IllustrationVEHICLE CAUGHTON FIRE CAUSED BY THE IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Maxima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 reportsVEHICLE STALLS DUE TO ALTERNATOR FAILURE, CAUSING FUEL ODOR TO EMANATE FROM ENGINE. *DH
ALTERNATOR FAILED. *SD
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, UNKNOWN SOURCE OF FIRE. TT
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAD TO JUMP OUT OF A MOVING VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION FAILED. TT
PARKED VEHICLE; RESTARTED, SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERHOOD, OPENED HOOD; FIRE BROKE OUT. TT
THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE DRIVING AND IT CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
EXPERINCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS;KEEPS BURNING OUT ALTERNATORS, HEAD LAMPS, BATTERIES; CONTROL PANEL LIGHTS COMES ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON;SMELL OF WIRE BURNING
SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING, RDESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. TT
Official recalls
0No 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
2EA94018 · 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