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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 →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

100 reports
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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

13,000 miles · Nov 7, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208189

178,276 miles · Jun 30, 2004
Fuel System, GasolineFire

VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED AND THEN WAS PARKED DUE TO FUEL LEAKING. ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED FUEL LEAK DUE TO FAULTY FUEL LINE AND FUEL INJECTION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10079091

155,000 miles · Nov 3, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

RE: 1987 NISSAN MAXIM I OWN 3 OF THESE VEHICLES. IN 2 OF THEM, THE PRESSURIZED FUEL LINE COMING OUT OF THE GAS TANK HAS FAILED, ALLOWING STRONG FUEL VAPORS TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS LINE IS DIRECTLY UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT AND RAW FUEL ALSO IS ABLE TO FLOW UNDER THE SEAT. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10045344

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL INLECTORS LEAKING, THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS AN INJECTOR RECALL. (RECALL NOT LIFETIME WARRANTY)-DEALER MADE THE REPAIRS *SCC

NHTSA ODI #567954

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineFire

RECALL 95I00600, 15 MINUTES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER COULD SEE FLAMES COMING FROM ENGINE NEAR FUEL INJECTORS. CONSUMER WAS 2ND OWNER OF VEHICLE, AND MANUFACTURER SENT A LETTER SHOWING THAT IT WAS DONE. PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED, AND CONSUMER WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO MANUFACTURER TO AT LEAST SENT SOMEONE OR GIVE DEAL…

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RECALL 95I00600, 15 MINUTES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER COULD SEE FLAMES COMING FROM ENGINE NEAR FUEL INJECTORS. CONSUMER WAS 2ND OWNER OF VEHICLE, AND MANUFACTURER SENT A LETTER SHOWING THAT IT WAS DONE. PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED, AND CONSUMER WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO MANUFACTURER TO AT LEAST SENT SOMEONE OR GIVE DEALER AUTHORIZATION TO INSPECT VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #882097

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2000
Fuel System, GasolineFire

WE HAD LIABILITY COVERAGE ONLY. NISSAN UNWILLING TO SETTLE FOR VALUE OF CAR.

NHTSA ODI #733793

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

I KEPT SMELLING GAS THEN I KNEW THE INJECTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE I HAD A STARTER REPLACED AND TOM PEACOCK NISSAN RAN A CHECK TO INSURE THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED IT WAS ALREADY DONE SO I WAS CONVINCED THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED, SO ABOUT A YEAR LATER I'M SMELLING GAS ME AND MY FATHER LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW THAT FU…

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I KEPT SMELLING GAS THEN I KNEW THE INJECTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE I HAD A STARTER REPLACED AND TOM PEACOCK NISSAN RAN A CHECK TO INSURE THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED IT WAS ALREADY DONE SO I WAS CONVINCED THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED, SO ABOUT A YEAR LATER I'M SMELLING GAS ME AND MY FATHER LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM AN INJECTOR SO I CALLED TOM PEACOCK NISSAN.CONSIDERING THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE PROBLEM CONCERNING INJECTORS FAILING RESULTING IN FIRES THEY SAID IT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AND THEIR BEST ADVICE WAS TO PAY $915 FOR ALL NEW REPLACEMENT INJECTORS,SO MY REACTION WAS WHY WOULD I REPLACE ALL OF THEM IF ONLY ONE OF THEM IS LEAKING,SO I THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND SAID I WILL JUST BUY ONE CONSIDERING THE OTHERS ARE STILL FUNCTIONING SO I CALLED TOM PEACOCK NISSAN AND ORDERED ONE INJECTOR IT COST ME $115.00 SO I THAT'S FINE I'LL ORDER IT AND LET THEM PUT THE INJECTOR IN WHEN THE INJECTOR CAME IN I WAITED A WEEK FOR MY NEXT PAY CHECK TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS,THAT TIME CAME AND I CALLED TOM PEACOCK TO SET UP A TIME TO BRING IN THE CAR, I NOTIFIED THEM THAT I HAD ALREADY BOUGHT THE INJECTOR I JUST NEEDED IT INSTALLED THEY SAID THEY DON'T WORK ON CARS 10 YEARS OR OLDER AND REFERRED ME TO A GORDON AUTOMOTIVE, WHICH SURPRISED ME CONSIDERING THEY MADE THE CAR AND GUY I SPOKE WITH PREVIOUSLY SAID JUST BRING THE CAR BUY WE WILL REPLACE THE INJECTORS ALL OF THEM FOR $915 I AM JUST VERY UPSET WITH NISSAN WHY MAKE CAR THAT CAN YOU CAN'T REPAIR,IF THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE SAME PROBLEM,WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING REGARDING SOMETHING THEY WERE FORCED INTO A RECALL IN 1996,ALL I SEE IS THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURING AGAIN AND AGAIN I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS NOT BEING RESOLVED IT'S BEING AVOIDED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721872

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 1999
Fuel System, GasolineFire

RECEIVED NOTICE 95I006000. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. TOOK VEHICLE FOR FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMS RECALL REPAIRS. MECHANIC REPLACED OLD CLIPS WITH SAME TYPE OF FUEL INJECTOR CLIPS. VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO CLAMPS PIECED TOGETHER WRONGLY. RETURNED HOSE PIECED TOGETHER WITH METAL TUBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #854518

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 1999
Fuel System, GasolineFire

I WAS GIVEN A RECALL NOTICE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE 6-10-99. I TOOK THE CAR TO DON DAVIS NISSAN TWO TIMES. BOTH TIMES THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS IN STOCK TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. THEY TOLD ME TO RETURN LATER. I CALLED THEM TWO MORE TIMES AND BOTH TIMES THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE " TOO BUSY " AND THE SHOP WAS "TOO FULL" A…

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I WAS GIVEN A RECALL NOTICE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE 6-10-99. I TOOK THE CAR TO DON DAVIS NISSAN TWO TIMES. BOTH TIMES THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS IN STOCK TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. THEY TOLD ME TO RETURN LATER. I CALLED THEM TWO MORE TIMES AND BOTH TIMES THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE " TOO BUSY " AND THE SHOP WAS "TOO FULL" AT THE TIME I CALLED. ABOUT SIX MONTHS FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE RUBBER FUEL LINES ON THE FUEL INJECTOR HOSES CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THE INJECTORS, INJECTOR WIRES, AND OTHER WIRES ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DON DAVIS NISSAN. THEY CHARGED ME $60 FOR A DAMMAGE ESTIMATE WHICH THEY SENT TO NISSAN CORP. , ALONG WITH PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE. THREE MONTHS LATER, 3-24-99 NISSAN CORP. NOTIFIED DON DAVIS NISSAN THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE DAMAGE, BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MAINTAINANCE RECORDS OF OIL CHANGES AND TUNE-UPS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY FATHER'S HOUSE WHERE IT REMAINS. I HAVE CALLED NISSAN AND ARGUED WITH THEM. THE MOST RECENT TIME 7-23-99 CASE OR CALL # 2865398. I TOLD THEM DURING THIS LAST CALL I WAS GOING TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. THEY TOLD ME TO GO AHEAD AND FILE THAT YOU COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT MY PROBLEM ANYWAY BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS VOLUNTARY ON NISSAN'S PART. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME? MY CAR BURNED AND HASN'T RUN FOR MONTHS BECAUSE OF THIS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. SARAH ASH

NHTSA ODI #709070

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