1998 Nissan Maxima complaints

THE BATTERY WAS CONSTANTLY DRAINED AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE DIM. *JB

LETTER ON BEHALF OF ANTHONY A ABELE CONCERNING NON DEPLOYMENT OF FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS DURING A CRASH INVOLVING 1998, NISSAN MAXIMA. *AK

HEADLIGHT HARNESS CONNECTORS BURNED OUT IN 3 MONTHS CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD FOR NIGHT DRIVING. I HAVE REPLACED THE RIGHT AND LEFT HARNESS 6 TIMES AND THEY CONTINUE TO BLOW. THE REPLACEMENT HARNASSES ARE OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS AND WERE PURCHASED FROM THE NISSAN DEALER.

I WAS DRIVING ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD AND APPLIED MY BRAKES. I GOT NOTHING BUT INSTANT AND COMPLETE ABS, AND AFTER QUICKLY RELEASING AND REAPPLYING THE BRAKES, STILL HAD NOTHING BUT ABS. PH

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND HIGHER, AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE FRONT WHEELS LOCK UP AND BRAKES DON'T HOLD. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON 3 OCCASIONS, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. MR

ON 6/11/02 I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP (TOWING IS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED IN MY WARRANTY WHICH THEY MADE ME PAY FOR). IT WAS NOT DRIVEABLE DUE TO WHITE SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST, SPUTTERING/HESITATION, FUMES INSIDE CAR, SOAKED FRONT FLOOR MATS. SERVICE MGR CALLED ME TO SAY THE TECH FOUND WATER BACKED UP IN AC HEATER BOX FROM 'DEBRIS'. THIS 'DEBRIS' WAS LEAVES FROM TREES, THAT CAUSED WATER TO DRIP ON THE COMPUTER. (COMPUTER IS A COVERED COMPONENT ACCORDING TO MY WARRANTY). THEY COULD NOT REPLACE MY COMPUTER DUE TO 'NO DEFECT'. THEY SAY IT WAS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. HOWEVER, I PURCHASED THE CAR 11 MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT. THERE IS A DEFECT SOMEWHERE THAT 'DEBRIS' IS GETTING STUCK/CLOGGED. I GARAGE MY CAR AND DON'T HAVE ANY 'FALLING DEBRIS' FROM ANY TREES IN MY YARD. I DON'T HAVE TREES NEAR ME LIKE THAT. I REFUSED TO PAY THE $1100.00 THEY SAY THE COMPUTER WOULD COST TO BE REPLACED SO THEY PLACED IT IN THE 'SUN' TO 'DRY' AND CLEANED OUT THE EVAPORATOR CASE (WHICH IS WHERE THE 'CLOGGING' OCCURRED). THAT ALONE COST ME $365.65. I WROTE TO NISSAN MOTOR CORP, AMITY NISSAN AND CONTINUOUS CUSTOMER CARE (WARRANTY COMPANY). RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM ANY OF THEM. I WANT MY COMPUTER REPLACED AND BE REIMBURSED FOR THE BILL I HAD TO PAY. IT CLEARLY STATES, IN MY WARRANTY BOOK, THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE COVERED UP UNTIL 100,000 MILES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED-- STACEY J. GUENTHER NLM

A CLICKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE THAT WAS GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER. ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO STATED IT WAS THE ALTERNATER, NOT TO USE REAR DEFOGGER BECAUSE IT MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE, ALSO DEALER TOLD CONSUMER NOT TO FIX IT BECAUSE THERE WAS GOING TO BE A RECALL.*AK *JB

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

BATTERY EXPLODED WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY DEALER IN FEBRUARY 2002. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE LOOKING UNDER HOOD PRESSURE SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING HOOD TO FALL, AND CAUSING INJURY.*AK

WHEN RELEASING PEDAL AFTER BRAKING THERE IS A GRINDING AND HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED REAR BRAKE CABLES AND TURNED REAR ROTORS.*AK *JG

DIAGNOSE FROM NISSAN ELMWOOD FOR $39.22 STATES: " A CK FOG LAMP BURNT BY IGNITION WIRING WHOEVER INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEM IN VEHICLE TAPPED INTO HARNESS NEAR IGNITION AND LEFT WIRES BARE AND AFTER TIME THESE WIRES TOUCH AND BURNT. BRING VEHICLE BACK TO WHOEVER INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEM INTO VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS!!!". I BROUGHT MY CAR TO NISSAN ROUTE 22 WERE I HAD ALARM INSTALLED. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME FOR DIAGNOSES AND PERHAPS REPAIRS THEN. I BOUGHT NEW CAR FROM NISSAN DEALER, DID ALL REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE WITH NISSAN. DEMAGE WASN'T CAUSED BY ME. DRIVING WITH DANGER OF ANOTHER SHORT AND PERHAPS FIRE. DID DIAGNOSE WITH INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SHOP WHO STATES: "NISSAN IGNITION SIDE IS NOT SECURE, IT IS COMPLETELY OPEN AND MY WIRES ARE ALREADY MELTED WHICH HE DOESN'T WARRANTY MY SAFTY." I WOUL LIKE TO FAX COPIES OF THOSE STATMENTS. I HAD CALLED NISSAN HOT LINE. I HAD CALLED GM FROM NISSAN ROUTE 22 WHO NEVER RETURNED MY CALL AND LEFT ME WITH THIS SITUATION. CAR MAY GO ON FIRE AT ANY TIME.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT STARTED SMOKING, CONSUMER CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED A FIRE. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, AND VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER STATED THAT FRONT FUEL INJECTOR WAS LEAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING WITH DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT ON AND WHEN LEANING FORWARD SEAT BELT BECAME UNDONE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHR INFORMATION.*AK

1) AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON ON 2/26/1999. DEALER FIXED PROBLEM. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON 7/21/2001. STILL NEEDS TO BE FIXED. 2) FUEL GAUGE MORE THAT 25-50% INACCURATE, HAS RANDOMLY OCCURED 6 TIMES SINCE 1999. *AK

WHILE DRIVING RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS LEAKING ONTO ENGINE. THIS CAUSED A BURNING ODOR INSIDE VEHICLE. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT PROBLEM OF RACK AND PINION LEAKAGE EXISTED, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRABLE.*AK

CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO SECURE BOOSTER SEAT BECAUSE OF ALL CUSHION THATS AROUND SEAT.*AK

PER DEALERSHIP, REAR BRAKE CABLE DOES NOT RELEASE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED TWO INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION FORWARD AND BACKWARD, ON 9-29-00 CAUSING DAMAGE OF OVER $11,000, 12-4-00 WHILE BACKWARD THE VEHICLE ALMOST HIT THREE PEOPLE, NO INJURIES INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENTS. *MJS

AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID DRAINED FROM THE BACK END AND THE THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD I HIT A BUILDING. THERE IS OVER $8000.00 DAMAGES TO THE CAR AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO TOTAL THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE VEHICLE FOR ME. THIS VEHICLE IS A LEASED VEHICLE AND BECAUSE THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. ALSO THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE CAR WAS GOING 35 MILES PER HOUR WITH IT HIT THE BUILDING. I AM TRYING TO JUST GET THE DEALER TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AND REPLACE IT WITH ANOTHER BUT THEY ARE NOT COOPERATING. I HAVE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY AND HE SAYS I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DEALER TO TAKE THE CAR BACK. THE DEALER IS NOT ADMITTING THERE IS A DEFECT IN THIS CAR. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID PUDDLE AND THE DAMAGES TO THE CAR AND BUILDING. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS ALSO FAILING TO RESPOND TO MY REQUEST TO TOTAL THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE CAR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO FROM HERE?*AK

WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER CANNOT READ THE SPEEDOMETER BECAUSE OF THE LIGHT. *AK

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED FLASHING DURING OPERATION. TOOK TO DEALER. DEALER FIRST DIAGNOSED THAT AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. DEALER NEXT REPORTED THAT RIGHT SIDE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED REPLACEMENT; RIGHT SIDE MODULE WAS NOR AVAILABLE. DEALER PUT ORIGINAL CONTROL UNIT BACK IN AUTO. AIR BAG LIGHT NO LONGER FLASHED. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT AIR BAG FAILURE NO LONGER EXISTED. UPON MY NEXT USE OF AUTO, AIR BAG LIGHT WAS AGAIN FLASHING CONTINUOUSLY. SECOND DEFECT, HEATER FAN TICKING NOISE; DEALER INSTALLED INSULATOR TO DEADEN THE NOISE.

FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, AS DESCRIBED IN SERVICE BULLETINS DATABASE, EXIST IN OWNED AUTOMOBILE; HAVE REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP; WERE DISMISSED AS "COULD NOT DETECT" OR "NO REMEDY AVAILABLE"; CONDITIONS ARE AS REPORTED IN SERVICE BULLETINS EC98032A, NTB99030 AND NTB99024; NHTSA ITEM NUMBERS, SB607329, SB605012 AND SB604794.

STEERING PULL TO RIGHT ALL THE TIME. AFTER FOUR ALIGNMENTS, MANY TIRE ROTATIONS AND WHEEL BALANCING, AND NEW TIRES THE CAR CONTINUES TO PULL TO THE RIGHT . PULLS BOTH AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS.

YOKOHOMA TREADMASTER TIRES P205 65R WENT FLAT DUE TO PLUG IN TIRES LEAKED. *SLC

I HAD ABS PROBLEM ON 05-04-00,07-17-00 AND TWO OTHER TIME IN 1999&2000. *AK

RIGHT FRONT TIRE SHOWS SPLITS IN SIDEWALL. TIRE TO BE REPLACED ASAP. SPLITS SHOW UP ABOUT 1/4 INCH FROM RIM ,WITH SEVERAL SPLITS WITHIN A SIX INCH AREA. EACH SPLIT ABOUT 1/2 INCH TO 1 INCH WIDE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215-55-16 )

WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED BRAKES GRIND. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING SOUND IN THE BRAKES. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT RELEASING PROPERLY AT 9000MILES, AND AT 26000 MILES THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE.

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 50 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'SAIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

STRUCK ANOTHER CAR AT 35 MPH WITH FRONT BUMPER AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY / MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE / CAR WAS IN DEALER FOR REPAIR OF AIR BAG 6 WEEKS AGO FOR THE THIRD TIME. *AK

EVERY SIDE OF VEHICLE WAS HIT AGAINST A CEMENT BRIDGE. WHY DIDN'T MY AIR BAGS DEPLOY? *AK

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.

OCCURS 90% OF TIME AND MOST OFTEN AFTER CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN 10 MILES OR SO. NO SAFETY DEFECT ENUMERATED. *AK

TRANSMISSION HANGS UP/HESITATES UPPON ACCELERATION INTO TRAFFIC, POSING COLLISION POSSIBILITY. *AK

SQUEAKY BRAKES.

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.

THE AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR IS LOCATED BELOW THE AIR INTAKE AND IS OPEN TO DIRT AND DEBRIS. THIS CLOGGED ON A TRIP, CAUSING FLOODING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND INTERIOR. THE ONLY WARNING IS A YELLOW DASH LIGHT THAT SAYS "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" UPON BLINKING, THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES "DO NOT DRIVE OVER 45 MPH" AND " NO NEED TO TOW TO DEALER" THE UNIT CAR CONTROL COMPUTER IS IN DIRECT LINE WITH THE WATER FLOW FROM THE EVAPORATOR, AND WHEN IT CLOGGED AND FLOODED SHORTED OUT. THIS LEFT THE CAR FUEL INJECTORS WIDE OPEN..FLOODING THE ENGINE..IF THE ACCELERATOR WAS LET-UP ON AT 45, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STALLED. IN TRAFFIC, CREATINGS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECVIALLY SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS DIDN'T TURN ON, AND THE CAR LOSTB ALL POWER..STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. THE GAS FUMES WERE ALMOST OVERCOMING. NEITHER THE OWNERS MANUAL OR THE NISSAN SERVICE INDICATE AT ANY TIME THE NEED TO CLEAN OR PROTECT THIS EVAPORATOR. THE OWNERS MANUAL RE; FLASHING YELLOW LIGHT LEADS ONE TO BELIEVE THE CAT CAN BE DRIVEN SAFELY..IT CANNOT. NISSAN REFUSES TO PAY FOR OR CORRECT THIS LATENT DEFTECT.

WHILE BACKING UP CONSUMER SHIFTED GEAR INTO DRIVE, AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK / LOCKED UP, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE HITTING GARAGE CABLES. *AK

WAS TRAVELING 40MPH & HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION. AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, NEITHER ONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

AIR SUSPENSION REPLACED TWICE; WIRING HARNESS ALSO REPLACED

SEVEN REPAIR ATTEMPTS FOR FUEL GAUGE TO DATE 6/1999. *AK

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IS DESIGNED DEFECTIVE FROM NISSAN. ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES THE WINDSHIELD EITHER PITS, CHIPS OR CRACKS THE GLASS. IN MY OPINION, THERE WILL BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE, POSSIBLY LEADING TO INJURIES OR A FATAL ACCIDENT. THANK YOU. ROY OXENRIDER 5/17/99

NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION WITH ABANDONED VEHICLE.

MAJOR FRONTAL ACCIDENT -- NO AIRBAGS (DRIVER OR PASSENGER) DEPLOYED !!!!

I HAVE TRIED 4 DIFFERENT CAR SEATS AND STILL DO NOT FELL SAFE WITH THE FIT THEY HAVE IN THIS CAR. THE SEAT INCLINES AND WITHOUT A TOWEL OR SOMETHING UNDER THE CAR SEAT YOU CAN NOT INSTALL A REAR FACING CAR SEAT. I DO NOT FIND A TOWEL VERY SECURE SINCE IT SLIDES AND THE SEAT IS THEREFORE NOT IN PLACE FOR LONG: THAT IS NOT VERY SAFE. I BOUGHT A SPECIAL CAR SEAT WITH A REAR TETHER THAT CAN ANCHOR FROM THE REAR OF THE SEAT TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR, BUT THE NISSAN SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT INSTALL IT; THEY DIDN'T WANT TO ASSUME ANY RISK IF THE FRAME COULD NOT HOLD THE SEAT IN PLACE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. HAD I KNOW I WAS GOING TO HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM, I WOULD HAVE CHOSEN A DIFFERNT CAR; ONE IN WHICH A CHILD SEAT WAS MORE SECURE IN.