
Complaints
8
Crashes
19
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR27
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5
AIR BAGS4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
SUSPENSION:FRONT2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD2
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT2
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING2

Recent Complaints

20181231FireSERVICE BRAKES

ABS LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. THEN SOLID BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR GAVE OFF A STRANGE SMELL. TURNED OFF CAR. PARKED CAR IN THE STREET. 2 HOURS LATER THE POLICE ALERTED US THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE ENGINE BAY WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. VIDEO OF THE FIRE WAS CAPTURED ON MY RING DOORBELL.

Mileage: 138,000

20181231FireENGINE

ABS LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. THEN SOLID BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR GAVE OFF A STRANGE SMELL. TURNED OFF CAR. PARKED CAR IN THE STREET. 2 HOURS LATER THE POLICE ALERTED US THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE ENGINE BAY WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. VIDEO OF THE FIRE WAS CAPTURED ON MY RING DOORBELL.

Mileage: 138,000

20140917FireENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20140917FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20051202FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

MY WIFE BACKED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. SHE TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND GOT ME. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD THERE WAS SMOKE AND A BURNING SMELL. THE ALTERNATOR HAD STARTED TO BURN AS WELL AS THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS ISSUE WAS COVERED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 02V171000, BUT NISSAN SAYS MY VIN WAS NOT AMONG THOSE AFFECTED AND MY CAR IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. *JB

Mileage: 103,565

20050901FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

1997 MAXIMA SE. I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. I LIFTED THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR. IT DRAINED THE BATTERY. AS I REPLACED THE BATTERY, THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE. *NM

Mileage: 102,000

20041203FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

RECALL 02V171000 CONCERNING ALTERNATOR. CONSUMER WAS IN THE PARKING LOT AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, THEN SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER LIFTED UP THE HOOD AND FLAMES CAME OUT FROM THE ALTERNATOR. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD RECORDS INDICATING THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL WAS WARRANTED FOR 1 YEAR. IT WAS PAST A YEAR, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.

Mileage: 129,000

20040629CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

WHILE DRIVING OUR VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE, MY SON REAR-ENDED A FORD WINSTAR VAN. HE BELIEVES THAT HE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO BRAKE TO SOME EXTENT BEFORE HITTING HER REAR BUMPER. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED. HOWEVER THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE MAXIMA. THIS INCLUDED THE FRONT BUMPER, GRILL, RADIATOR, HOOD AND OTHER COMPONENTS THAT I WAS UNABLE TO ASSESS. HOWEVER OUR BODY SHOP AND INSURANCE COMPANY FELT THAT THE COST OF REPAIRS EXCEEDED THE VALUE

Mileage: 64,139

20040518FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FAX LTR FM GEORGIA CHESTER (CA) REQUEST RE-START OF A 2002 RECALL ON THE 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA, HER MAXIMA CAUGHT ON FIRE, REPLY ATTN MARIA COBIAN/OXNARD, A DISTRICT OFFICE, ES HAVE NO REC OF PREVIOUS CORR. FM MS. CHESTER. *PH THE CONSUMER ER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 02V-171 BECAUSE IT WAS PRODUCED PRIOR TO FEBRUARY 13, 1997, WHEN NISSAN BEGAN TO USE THE DEFECTIVE ALTERNATORS. *NM

20040224FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK FIRE WAS CAUSED BY PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATOR. *MR

Mileage: 94,000

20030605CrashVISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED INTO SHARP PIECES INSTEAD OF ROUND PEBBLES. *JB PH *JB

Mileage: 80,000

20030519CrashAIR BAGS

THE VEHICLE WAS HIT AT 25 MPH IN THE FRONT CENTER BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH CAUSED MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. *NLM

20021211FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ENGINE BURST INTO FALMES WITHOUT ANY APPARENT REASON.

20020906FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR BEFORE FIRE STARTED, OR WAS NOTICED. FIRE DEPT. SUSPECTED ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I FOUND RECALL ON WEB, WHICH I HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF!!!! POOR WORK ON NOTIFICATION NISSAN! ARE THEY REALLY SENDING NOTICES OUT?*AK

20020815CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN CONSUMER WAS HIT IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

20020802FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

I PUT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE. I CAME BACK OUT TO THE GARAGE TO GET SOMETHING ELSE OUT OF THE CAR AND I SMELLED A HORRIBLE SMELL, LIKE PLASTIC BURNING. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THE FLAMES. MY NEIGHBOR HELPED ME PUSH THE CAR OUT FHE GARAGE. I RAN A HOSE OVER THE ENGINE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. HAD I NOT GOTTEN THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE, MY CAR COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE, BURNED MY BRAND NEW HOUSE DOWN AND POSSIBLY KILLED ME. I AM APALLED THAT I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS RECALL

20020625LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

THE HOOD FELL ON MY HEAD AFTER LIFTING IT TO CHECK FLUID LEVELS. THE WEIGHT OF THE HOOD COULD NOT BE SUPPORTED BY STANDARD EQUIPED HYDRAULIC LIFT MECHANISM. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE MANUFACTURER BUT AS OF THIS DATE NO RESPONSE HAS BEEN RECEIVED. I ALSO FILLED OUT A QUALITY REPORT SENT TO ME ASKING HOW I RATED THEIR CUSTOMER SUPPORT. I RECEIVED NO RESPONSE TO THAT REPORT EITHER. WHAT A JOKE!!*AK

20020611STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

WHILE I WAS CHECKING WASHER FLUID UNDER THE HOOD, THE HOOD SLAMMED DOWN ON MY HAND CAUSING SEVERE INJURY WHICH REQUIRED EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT : X-RAYS, TEN STITCHES TO ONE FINGER, ABRASIONS AND CONCUSSIONS. I NEEDED A TETNUS SHOT, ANTIBIOTICS, PAIN KILLERS AND HAND WAS SPLINTED. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE SAID IT WAS A COMMON FAILURE AND THE MEN IN HIS SHOP ARE REQUIRED TO USE A ROD TO SUPPORT THE HOOD BECAUSE OF KNOWN FAILURES. MY CAR DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH A ROD TO SUPPORT THE HOOD.

20020514FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

PE-02-034; VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 30 MINUTES BEFORE TURNED OFF AND PARKED. CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. SMOKE CAME FROM BENEATH THE HOOD, AND FLAMES BLAZED WHEN HOOD WAS OPENED. VEHICLE WAS NOT TOTALED. DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR DUE TO IT GOING BAD. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

20020514FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

PE-02-034; VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 30 MINUTES BEFORE TURNED OFF AND PARKED. CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. SMOKE CAME FROM BENEATH THE HOOD, AND FLAMES BLAZED WHEN HOOD WAS OPENED. VEHICLE WAS NOT TOTALED. DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR DUE TO IT GOING BAD. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK