IllustrationCONSUMER NOTICED A BIG HOLE IN THE INSIDE OF THE TRUNK LEADING TO THE BACK TIRE. FUEL FILLER TUBE WAS CAUSING THE INTERIOR WHEEL HOUSING TO RUST. ALSO, SEATBELT WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE CAR. IT RUSTED AND CAME OFF. CONSUMER HAS SMALL CHILDREN THAT ARE NORMALLY RESTRAINED IN THOSE SEATS. *AK
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.
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 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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
20 reportsIN ADDITION TO THE RECALL 95V244 FOR 89-93 NISSAN MAXIMAS FOR A FUEL FILLER REPLACEMENT, ANOTHER PROBLEM I HAVE IS THE REAR WHEEL HOUSINGS WHICH ROT THROUGH (NOTED SOMEWHAT IN 95V244 AS "REAR SEAT BELT ATTACHMENT TO WHEEL HOUSING"). WHEN THERE IS REAR WHEEL HOUSING DAMAGE DUE TO CORROSION (SALT), SINCE THERE IS NO PLASTIC "LIN…
Read full complaint
IN ADDITION TO THE RECALL 95V244 FOR 89-93 NISSAN MAXIMAS FOR A FUEL FILLER REPLACEMENT, ANOTHER PROBLEM I HAVE IS THE REAR WHEEL HOUSINGS WHICH ROT THROUGH (NOTED SOMEWHAT IN 95V244 AS "REAR SEAT BELT ATTACHMENT TO WHEEL HOUSING"). WHEN THERE IS REAR WHEEL HOUSING DAMAGE DUE TO CORROSION (SALT), SINCE THERE IS NO PLASTIC "LINER" FOR THE HOUSING, WATER (WHEN RAINING) IS ALLOWED TO ENTER THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FLOODING IT - BUT ONLY WHEN THE DRIVER RIDES IN THE RAIN. (THE REAR WHEEL THROWS THE WATER HIGH AND A WATER TRAIL FINDS ITS WAY DOWN THE REAR SEAT EDGE THAT CONTACTS THE WHEEL HOUSING. THIS OPEN, CORRODED AREA COULD ALSO LET EXHAUST FUMES IN. NISSAN SHOULD HAVE PUT A PLASTIC WHEEL HOUSING LINER IN THE REAR AS THEY DID IN THE FRONT TO AVOID THIS POSSIBILITY. (IS THERE ONE AVAILABLE)? THIS IS A POPULAR CAR AND BUT IT MIGHT 6-9 YEARS FOR THIS CORROSION TO COME THROUGH.
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. VEHICLE IS FILLED WITH A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR. IN ADDITION THE FUEL INJECTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEFECTS ARE DESCRIBED IN INVESTIGATION NUMBER 95100600. *AK
FUEL INJECTORS FAILURE.
FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE.
FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE/FIRE POTENTIAL.
FUEL INJECTORS WERE LEAKING AND ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE. FOUND PROBLEM BEFORE IT DID. *AK
REPLACED (2) FUEL INJECTORS IN AUGUST OF 94. (2) MORE NEED REPLACEMENT NOW. FUEL INJECTORS ARE BAD.
THERE IS SOME FUEL ODOR COMES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT . TT
5MIN AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, NOTICE BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, DUE TO FIRE, RESULTING IN TOTALLED, POSSIBLE GAS LINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. TT
Official recalls
195V244000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.