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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.

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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: 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

Steering complaints

7 reports
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100,300 miles · Nov 25, 2015
EngineSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,300.

NHTSA ODI #10806661

75,000 miles · Nov 10, 2008
Air BagsSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONSTANTLY FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND PAID $125 FOR AN ESTIMATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INCAPABLE OF BEING REPAIRED. IN THE SUMMER OF 2007, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOU…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONSTANTLY FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND PAID $125 FOR AN ESTIMATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INCAPABLE OF BEING REPAIRED. IN THE SUMMER OF 2007, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST IN REPAIRING THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. UPDATED 11/28/08 *BF THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSING POWER STEERING FLUID. THE DEALER STATED THE PUMP HAD A LEAK. UPDATED 12/02/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10248340

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2008
Steering

I FACED A RARE (I DON'T KNOW I AM THINKING IT AS RARE) PROBLEM WITH NISSAN MAXIMA. WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE MODE MY FRIEND, SITTING IN THE OTHER SEAT, ACCIDENTALLY CHANGED THE GEAR TO REVERSE MODE THEN THE STRANGE THING HAPPENED, THE CAR STEERING GOT LOCKED AND THE CAR GOT DECELERATED VERY FAST (AS I WAS APP…

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I FACED A RARE (I DON'T KNOW I AM THINKING IT AS RARE) PROBLEM WITH NISSAN MAXIMA. WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE MODE MY FRIEND, SITTING IN THE OTHER SEAT, ACCIDENTALLY CHANGED THE GEAR TO REVERSE MODE THEN THE STRANGE THING HAPPENED, THE CAR STEERING GOT LOCKED AND THE CAR GOT DECELERATED VERY FAST (AS I WAS APPLYING A BRAKE) AND EVEN THOUGH I CHANGED THE GEAR INTO DRIVE MODE THE CAR WONT PICK ACCELERATION AND BEHAVED AS IT IS IN THE NEUTRAL GEAR. SO, THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE ON THE LEFT LANE AND WE ALMOST GOT KILLED BY THE ON COMING TRAFFIC. SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT MOVING WE ARE NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. WHAT WE DID IS WE STOPPED (TURN OFF) THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE AND CHANGED THE GEAR INTO PARKING AND STARTED IT AGAIN, AFTER "FEW SECONDS" THE CAR FINALLY MOVED. I AM SO SCARED BY THE EVENT AND I WANTED TO REPORT TO SOME ONE AND I THOUGHT MAY BE NHTSA IS THE BEST BET. PLEASE TELL ME WHETHER IT WILL BE THE SAME TO ANY CAR OR WILL THAT BE ONLY ON NISSAN MAXIMA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10222383

75,000 miles · Aug 6, 2007
Air BagsEquipmentSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1996 NISSAN MAXIMA. SHE STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED AT ALL TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WA 75,900. UPDATED 02/01/08 *LJ. …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1996 NISSAN MAXIMA. SHE STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED AT ALL TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WA 75,900. UPDATED 02/01/08 *LJ. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE RADIO DID NOT WORK

NHTSA ODI #10198673

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON EVEN AFTER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS DONE. THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AFTER THE 1ST YEAR I BOUGHT IT. IN THE 5 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, THE STARTER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED, TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED, STRUTS WERE REPLACED, A NEW MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE WAS REPLACED…

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON EVEN AFTER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS DONE. THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AFTER THE 1ST YEAR I BOUGHT IT. IN THE 5 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, THE STARTER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED, TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED, STRUTS WERE REPLACED, A NEW MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE WAS REPLACED, AND THIS YEAR, 2 OIL LEAKS DEVELOPED, 1 INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS WAS A DEFECT OF NISSAN, NOT ANYTHING THAT I DID OR DIDN'T DO. IT COST OVER $700 TO FIX THE LEAKS. THE LEAKS BLEW OUT THE SENSORS, AND THE CAR DIDN'T PASS THE EMISSIONS. I SPENT ANOTHER $850 IN GETTING NEW SENSORS. ONCE THE SENSORS WERE REPLACED, THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE FUEL INJECTOR AND HE HAD TO REPLACE THAT. THERE IS STILL A SHORT IN THE CAR SOMEWHERE AS ONE OF THE BACK LIGHTS TURNS OFF AND ON WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT, AS DOES THE LIGHT FOR THE RADIO CONSOLE (WHICH ITS THE ORIGINAL RADIO THAT CAME WITH THE CAR, SO IT'S NOT LIKE SOMEONE MESSED AROUND WITH IT.) AFTER REPLACING THE SENSORS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE 2ND EMISSIONS TEST, WHICH IT REJECTED THE CAR BECAUSE IT WASN'T READY YET. THE MECHANIC SPENT 7 (YES, SEVEN) DAYS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR, ONLY TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD. AFTER 1 DAY OF DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. NOW THE CAR FEELS UNSAFE WHEN I'M DRIVING IT, AS WHEN THE CAR HITS 20 MPH AND 40 MPH, THE CAR JERKS TO THE RIGHT AND I HAVE TO CONCENTRATE ON MAKING SURE I DON'T HIT ANYONE. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT IS EITHER. THE FAN IS STARTING TO SOUND LOUD WHEN THE AIR/HEAT IS ON OR WHEN THE CAR IS IDLE (STOPPED AT A LIGHT) AND THE AIR ONLY GETS COLD WHEN ITS COOL OUTSIDE, NOT WHEN IT'S HOT. I SPENT $22,000 BUYING THIS CAR, AND ABOUT ANOTHER $5000 IN REPAIRS TO DATE AND ITS NOT YET 10 YRS. OLD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10093485

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 1997
Steering

POWER STEERING FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #602598

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1997
Steering

STEERING WHEEL NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #602541

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.