What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

1998 Nissan Maxima

Typical pattern

6.4% of complaints about the 1998 Nissan Maxima came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 1998 vehicle — around the middle of the 180 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (26 complaints), typically at 5.6 yr or about 75,263 miles.

Complaints
110
Median age at failure
4.8 yr
Median mileage
110,000 n=48
Crash / fire / tow
24.5% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Air bags
26 reports · 75,263 mi
5.6 yr
26.9%
Electrical system
21 reports · 135,000 mi
8.3 yr
42.9%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

09E025000 2009-05-11
Exterior lighting:headlights

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

09E012000 2009-04-07
Exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

08E050000 2008-08-11
Exterior lighting:headlights

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E049000 2006-05-24
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

06E026000 2006-03-23
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

02V171000 2002-06-24
Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, ONE OF THE DIODES USED IN THE ALTERNATOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED WHEN BUILT. THIS CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE DIODE AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH COULD MELT THE PLASTIC HOUSING.

IF THE COMBUSTIBLE GAS EMITTED BY THE MELTING PLASTIC DOES NOT DISPERSE DUE TO AIR FLOW THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IT COULD IGNITE AND IN TURN IGNITE THE FAN GUIDE IN THE ALTERNATOR.

In owners’ own words

Air bags mileage not reported 1.8 yr in service crash / fire / tow
WAS TRAVELING 40MPH & HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION. AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, NEITHER ONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
Air bags mileage not reported 4 mo in service
THE CAR WAS SOLD NEW WITH A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG LIGHT-WE DIDN'T NOTICE IT UNTIL AFTER WE SIGNED THE PURCHASE PAPERS. WE WERE TOLD TO RETURN IT THE NEXT DAY FOR REPAIR! SINCE THEN WE HAVE TRIED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED FOUR ADDITIONAL TIMES, BUT THE LIGHT COMES ON WITHIN AN HOUR OR TWO AFTER WE LEAVE THE SHOP. IT IS NOT CLEAR TO ME IF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS TRULY FUNCTIONAL.
Air bags mileage not reported 2.4 yr in service
MY CAR IS AGAIN AT THE DEALER BEING SERVICED. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR AIRBAG SERVICE ON 11 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 10 MONTHS AFTER I DROVE OFF THE LOT WITH THE CAR. I AM CONVINCED NISSAN HAS BEEN GIVEN A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I NOW NEED RESULTS SO I CAN DRIVE A CAR THAT WILL WORK AS DESGINED.
Electrical system mileage not reported 4.8 yr in service
VEHICLE STALLED AND STARTED SMOKING IN A BUSY INTERSECTION WHILE MAKING A TURN. ENGINE FAILED WITH NO DASBBOARD WARNING LIGHTS. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED FOR A LOOSE WIRE IN ALTERNATOR WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE TO VEHICLE. CONSUMER JUST RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 02-V-171-000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED.*AK

Other Maxima model years

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