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1989 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1989 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 99.

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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 62 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 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

8 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2004
Electrical System

I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW FROM JACK BIGGER NISSAN. APPROXIMATELY 5 YEARS AFTER THE PURCHASE, IN OUR HOT SUMMERS, I NOTICED THE DIGITAL DASHBOARD (ONE OF THE FEATURES THAT ATTRACTED MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF TO THIS PARTICULAR CAR) STARTED SHOWING HORIZONTAL "STREAKS" ACROSS THE LIGHT PANEL & THE READINGS WOULD FLICKER IN AND OUT. AS …

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I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW FROM JACK BIGGER NISSAN. APPROXIMATELY 5 YEARS AFTER THE PURCHASE, IN OUR HOT SUMMERS, I NOTICED THE DIGITAL DASHBOARD (ONE OF THE FEATURES THAT ATTRACTED MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF TO THIS PARTICULAR CAR) STARTED SHOWING HORIZONTAL "STREAKS" ACROSS THE LIGHT PANEL & THE READINGS WOULD FLICKER IN AND OUT. AS THE YEARS PASSED, THE PROBLEM GREW WORSE, TO THE POINT WHERE THE LIGHTS WOULD ACTUALLY GO OUT COMPLETELY! WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED, APPROXIMATELY 1994, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS PURCHASED FROM AND WAS INFORMED THAT, YES, THEY HAD DISCONTINUED USING THESE DIGITAL LIGHTS JUST FOR THAT REASON! UPON INQUIRY TO REPAIR, I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT WOULD COST ROUGHLY (AT THAT TIME) $1200 - $1400 TO INSTALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS REQUIRED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM!!! I HAD THEM SOMETIMES. I AM STILL DRIVING THE CAR AFTER 15 YRS., I NEVER HAVE ANY OF MY DASH LIGHTS - NOT SPEED, OIL, GAS, MILEAGE, CHECK ENGINE, CRUISE CONTROL OR TEMPERATURE; OR ANY OTHER READINGS I'VE LONG FORGOTTEN HAD BEEN THERE. OBVIOUSLY, SPEED AND MY GAS GAUGE ARE THE TWO THINGS I CONSIDER MISSING THE MOST. I CAN KEEP UP WITH THE GAS, I'VE ONLY RUN OUT ONCE, TO MY CREDIT. THE SPEED, HOWEVER, I FEEL IS DANGEROUS. PERHAPS NISSAN DOES NOT CARE IF I GET A TICKET OR TWO FOR BEING OVER THE SPEED LIMIT, SO PERHAPS THAT DANGER IS PERCEIVED AS "ONLY TO ME", AFTERALL, IT'S NOT LIKE THE BRAKES OR TRANSMISSION. I DO NOT AGREE. I HAVE FELT, FROM THE BEGINNING, THAT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IS NISSAN'S RESPONSIBILITY. I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER 1989 MAXIMAS ON THE ROAD WITH NO DASH LIGHTS. I HAVE BEEN "IN THE DARK" FOR ABOUT 8 YRS. NOW AND I DO FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS FORUM TO EXPLAIN THIS CAR'S PROBLEM, I DID WRITE TO NISSAN CORP. AND THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES, JUST TO BE IGNORED. SINCERELY, JOAN L. PELZER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10078454

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2000
Electrical SystemEquipment

A/C FAILED; SANTA MONICA NISSAN CLAIMED THE WHOLE DASHBOARD COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT $1000. LATER FOUND YOUR BULLETIN FC0006029. *AK

NHTSA ODI #723778

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2000
Electrical SystemFireInjury

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. SMOKE COME FROM HOOD. COASTED TIL GOT OFF MAIN ROAD. CAR STARTED FLAMING UNDER HOOD. WROTE UP AS TOTAL LOSS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #719991

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 1998
Electrical System

WHEN IT'S COLD THE DIGITAL DASH DOES NOT COME ON. THE DASH STAYS BLACK UNTIL THE CAR HAS HEATED UP.

NHTSA ODI #528996

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 1996
Electrical System

THE GAS GAUGE WENT OUT AND THE DRIVER DOESN'T KNOW HOW MUCH GAS SHE HAS OR HOW FAST SHE IS GOING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #806770

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1996
Electrical System

CLUSTER MODULE FAILED. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #500509

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 1995
Electrical System

ACCESSORY FUSE BLOWS WHEN DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTS WHEN VEHICLE IS STILL RUNNING. *SKD

NHTSA ODI #485281

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 1995
Electrical System

THE POWER DISPLAY UNIT DON'T LIGHT UP. TT

NHTSA ODI #961174

Official recalls

1

95V244000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap

Dec 15, 1995

IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A MIXTURE OF MUD AND SALT TO GET TRAPPED BETWEEN THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND WHEEL HOUSING. THE TRAPPED MUD AND SALT CAN RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND THE WHEEL HOUSING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SIGNIFICANT CORROSION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE MAY RESULT IN FUEL LEAKS WHICH IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. IN ADDITION, THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS MOUNTED TO THE WHEEL HOUSING AND IN THE EVENT OF SIGNIFICANT CORROSION, AND THE MOUNTING COULD FAIL IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN DEPENDING UPON THE EXTENT OF THE CORROSION.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.