1995 Nissan Maxima

Routine

Owners filed 152 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags › frontal. It has been recalled 5 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Seats13
000
Air Bags › Frontal10
607
Air Bags10
203
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control6
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline6
020
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System5
000
Vehicle Speed Control4
101
Tires4
100
Structure › Body › Door4
001
Seats › Front Assembly › Power Adjust4
000

5 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 Lighting › Headlights08E050000
Filed Aug 11, 20081,921 vehiclesK2 Motor Corporation

Defect. 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."

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

Remedy. K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

Exterior Lighting06E049000
Filed May 24, 200627,176 vehiclesCk Motorsport, Inc.

Defect. 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.

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

Remedy. CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Body
Filed Mar 8, 2012175,000 milesIN

THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT, AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FRAME NEEDED FOR ALIGNMENT AND TO HOLD UP THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS RUSTED THROUGH. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT ON NISSAN FORUMS. *TR

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Aug 21, 2010159,904 milesMA

LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT, WHICH CONNECTS TO FRONT MOTOR MOUNT, ROTS THROUGH. THIS CAUSES FRONT MOTOR MOUNT TO DROP DOWN. SUPPORT IS INTEGRAL TO CHASSIS STRUCTURE AND ALIGNMENT. SUPPORT HAD TO BE REPLACED. COMMON ISSUE ON 1995-1999 BODY STYLE. *TR

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Dec 9, 2009131,000 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEEDS, IT WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 151000.

SteeringFire
Filed Dec 8, 2008144,000 milesNJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 NISSAN MAXIMA. DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL COVER WHERE THE AIR BAG WAS LOCATED. HE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,000. UPDATED 01/09/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/09/09.*JB

Structure
Filed Aug 13, 2006127,000 milesPA

WE JUST PURCHASED OUR DAUGHTER HER FIRST CAR,A VERY NICE LOOKING 1995 NISSAN MAXIMA. IT ONLY HAD ONE SMALL RUST SPOT ONE THE REAR FENDER,AND IT SEEMED TO RUN GREAT,SO WE BOUGHT IT HOME. TWO DAYS LATER WE NOTICED A THUMPING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. UPON INVESTIGATION, FOUND THAT THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT HAS TOTALLY ROTTED AWAY IN THE MIDDLE ,WHERE THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS ON. THIS CAUSED THE MOTOR TO TILT FORWARD ABOUT THREE INCHES. IT WONT BE LONG TILL THE MOTOR FALLS OUT ON THE GROUND... WHEN I CALLED LOCAL DEALER THEY SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHAT A PIECE OF JUNK,NOW THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND THIS CAR WAS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED BY THE FIRST OWNER AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. IF OTHER OWNERS DO NOT CATCH THIS DEFECT IN TIME SOMEONE COULD GET HURT.. WILL BE CALLING NISSAN TO SE WHAT THEY WILL DO. *NM

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed May 3, 2006155,000 milesTX

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE TIRE WAS CHANGED. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE TREAD SEPARATION. UPDATED 5/28/2006 - *NM

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 5, 2005138,000 milesAL

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH IN THE RAIN CONSUMER SAW A TREE THAT FELL ON THE ROAD. CONSUMER COULD NOT AVOID HITTING THE TREE. IMPACT FLATTENED THE HOOD, AND THE WINDOW SHIELD CAME INTO THE VEHICLE. ALSO, SUN ROOF WAS SMASHED. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER STRUCK HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire
Filed Dec 3, 2004MI

1995 MAXIMA HAS A MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, THE CAR HAD A FIRE ERUPTING INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN CAUSED BY A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN . THE MANUFACTURER SAID ITS NOTHING UNUSUAL. IN OTHER WORDS, ITS VERY NORMAL FOR AN 8 YEAR OLD CAR TO CATCH FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. YES, BELIEVE IT OR NOR. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA DID NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. DONT BE FOOLED BY THE NICE LOOKS OF THAT CAR. I HAD TO CHANGE THE O2, KNOCK SENSOR EVERY TWO YEARS.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Sep 3, 200478,890 milesMS

FUEL RETURN LINE DETERIORATED, SPILLING GAS OUT ONTO THE PAVEMENT WHILE PARKED. CONSUMER HAD RECENTLY FILLED THE GAS TANK. DEALER REMOVED THE GAS TANK AND REPLACED THE FUEL VENT LINE.*AK *TC

Suspension
Filed Aug 17, 2004PA

I WANT TO KNOW WHY NISSAN HAS NOT RECALLED THE 1995 MAXIMA DUE THE SPRINGS DEFECT, GEAR SHIFT MALFUNCTION, STARTER PROBLEM AND THE LIST GOES ON. I HAVE 2 1995 MAXIMA'S AND THEY BOTH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. HAVING DONE QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH LOOKING FOR CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH EVERYONE ELSE WITH A 95 MAXIMA HAS THE SAME DEFECTS. THE SPRING PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AS WAS THE SPRING PROBLEM WITH THE SENTRA. I HAVE DOCUMENTED EVERY COMPLAIN THAT I COULD FIND AND IF MY DAUGHTER OR MYSELF HAS AN ACCIDENT IN THESE NISSAN'S, SOMEONE IN MY FAMILY WILL BE RICH! I DO NOT HAVE $1600 TO REPLACE THEM. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT $1000,S OF DOLLAR REPLACING STARTER, BRAKES, ROTORS, KNOCK SENSORS, BATTERIES AMONGST OTHER THINGS AND I'VE ONLY HAD THE CARS SINCE MARCH OF THIS YEAR. NEITHER CD PLAYER WORKS, INSIDE DOME LIGHT DOES NOT WORK.*JB

Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear
Filed Aug 5, 200450,000 milesCA

WINDOW FOGS UP REGULARLY AND MORE INTENSE IN THE SUMMER. AFTER A COMPLETE CLEANING JOB, THE WINDOWS FOG UP AGAIN. IT CAUSES MAJOR VISIBILITY PROBLEM DURING THE DAY WHEN THE SUN HITS THE WINDSHIELD, AND AT NIGHT WHEN ONCOMING VEHICLES LIGHTS HIT THE WINDSHIELD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DID THE 60K MILES SERVICE AND INSPECTED THE CAR, AND WASN'T ABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED NISSAN 800 # AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO HELP ME EITHER.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control
Filed May 24, 200411,750 milesMI

WE PURCHASED A NEW 1995 NISSAN MAXIMA IN JULY 1995. BY APRIL 1996, THE STILL-NEW CAR HAD TO BE REPAIRED WITH A NEW O2 SENSOR, BUT UNDER THE WARRANTY. THEN BY OCTOBER 2000, ANOTHER NEW O2 SENSOR HAD TO BE INSTALLED, AND WAS PAID OUT OF OUR OWN POCKET. HOWEVER, BY FEBRUARY 2002, THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE CAR WITH YET ANOTHER O2 SENSOR FAILURE. AT THAT TIME WE REFUSED THE SERVICE BECAUSE WE HAD LOST CONFIDENCE ON THE REPAIR DUE TO PAST POOR QUALITY HISTORY AND HIGH REPAIR COST ESTIMATION (~$250). THE DEALERSHIP NOW ROUTINELY WARNS US TO REPAIR THE SENSOR, BUT REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THE SENSOR QUALITY AND/OR VEHICLE ENGINE OPERATION THAT, IN MY OPINION, WAS THE CAUSE OF THE REPEATED REPAIRS.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (prndl)
Filed Apr 12, 2004PA

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. BRAKES MAKE LOUD NOISE AND OFTEN IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP. DOME LIGHT AND DOOR LIGHTS DONOT WORK.STRUTS AND SPRINGS ARE BAD. MAKES LOUD NOISE. STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY.*AK

Exterior Lighting
Filed Mar 3, 2004ID

RECOMMENDATION OF A LIGHT TO SHINE ON THE FRONT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED. *PH THE CONSUMER OWNED A 1985 NISSAN MAXIMA WHICH WAS EQUPPED WITH A FEATURE THAT THE CONSUMER THINKS SHOULD BE MANDATORY ON EVERY VEHICLE. WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS WERE BEING OPERATED THIS FEATURE SHINED A LIGHT ILLUMINATING THE AREA TOWARDS THE SIDE AND SLIGHTLY FORWARD OF THE VEHICLE. *NM

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Jan 15, 200490,000 milesPA

WE PURCHASED A 1995 NISSAN MAXIMA GLE IN 1997 FROM PERUZZI NISSAN IN FAIRLESS HILLS, PA. FOR AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO ABOUT EIGHT (8) PERCENT OF THE FINAL SALE PRICE, WE ALSO PURCHASED AN 84-MONTH OR 100,000 MILE NISSAN SECURITY+PLUS VEHICAL PROTECTION PLAN. AT AROUND 48 MONTHS AND WITH LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, WE WERE INFORMED THE PLAN HAD EXPIRED. IT TURNS OUT THAT NISSAN'S PLAN STARTS ON THE DATE THE VEHICLE FIRST LEFT THE SHOWROOM, A.K.A. THE ORIGINAL IN-SERVICE DATE (WHICH IN OUR CASE WAS JUNE, 1994), NOT THE DATE ON WHICH A CONSUMER BUYS THE SAME CAR AS USED. THE WORDING OF THE CONTRACTS IS MISLEADING AT BEST AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE MARKETING BROCHURES NISSAN DEALERS USE TO SELL THESE VERY PROFITABLE PLANS SAYS THAT COVERAGE STARTS ON THE DATE YOU PURCHASED YOUR CAR. IN EFFECT, OVER ONE THIRD OF THE COVERAGE WE PAID FOR WAS SHAVED OFF FROM THE VERY MOMENT WE PURCHASED THE PLAN. WE SUBSEQUENTLY INCURRED SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS IN REPAIRS THAT WE ARE NOW IN COURT ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER, HAVING WON A FIRST ROUND AND JUDGMENT OF $3,300. CONSUMERS SHOULD BE FOREWARNED ABOUT THESE PLANS, WHICH WE MAINTAIN ARE A SHAM AND, IN AT LEAST SOME STATES (INCLUDING PENNSYLVANIA) CONSTITUTE FRAUD. WE ARE LOOKING TO HEAR FROM OTHER CONSUMERS THAT PURCHASED THIS PARTICULAR PLAN SINCE 1997, FROM PERUZZI NISSAN AS WELL AS OTHER DEALERS.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 31, 2003MA

WOMAN STOPPED SHORT. MY BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT MY CAR HIT THE REAR OF WOMAN'S CAR. AIRBAG DID NOT OPEN RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND INJURY TO DRIVER. *PH

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Jul 14, 2003AL

CONSUMER STATES, THA T AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASH BOARD DUE TO A FAULTY MODULE SENSOR. DEALER CHANGED MODULE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 18, 2003CA

1995 NISSAN MAXIMA EXPERIENCING OIL LEAK. *MR THERE WAS A PRE-EXISTING OIL LEAK. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP. THE DEALER PROMISED THE CONSUMER A NEW BATTERY BUT THEY CLEANED OFF THE BATTERY ACID AND SAID THAT IS WAS NEW. AFTER ABOUT THREE WEEKS A NEW BATTERY WAS PLACED IN AFTER SEVERAL NO STARTS. THE DEALER STATED THE ALTERNATOR WAS BAD. *SCC *JB

Suspension › RearCrash
Filed Jun 16, 2003MD

VEHICLE'S REAR END WOULD SWING AROUND UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD HIT A BUMP OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT GUARD RAIL. *MR

Unknown or Other
Filed May 23, 2003MD

NAR 05/21/2003 *MR THE CONSUMER HAS TO REPLACE SENSORS ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASSIONS. *CB

20 of 152 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
1995 — this page152550Routine
199489530Routine
199378640Routine
1992110530Routine
199176420Routine
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.