1997 Nissan Maxima complaints

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL UNDERHOOD/ENGINE/ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS. RECALL# 02V171000 SCC

FAILURE OF REAR O2 SENSOR THREE TIMES OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS

PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, CONSUMER STATES THE ALTERNATOR FAILED ON THE VEHICLE, AND IS NOW REQUESTING A REFUND.*JB

FOG LIGHTS, BELTS, TRUNK RELEASE, ALTERNATOR, ELECTRICAL WIRING, AND BATTERY. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE NEW FOG LIGHT INSTALLED BECAUSE THE OLD ONES HAD BROWN MOISTURE IN THE LIGHT. THE TRUNK RELEASE STOPPED WORKING AND AS A RESULT THE TRUNK COULD ONLY BE OPENED WITH THE KEY. THE VEHICLE'S ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEMS. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE ALTERNATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AGAIN BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING. *NM

FAULTY PART SEEMS TO BE THE VENT CONTROL VALVE TO THE EVAP CANISTER, BUT ODB-II RESULTS IN MANY FAULTY CODES. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SYSTEM (APPROX. $500.00) SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS CAR ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****769313

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE ALTERNATOR. ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS

THE HOOD IS SUPPOSED TO BE SUPPORTED BY SHOCKS, BUT THEY FAIL AFTER A FEW YEARS. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO, THE HOOD SLAMMED DOWN MOMENTS AFTER MY HEAD WAS UNDER IT. NOW, IT WON'T STAY UP AT ALL. I ASKED MY DEALERSHIP WHY THEY DIDN'T TELL ME IT WOULDN'T STAY UP AND THEY SAID B/C IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AFTER A FEW YEARS AND THEY DON'T RELY ON IT ANYWAY. SEEMS THEY SHOULD TELL THEIR CUSTOMERS THAT AND RETURN TO A ROD-SUPPORTED HOOD. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR MAJOR INJURY TO UNAWARE CUSTOMERS, AND THE FACT THAT THE DEALERSHIPS KNOW ABOUT IT (AND DON'T TELL) IS SCARY.*AK

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

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

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE CUT OFF AND STARTED TO SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND HAD ALTERNATOR REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AT 30MPH VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATED PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE ALTERNATOR. *JG

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 MORE THAN 1 YEAR AFTER MY INCIDENT. I THOUGHT IT WAS ISOLATED UNTIL I READ ABOUT IT IN THE NEWPAPER. IT COST MORE THAN $650 TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND FIX THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I AM GOING TO CONTACT NISSAN FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I AM VERY LUCKY THAT MY SITUATION DID NOT END UP KILLING ME.*AK

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

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. THEIR ARE NO CAUTION SIGNS ON THE AUTO NOR IN THE VEHICLES MANUAL.*AK

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

AT 45 THOUSAND MILES, THE RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *YD

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

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SOMETIMES THERE WAS A GAS SMELL INSIDE CAB. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND HE STATED THAT EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM WAS BAD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FAILURES WITH TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES. FIRST FAILURES WERE CRACKS ON OUTSIDE OF TIRES NEXT TO RIM AFTER APPROX. 29K MILES. GOODYEAR GAVE SOME CREDIT AND NEW SET OF EAGLES (SAME SIZE AND MODEL) INSTALLED IN JUNE '99.. IN OCT. 2001DURING ROUTINE ROTATION AND BALANCE SEVERE CRACKS NEXT TO RIM ON INSIDE OF REPLACEMENT TIRES WAS OBSERVED BY TECHNICIAN. THESE TIRES HAD APPROX. 38K MILES ON THEM. CAR IS CAREFULLY MAINTAINED AND TIRES ARE ALWAYS ROTATED AND BALANCED EVERY 6K MILES.*AK (TIRESIZE: 215 55 H16)

I OWN 2 OF THE SAMES CARS MAKE YEAR AND MODEL AND THE SAME THING HQAPPENED 2 BOTH CARS BUT ONE OF THEM WAS REALLY SERIOUS IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AS I WAS DRIVING I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO I THINK THERE SHOULDVE BEEN A RECALL OR SOMETHING PLEASE HELP THNK YOU. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

ALTERNATOR NOT CHARGING-AFTER STARTING CAR IN SHOP-ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE. SECOND 1997 MAXIMA WE HAVE WITNESS WITH THIS CONDITION-WILL SEND FILL OUT SEPERATE FORM ON OTHER CAR ALSO.*AK

SMOKE NOTICED FROM UNDERHOOD WHILE VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE. FIRE INSIDE ALTERNATOR-PUT OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER. *AK

FILED A DEFECTIVE WORKMANSHIP CLAIM WITH NISSAN. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

ON TWO OCCASIONS THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE DEALER CLEARDED THE MEMORY AND RESET THE SYSTEM, THE PROBLEM REOCCURED AND THE DEALER PERFORMED THE SAME REPAIR EXCEPT THIS TIME THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD HAD BEEN COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. NLM

ALTERNATOR JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE, MECHANIC DOES NOT KNOW WHY. THERE WAS NO WARNING, I DROVE FROM THE 6TH FLOOR TO THE 3RD FLOOR OF THE PARKING GARAGE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, SMELLED SMOKE LIFTED UP THE HOOD NOTICED THE ORANGE AND RED FLAMES. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO CONCORD NISSAN WAS TOLD THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAD CAUGHT FIRE & BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS AND FAN BELT. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT NISSAN THERE IS NO KNOWN CAUSE FOR THIS INCIDENT.

THE GAS HOOD SHOCKS FAILED CAUSING THE HOOD TO CRASHING DOWN AFTER THE HOOD WAS OPENED. NLM

DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT EXTEND;SEEMS LOCKED. *AK

THIS REPRESENTS VERY EARLY FAILURE OF THE COMPONENTS. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

SMELLED SMOKE IMMEDIATLY AFTER STARTING CAR TURNED CAR OFF,INVESTIGATED AND SAW 3INCH FLAME EMITTING FROM ALTERNATOR NO WORK EVER DONE WITH ALTERNATOR IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM CONTACTED MANU. UNRESOLVED AS OF THIS TIME COMPLETE FAILURE RESULTED IMMEDIATLY. *AK

THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEEL BEARINGS ARE DEFECTIVE. *SLC

VEHICLE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. I WAS HIT IN THE REAR BY A 2000 FORD F150 TRUCK. I WAS PROPELLED FORWARD, THEN BACK INTO THE SEAT, THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. I SUSTAINED NECK, SHOULDER, BACK, HIP AND KNEE INJURIES. MY CAR WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE AIRBAGS IN MY CAR DID NOT DEPLOY!

I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AT THE INTERSECTION FEDERAL AND 33RD STREET AND WHEN PROCEEDED TO TURN RIGHT VERY SLOWLY, APPROXIMATELY 02 -05 MILES P/H BOTH OF FRONT AIR BAGS INFALTED ON ME. MY NECK HAS BEEN HURTING SINCE. THERE WAS NO COLLISION. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. THERE IS NO DAMADGE TO VEHICLE. AT THIS POINT I REPORTED TOP NISSAN CORPORATION THEY SEND AN INVESTIGATOR AND AFTER THREE DAYS OF INSPECTION THEY SAID THEY WILL NOTIFY ME IN 4 TO 6 WEEKS. THE VEHICLE IS COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WAREENTY. AT THIS POINT THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE.*AK

THE DIFFERENTIAL SPLINE GEAR SCORED FROM THE AXLE IS DISENGAGING FROM THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR COST OF TRANSMISSION AND RENTAL CAR SERVICE. *SLC

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER NOTED THAT AIR BAG MODULA NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

TRAVELING 60 MPH AT 12:45 PM ON I-95 NB IN MA, 2 MILES SOUTH OF EXIT 8. CLEAR WEATHER, TEMPERATURE IN MID 60'S, SMOOTH ASPHALT PAVEMENT. SUDDEN LOUD ROARING NOISE. I THOUGHT AT FIRST IT WAS SOME SORT OF ENGINE FAILURE, BLUE SMOKE COMING OUT OF REAR OF CAR. NEXT WERE VIBRATIONS AND SHORT LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I REGAINED CONTROL AND PULLED OFF TO RIGHT SHOULDER. BOTH SIDEWALLS WERE DISINTEGRATED ALL THE WAY AROUND, WITH ONLY A FEW CORDS AND BELTS HOLDING THE TOP PART OF THE SIDEWALLS AND TREAD CAP TO THE INNER PART OF THE SIDEWALLS ON THE RIM. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT PRIOR TO THIS THAT WOULD INDICATE ANY SORT OF DAMAGE TO THE TIRE THAT FAILED. I IMMEDIATELY REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER AND BRAND OF TIRES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE ON THE TIRES, IN THE CONDITION THE TIRES WERE IN.*AK (DOT NUMBER: M6B2LNER TIRESIZE: P215/55R16)

HOOD STRUTS BEGAN TO LEAK AND FULLY FAILED WITHIN 3 MONTHS. *AK

WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON 11/98, I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN I HEARD A NOISE LIKE ICE OR WATER FALLING ON THE ROOF OF MY CAR, WHEN I LOOKED IN FRONT OF MY CAR I SAW MY WINDSHIELD CRACK JUST BELOW MY LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER. THE CRACK STARTED FROM BENEATH MY LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER AND PROCEEDED UP ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND RAN ALL ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD ACROSS TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERHSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOOK A PEN AND FOLLOWED THE CRACK UP THE WINDSHIELD AND LIFTED THE WIPER AND HE SAID THAT IT LOOKS LIKE A PEEBLE HIT MY CAR. THE HOLE WAS THE SIZE OF THE TIP OF A PEN. I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS NOT NEAR ANY TRUCKS OR CLOSE ENOUGH FOR A CAR TO DO THIS. SO HE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT MYSELF. I STILL FEEL THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD, SOMEHOW MAYBE EFFECTED BY THE COLD WEATHER AS WELL. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE. WHILE TRYING TO PUT ON BRAKES, FOOT HIT THE GAS PEDAL. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER--COMPRESSOR.

TRAVRELING 45MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS MAKING A TURN IN FRONT, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE. INSTEAD, HIT VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE THEN ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS BEPLOYED BUT MUST HAVE POPPED OR FIZZLED OUT. DRIVER'S HEAD MADE CONTACT WITH THE FRONT WINDSHILD AND THERE WAS SMOKE INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKES ARE GRINDING AND SQUEAKING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMISSION SOLENOID FAILED. *YC

POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED. YH

A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED. YH

IN COLD WEATHER DOOR LATCH REFUSED TO ENGAGE. *AK

THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT WAS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE & REPLACED STRUT, BEARING, SPRINGS 6/8/98. AGAIN THE SAME NOISE OCCURED, AND THE BEARING WAS LUBED AND THE CONTROL ARMS WERE TIGHTENED 8/31/98. CURRENTLY, THE CAR IS MAKING THE SAME NOISE AND AGAIN VARIOUS PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER AND MUST BE REPLACED BY 1/26/98. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *AK

WHEN APPYLING THE BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE AUTOMATIC TRUNK OPENS UNEXPECTEDLY. IF AN OBJECT WAS TO FLY OUT OF THE TRUNK IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DEALER FOR A YEAR, DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK