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1992 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1992 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: 12 of 110 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports3 fire reports11 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

22 reports
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87,000 miles · Jan 7, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE SHUTS OF INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING FOR BRIEF MOMENTS (5-10 SEC.) SOMETIMES IN ISOLATED SINGLE EVENTS, SOMETIMES IN CLUSTERS. ENGINE COMPLETELY LOSES POWER THEN RETURNS. DASHBOARD AND RADIO CONTINUE TO WORK AS IF IT IS NOT ELECTRICAL. FEELS LIKE A FUEL DELIVERY PROBLEM. IT'S VERY SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS ON THE FREEW…

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ENGINE SHUTS OF INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING FOR BRIEF MOMENTS (5-10 SEC.) SOMETIMES IN ISOLATED SINGLE EVENTS, SOMETIMES IN CLUSTERS. ENGINE COMPLETELY LOSES POWER THEN RETURNS. DASHBOARD AND RADIO CONTINUE TO WORK AS IF IT IS NOT ELECTRICAL. FEELS LIKE A FUEL DELIVERY PROBLEM. IT'S VERY SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY OR WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC! NO CODES SHOW ON COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS. REPLACED FUEL FILTER AND COMPUTER. WHILE SEARCHING THE NET I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A RECURRENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. NO KNOWN FIXES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10214126

800 miles · Jan 2, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* - THE CONTACT SPENT OVER $3000.00 ON THE 1992 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE VEHICLE HAD A VARIETY OF FAILURES FOR THE PAST YEAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED ,BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED PROPERLY. ON 1/2/07 THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, AND THAT HE NEEDED TO GET A TOW TRUCK AND COME BACK…

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TL* - THE CONTACT SPENT OVER $3000.00 ON THE 1992 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE VEHICLE HAD A VARIETY OF FAILURES FOR THE PAST YEAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED ,BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED PROPERLY. ON 1/2/07 THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, AND THAT HE NEEDED TO GET A TOW TRUCK AND COME BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP PUT A NEW ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE, AND IT FELT AS IF THE ENGINE HAS BEEN IN THE CAR OVER 10 YEARS NOW. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10177599

154,182 miles · Sep 20, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAD BOUGHT A CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP IN SAN DIEGO AND IT WAS DEFECTIVE FROM DAY ONE. THE DEALERSHIP SELLS ALL CARS AS IS SO I TOOK IT BACK TO HIM THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE HIM REPAIR IT. WE WENT BACK AND FORTH FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR AND HE ALWAYS SAID HE NEVER FOUND A PROBLEM WITH IT BUT YET, HE SEEMED TO ALWAYS BE DOING SOME KIND OF R…

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I HAD BOUGHT A CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP IN SAN DIEGO AND IT WAS DEFECTIVE FROM DAY ONE. THE DEALERSHIP SELLS ALL CARS AS IS SO I TOOK IT BACK TO HIM THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE HIM REPAIR IT. WE WENT BACK AND FORTH FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR AND HE ALWAYS SAID HE NEVER FOUND A PROBLEM WITH IT BUT YET, HE SEEMED TO ALWAYS BE DOING SOME KIND OF REPAIR. FINALLY, THE ENGINE BLEW AND I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO HIM. HE HAD IT FOR ONE MONTH AND SAID HE CAN'T FIX IT. HE SAID HE WOULD SELL ME ANOTHER ONE AND TAKE $1000 OFF THE OTHER ONE IF I COME UP WITH $700 TO PUT DOWN ON ANOTHER. I DID, HE SAID THIS CAR HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR'S RPM'S KEEP ON GOING UP TO ABOUT 5000-6000 UNTIL IT FINALLY KICKS INTO GEAR. NOW HE SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS ONE TOO. WHAT CAN I DO? *NM

NHTSA ODI #10168750

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE TALKED TO 100S OF MAXIMA OWNERS ON MAXIMA.ORG AND MOST OF THE WITH A 92-92 MAXIMA SE WITH THE VE30DE ENGINE HAVE HAD OR ARE HAVEING A VTC FAILURE WHICH NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT. THIS FIX FOR MOST OF US IS OVER $1000 AND IT EVENTUAL WILL FAIL AGAIN LIKE MINE ARE AGAIN!

NHTSA ODI #757417

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

IT CAUSES A LOUD RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE, AND A MECHANIC REFUSED TO SERVICE THE CAR BECAUSE HE SAID THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO "BLOW UP!" THERE IS A TSB ON THIS PROBLEM, AND IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN TO ALL 1992 MAXIMAS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #742832

Mileage unknown · May 12, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

LIFTER NOISE AT TIMES ON IDLE IS VERY LOUD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722602

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE SERVICE. MECHANIC HAD NOTICED PROBLEM WITH MANIFOLD. INDICATED STUDS ON ENGINE MONIFOLD WERE CRACKED & DEFECTIVE. THIS COULD CAUSE A LEAKING PROBLEM LATER. THEY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852619

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO MIDAS FOR REPAIR THEY FOUND OUT THE PIPE WAS NOT WORKING, AND AT SAME TIME WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE. BUT CONSUMER DECIDED TO TAKE VEHICLE TO ORIGINAL DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852246

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

THREE OUT OF FOUR POWER WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE FAILED, CAUSING WINDOWS TO STICK IN THE OPEN POSITION. MJS

NHTSA ODI #547901

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

WHEN I WENT TO HAVE MY VTC SPRINGS REPLACED THE MAN THAT WORKED AT THE DEALERSHIP I HAD THE WORK DONE AT, HE SAID IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WHICH MAID ME MAD BECAUSE OF THE FACT OF I PAID $1000.00 TO HAVE A PART FIXED WHICH I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR IF IT WAS A COMMON THING. I AM ASERVICE MANAGER IN A SHOP AND HAVE SE…

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WHEN I WENT TO HAVE MY VTC SPRINGS REPLACED THE MAN THAT WORKED AT THE DEALERSHIP I HAD THE WORK DONE AT, HE SAID IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WHICH MAID ME MAD BECAUSE OF THE FACT OF I PAID $1000.00 TO HAVE A PART FIXED WHICH I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR IF IT WAS A COMMON THING. I AM ASERVICE MANAGER IN A SHOP AND HAVE SEVERAL MAXIMAS COME IN WITH THAT PROBLEM. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO HAVE THAT PART RECALLED ANDHAVE MY MONEY RETURNED. IF PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED, IT WILL BREAK TIMING CHAIN AND BEND VALVES. MY OTHER COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE WINDOW REGULATOR. I WILL TELL YOU I KNOW OF TONS OF PEOPLE THAT HAS HAD THAT BREAK ON THEM. IT IS A PLASTIC PIECE LIKE A PULLY FOR THE WINDOW THAT BREAKS AND THE WINDOW WILL DROP AT ANY TIME. ONE OF MY ASSOC. WINDOW HAS BROKE WHEN IT FELL. THAT PART COST $110 TO REPLACE, THE BAD THING ABOUT IT ANOTHER PLASTIC PIECE. THAT IS ONE PART THAT MUST REALLY BE RECALLED WITH HOW MANY TIMES IT HAPPENS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #708189

Official recalls

2

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.

94V007000 · Air Bags:frontal

Jan 12, 1994

IN SOME UNDERBODY IMPACTS THE AIRBAG SENSOR ACTIVATES AND SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE AIRBAG, LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG TO INFLATE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AIRBAG INFLATION MAY OCCUR WHEN IT IS NOT NEEDED TO PROTECT THE DRIVER AND MAY RESULT IN MINOR INJURIES TO THE DRIVER FROM THE INFLATING AIRBAG.

Remedy: A TUNNEL SENSOR OF DIFFERENT DESIGN WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

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

EA93024 · Inadver.air Bag Deployment

Opened Oct 8, 1993 · Closed Jan 25, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags

There is no summary currently available

PE93063 · Inadver.air Bag Deployment

Opened Jul 12, 1993 · Closed Oct 8, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags

There is no summary currently available