Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
INTERLOCK CABLE BETWEEN IGNITION SWITCH AND SHIFTER BROKE MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR THE KEY TO BE TAKE OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD DOWN THE DRIVEWAY.
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROX. 5MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT. CONSUMER HIT BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT, RESULTING IN CRASHING INTO GAURDRAIL. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK
HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED AND DID NOT DEPLOY. DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
PAINT IS THIN AND IS PEELING.
ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED A FIRE IN THE TRUNK.
WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO GO OUT OF PARK. GEAR STICKS, AND THE DRIVER HAS TO REALLY STRUGGLE TO GET THE GEAR OUT OF THIS POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE THIRD TIME THE DEALER FINALLY REPLACED THE BUSHING LOCK IN THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL IS GOING ON. *AK
THE DESIGN OF THE REAR SEAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO PROPERLY INSTALL A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. OWNER IS INTERESTED IN A SAFETY SEAT THAT WILL FIT PROPERLY.
DRIVER'S SEAT IS LOOSE, AND IT COMES OUT OF ITS RAILS. *AK
TRANSMISSION IS DELAYED WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR. *AK
MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. NLM
TIRES LEAKED CAUSING FAILURE.(MICHELIN MXV4- TIRE SIZE 205/65 R15- TIRE ID # DOTB9PAANKX505)
AXLE FAILED.
EMISSION CONTROL SENSOR FAILED.
FUEL SYSTEM FAILED.
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT.
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT FAILED.
TRANSMISSION REPLACED DUE TO STALLING UPON SHIFTING INTO SECOND AND THIRD GEARS.
THERE IS A BLIND SPOT THAT BLOCKS OUT VISION FOR SHORT DRIVERS. OWNER CAN'T SEE ONCOMING VEHICLES FROM LEFT AT INTERSECTIONS. LARGE BLIND SPOT CREATED BY LEFT OUTSIDE MIRROR AND BAR BETWEEN WINDSHIELD AND LEFT FRONT WINDOW. *AK
UNSPECIFIED: CONSUMER WANTS AIR BAGS DEACTIVATED DUE TO THE RISK OF INJURY TO SHORT PEOPLE.
CONSUMER HAS EXPRIENCED HEADLIGHT EXPLOSIONS OF BOTH HEADLAMPS.. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED MARCH 28 IN THE MOUNTAINS, AND SECOND TIME ON APRIL 28, 1997. THE BULBS ARE THE HALOGEN BULBS WHICH ARE THE LONG LIFE 9004 MODEL BULBS. THESE BULBS ARE EXPLODING INTO THOUSANDS OF PIECES. *AK.
WINDSHIELD WASHER FAILED.
PROBLEM WITH SUN/MOON ROOF.
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.
ENGINE FAILED, CAUSING NOISE .
SOLENOID VALVE FAILED.
AIR IN CLUTCH LINES.
REAR RIGHT BRIDGESTONE TIRE BLEW OUT. (SIZE P20565R15)
AIR VALVE DEFECTIVE.
REAR END HOPS WHEN DRIVEN OVER BUMPS.
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING UNDER THE PASSENGER'S SIDE MANUAL SEAT, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. *AK
POWER DOOR LOCK FAILED, COULDN'T BE OPENED WITH REMOTE OR INTERIOR ELECTRICAL SWITCH.
POWER STEERING FAILED.
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION.
STEERING WHEEL NOISE.
REAR SHOCKS FAILED.
BATTERY REPLACED.
VEHICLE DRIFTED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTING IN A CRASH. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER, INCLUDING BRAKES/STEERING, COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, ACCORDING TO DEALER, CAUSED BY COMPUTER UNIT FAILURE. *AK
ABS BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP OR PRESSING THE PEDAL REAL HARD, BRAKES LOCK UP, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
COMMENTS ON REFORMULATED GASOLINE CAUSING LEAKS IN FUEL SYSTEM WHICH MAY RESULT IN FIRES. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAREND ACCIDENT AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. *AK
ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWICE.
VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT CONSTANTLY. 8AK
ENGINE SURGES ON IT OWN/DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT LOW DEMAND. *AK
VENT CONTROL VALVE FAILED.
VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT.*SD
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Nissan Maxima → · Every Maxima year → · How the figures are calculated →