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1987 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1987 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 99.

About this comparison →
176Owner complaints

Model-year median: 99

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
30
198454
198560
1986176
198760
198862
1989106
1990
Compare all Maxima years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Fuel System, Gasoline
100Electrical System
22Engine And Engine Cooling
21Seat Belts
15Vehicle Speed Control
7
All reported categories
Visibility
6Power Train
5Unknown Or Other
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Steering
2Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Other
1Interior Lighting
1Structure
1Tires
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 4 of 176 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports95 fire reports5 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

22 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2012
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineFire

1987 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO VEHICLE FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, ONE OF THE PASSENGERS STARTED TO SMELL BURNING WIRE. SOON AFTER HIS WIFE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET TO A SAFE SPOT AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE VEHICLE …

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1987 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO VEHICLE FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, ONE OF THE PASSENGERS STARTED TO SMELL BURNING WIRE. SOON AFTER HIS WIFE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET TO A SAFE SPOT AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE HE WAS INFORMED THE INJECTORS DID NOT WANT TO SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR AN INJECTOR PROBLEM AND THE RECALL HAD NEVER BEEN PERFORMED.

NHTSA ODI #10486801

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2000
Electrical SystemFire

HAD COME UPON A STOP LIGHT, STARTED TO TAKE OFF & SMELLED FUEL. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OVER & LIFTED HOOD. NOTICED FLAMES & PUT OUT FIRE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC CHECKED VIN & NOTICED A RECALL AFFECTING THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER REFUSED RECALL REPAIRS DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENA…

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HAD COME UPON A STOP LIGHT, STARTED TO TAKE OFF & SMELLED FUEL. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OVER & LIFTED HOOD. NOTICED FLAMES & PUT OUT FIRE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC CHECKED VIN & NOTICED A RECALL AFFECTING THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER REFUSED RECALL REPAIRS DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #863632

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 1999
Electrical System

HAVE OCAISIONALLY FOUND PARKING LIGHTS ON FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. SOMETIMES BATTERY IS DEAD. CAN TURN OFF BY ROTATING SW HARD TO "OFF". ONLY HAPPENS IN SPRING (?) 2 YRS. RUNNING NOW. RUBBER BAND HOLDING SW IN "OFF" WORKS MOST DAYS.

NHTSA ODI #707726

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I HAVE REPLACE NUMEROUS PARTS IN SHORTS PERIODS OF TIME

NHTSA ODI #702448

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 1998
Electrical SystemFire

AFTER DRIVING CAR FOR ABOUT HALF MILE AND PARKED, CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. POPPED HOOD AND THERE WERE FLAMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828525

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND SMELLED SMOKE AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

NHTSA ODI #803566

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

UPON PARKING, MOMENTS LATER, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM RIGHT SIDE OF HOOD, THEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #801923

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. PLEASE GIVE MORE INFORMATION DESCRIBING THE FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #801366

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

DROVE CAR BACK/FORTH TO WORK, STOPPED AT GAS STATION, WENT TO PAY, STARTED SMOKING, HAD HELP TO MOVE CAR WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE, FIRE DEPT PUT OUT FLAMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #986594

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 1996
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineFire

WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERHOOD, FIRE SEEMED TO BE MOSTLY IN RIGHT SIDE AREA OF ENGINE, ENTIRE ENGINE TOTALED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 95I006 PRIOR TO INCIDENT, DOES NOT SPECIFY IF RECALL REPAIR HAD BEEN COMPLETED OR NOT. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #986316

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA94018 · Fuel Injector Assembly Leakage

Opened Jun 23, 1994 · Closed Nov 8, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System

AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC FILE.SERVICE CAMPAIGN 95I-006.

DP92009 · Sudden Acceleration

Opened Apr 20, 1992 · Closed Aug 20, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available