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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

View investigation details →

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

What owners actually said

96 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Tires

TIRES LEAKED CAUSING FAILURE.(MICHELIN MXV4- TIRE SIZE 205/65 R15- TIRE ID # DOTB9PAANKX505)

NHTSA ODI #605567

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Suspension

AXLE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #604967

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

EMISSION CONTROL SENSOR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605027

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1997
Unknown Or Other

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #603883

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #603861

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL SYSTEM FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #603860

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 1997
Power Train

TRANSMISSION REPLACED DUE TO STALLING UPON SHIFTING INTO SECOND AND THIRD GEARS.

NHTSA ODI #520719

Mileage unknown · May 12, 1997
StructureCrashInjury

THERE IS A BLIND SPOT THAT BLOCKS OUT VISION FOR SHORT DRIVERS. OWNER CAN'T SEE ONCOMING VEHICLES FROM LEFT AT INTERSECTIONS. LARGE BLIND SPOT CREATED BY LEFT OUTSIDE MIRROR AND BAR BETWEEN WINDSHIELD AND LEFT FRONT WINDOW. *AK

NHTSA ODI #810614

Mileage unknown · May 12, 1997
Air Bags

UNSPECIFIED: CONSUMER WANTS AIR BAGS DEACTIVATED DUE TO THE RISK OF INJURY TO SHORT PEOPLE.

NHTSA ODI #517158

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 1997
Exterior Lighting

CONSUMER HAS EXPRIENCED HEADLIGHT EXPLOSIONS OF BOTH HEADLAMPS.. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED MARCH 28 IN THE MOUNTAINS, AND SECOND TIME ON APRIL 28, 1997. THE BULBS ARE THE HALOGEN BULBS WHICH ARE THE LONG LIFE 9004 MODEL BULBS. THESE BULBS ARE EXPLODING INTO THOUSANDS OF PIECES. *AK.

NHTSA ODI #811766

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.