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1996 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 99.

About this comparison →
96Owner complaints

Model-year median: 99

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
78
199389
1994152
199596
1996102
1997113
1998165
1999
Compare all Maxima years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
17Air Bags
16Power Train
12Electrical System
8Suspension
8
All reported categories
Steering
7Tires
7Unknown Or Other
6Vehicle Speed Control
5Equipment
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Structure
4Visibility
4Seats
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2Engine
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Other
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Parking Brake
1Seat Belts
1

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: 15 of 96 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports3 fire reports7 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
143,000 miles · Aug 28, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT MUST MAKE 5 OR 6 ATTEMPTS IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. OCCASIONALLY, HE MUST DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE FAILURE OCCURS EACH TIME HE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY AFTER IT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. IF THE…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT MUST MAKE 5 OR 6 ATTEMPTS IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. OCCASIONALLY, HE MUST DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE FAILURE OCCURS EACH TIME HE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY AFTER IT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. IF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND IS STILL WARM, IT TAKES 2 OR 3 ATTEMPTS TO START. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE FUEL SYSTEM RELATED AND HE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, FILTERS, WIRING HARNESS, AND STARTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT. HE BELIEVES THAT THE ELECTRICAL SENSOR IS NOT READING CORRECTLY. THE PURCHASE DATE AND DEALER INFORMATION WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

NHTSA ODI #10200988

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL SYSTEM FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #603860

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.