1991 Nissan Maxima

Routine

Owners filed 76 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the seats › front assembly › recliner. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner7
101
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls4
000
Seat Belts4
203
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Injectors4
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission3
000
Fuel System, Gasoline3
000
Vehicle Speed Control2
101
Unknown or Other2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings2
000
Seat Belts › Front2
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Headlights09E025000
Filed May 11, 200942,540 vehiclesDope, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. 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.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Exterior Lighting06E026000
Filed Mar 23, 200661,944 vehiclesPro-A Motors, Inc.

Defect. 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.

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

Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap95V244000
Filed Dec 15, 1995747,000 vehiclesNissan North America, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Seat Belts › Rear/Other
Filed Nov 21, 2014370,000 milesTN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED.THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 370,000.

Seat BeltsCrash2 injured
Filed Aug 19, 201359 milesKY

GOING ABOUT 45 MPH AND HIT 2 PARKED CARS. DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT DIDN'T CATCH. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jul 6, 2011186,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1991 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP FOR CONCERNS WITH THE FUEL LINES. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THERE WAS RUST AND CORROSION OF THE TANK, WHICH WOULD NEED REPLACING ALONG WITH THE PIPE FILLER. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 95V244000, (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY: FILLER PIPE AND CAP). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Apr 7, 2011KY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STRAPS CONNECTED TO THE FUEL TANK FRACTURED BECAUSE OF CORROSION AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE FILLER CAP ASSEMBLY WAS CORRODED AND THAT THE MUFFLER COULD NOT BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE FUEL LEAK CAUSED BY THE CORROSION FROM THE TANK ASSEMBLY. THE MECHANIC REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 95V244000 (FUEL SYSTEM), BUT THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE RECALL WAS EXPIRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. IN ADDITION, THE ODOMETER WAS INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap
Filed Feb 24, 2008NY

DEALER PERFORMED RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 95V244000. A FEW YEARS LATER THE GAS FILLER TUBE IS STILL LEAKING GAS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX IT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WARRANTY PRIOR RECALL WORK. CAN THE DEALER REFUSE TO FIX IT A SECOND TIME ? SHOULDN'T THEY FIX IT TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING AGAIN. THANK YOU . *TR

Seat Belts › Front
Filed Dec 1, 2007100,000 milesMO

SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT LOCK, ANYMORE, ON THOSE VERY SUDDEN STOPS OR WITH SNEEZES, LIKE IT USED TO, AND THE RED SEATBELT LIGHT ON DASH STAYS ON. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT IT IS NOT WORKING. SAYS NISSAN ISN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR SEATBELTS TO WORK IN OLDER CARS. *TR

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/RegulatorFire
Filed Dec 15, 2004161,843 milesMS

WE HAVE A 1991 NISSAN MAXIMA. ON TUESDAY, DEC. 13, 2004 IT BURNED UP UNDER THE HOOD AND MELTED EVERYTHING TO A CRISP. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY WERE NOT SURE IF IT WAS THE FUEL INJECTOR THAT CAUSED IT TO IGNITE. WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO SCHOOL, AND IT SMELLED LIKE GAS FUMES, THEN IT QUELLED DOWN, ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER IT STARTED TO SMOKE. WE OPENED THE TRUNK FIRST TO GET A RAG AND THEN THE HOOD TURNED BLACK, AND IN 1 MINUTE. IT STARTED TO BLAZE. NONE OF THE BODY OF THE CAR WAS DAMAGED EXCEPT THE HOOD, AND EVERYTHING UNDER IT MELTED TO A CRISP. COULD THIS BE A DEFECT PLEASE GIVE ME A GUESS. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *AK

Seat Belts › Front
Filed Jun 28, 2004134,097 milesGA

POWER STEERING HOSE SPLIT...REPLACED PART...CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING VERY LOUD NOISE AND "BURNT" SMELL COMING FROM POWER STEERING PUMP...WHEN FLUID IN PUMP IS REPLACED, THE COLOR OF THE FLUID BECOMES BLACK IN NO TIME; ALSO EXPERIENCING STRONG GAS FUMES INSIDE CAR ESP. WHEN HEAT OR A/C IS TURNED ON; FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY...EITHER TOO TIGHT OR TOO LOOSE...SEAT BELT LIGHT & CHIME GOES ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME; DRIVER'S SEAT HAS BROKEN...HAD IT REPAIRED; DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOWS WILL NOT GO DOWN; SUNROOF LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS; HOOD LATCH DOES NOT ALLOW HOOD TO CLOSE PROPERLY, WHILE THE HYDROLICS UNDER THE HOOD WILL NOT KEEP THE HOOD UP WHEN OPENED...HOOD SLAMMED DOWN ONTO SERVICE TECH'S ARM AND ONTO ANOTHERS HEAD; SOMETIMES VIBRATES LOUD WHEN BRAKING; HIGH-PITCH CLITTER-CLATTER COMING FROM RT-FRT WHEEL; ODOMETER WILL NOT WORK AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX; BATTERY ACID DRIP DAMAGE ON STARTER; TRANSMISSION DIS-MOUNTED, HAD REPLACED, BUT CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING OIL LEAKAGE @ MAIN SEAL; CV JOINTS, BALL BEARINGS, AXLE, CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, ALL REPLACED AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES. OK...IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS...I AM HOPING FOR SOME RECALL INFO ON THE FUEL LEAKAGE AND SEATBELT ISSUES! I HAVE NO FUNDAGE LEFT FOR ANYMORE REPAIRS. MY 10 YEAR OLD SON IS A FREQUENT PASSENGER IN THIS VEHICLE...I AM SEEKING ANY INFO ON HOW TO MAKE THIS CAR MORE SAFE FOR US ON THE ROADS...UNTIL I CAN AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR. (ALSO, CAR ALARM GOES OFF EVERY TIME DOORS ARE LOCKED; AND HE

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 15, 2004AL

CRASH. WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT IN DRIVEWAY. ENGINE WENT FULL THROTTLE 30 FEET ACROSS DRIVEWAY AND STRUCK A TREE. BOTH FEET ON BRAKES TRYING TO STOP CAR. DRIVERS SEAT BROKE. CAR IS NOT REPAIRABLE. EXACT SAME ACCIDENTS AS OCI CLAIM #'S 483257 AND 889677. *LA

Air BagsCrash
Filed Apr 19, 2004190,000 milesGA

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE FISH TAILED. THIS RESULTED IN CONSUMER LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT WENT OVER A RAVINE, FLIPPED TWICE, HIT A TREE, AND A CONCRETE WALL BEFORE LANDING IN A CREEK. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE IS TOTALED. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Injectors
Filed Dec 7, 2003210,100 milesMD

I HAVE A 1991 NISSAN MAXIMA. IT IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE FUEL INJECTORS AND I AM AFRAID IT MAY CATCH ON FIRE. PLEASE HELP ME. *LA

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Support Device/Strut1 injured
Filed Aug 26, 2002MA

CONSUMER PUT HOOD UP AND HYDRAULIC HOOD STRUTS GAVE WAY, AND CONSUMER'S HEAD GOT STUCK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. ALSO, NOSE WAS SCRATCH UP AND SWOLLEN.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Aug 17, 2002MA

CONSUMER STATES EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STUDS FAILED. *TT

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Injectors
Filed Feb 11, 2002IL

FUEL INJECTORS DEFECTIVE, REPLACE MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE MODEL. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Filed Nov 27, 2001UT

I HAVE NOTICED ON COUNTLESS NISSAN MAXIMAS (EARLY 90 MODELS) THAT TWO OR FEWER BRAKE LIGHTS OUT OF FOUR ACTUALLY LIGHT WHEN BRAKES ARE PRESSED WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BECAUSE THE OTHER REAR LIGHTS DIM OUT.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Aug 12, 2001MO

UPON PLACING MY DAUGHTERS CARSEAT IN THE MIDDLE OF MY BACKSEAT THE SEATBELT FELL COMPLETELY APART. THEREFORE THAT MAKES ME THINK SOMETHING IS FAULTY WITH IT. IF IT CAME APART THAT EASILY FROM ME TRYING TO BUCKLE IN THE CARSEAT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SOMEONE HIT ME. MY DAUGHTER COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE KILLED IF THIS HAD HAPPEN IN A COLLISION. I F MY CAR DID THIS HOW MANY OTHERS WILL IT HAPPEN TO AND WILL ANY CHILDREN HAVE TO DIE BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE. I ONLY WANT FOR MY FAMILY TO BE SAFE AND THEREFORE I TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY PLACING MY DAUGHTER IN THE MIDDLE OF MY BACK SEAT.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator PedalCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 4, 2001CA

VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF OF BRAKE PEDAL AND LIGHTLY TOUCHED ACCELERATOR PEDAL. VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL TO LEFT, IMPACTED A PARKED VEHICLE, AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR. INSURANCE ADJUSTER DETERMINED THAT DRIVER WAS AT FAULT BY LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE. A DEALERSHIP NOR A MECHANIC HAV EXAMINED VEHICLE TO DETERMINE A CAUSE OF DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › GasolineFire
Filed Mar 2, 2001NY

WHILE IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE, POSSIBLY ENGINE RELATED. NLM

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Jan 29, 2001VA

COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILUE, WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE LOSSED ALL POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION, FUSES BLEW AND COMPONENTS SUCH AS CRUISE CONTROL, POWER WINDOW MOTORS WERE DESTROYED. CAUSE OF PROBLEM UNKOWN, ESTIMATE TO REPAIR FAR EXCEEDED VALUE OF VEHICLE.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control
Filed Sep 23, 2000AZ

EMISSION VAPOR CANISTER HAS SEVERAL LEAKS, CAUSED BY BATTERY ACID DRIP, CAUSING VERY STRONG RAW GASOLINE SMELL ENGULFING VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY DURING HOT WEATHER IN SO. ARIZ. VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN STOPPED. FUMES ENTER PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IF A/C VENT OPEN, BECOMES NAUSIATING. BATTERY DRIP HAS NO SPECIFIC DRAINAGE AREA, SPILLING ON CANISTER AND OTHER AREAS CAUSING MESS.

20 of 76 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2004
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20231000Routine
20225010Routine
20213000Routine
202022100Routine
201918100Routine
201836210Routine
2017103420Routine
2016142840Routine
20151000Routine
201496010Routine
201362010Routine
2012107020Routine
2011106010Routine
2010275120Above average
2009339120Above average
200878000Routine
2007129110Routine
2006576240Above average
20059482100Above average
20041,4252162Fatalities reported
2003206421Fatalities reported
2002205906Fatalities reported
2001172740Routine
2000360362Fatalities reported
1999165450Routine
19981136121Fatalities reported
19971026160Routine
199696530Routine
1995152550Routine
199489530Routine
199378640Routine
1992110530Routine
1991 — this page76420Routine
1990106430Routine

Compare every Maxima year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 11, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.