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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 · Feb 23, 1997
Structure

POWER DOOR LOCK FAILED, COULDN'T BE OPENED WITH REMOTE OR INTERIOR ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

NHTSA ODI #602627

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 1997
Steering

POWER STEERING FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #602598

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 1997
Air Bags

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI #514935

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1997
Electrical System

BATTERY REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #602795

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1997
Suspension

REAR SHOCKS FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #602668

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1997
Steering

STEERING WHEEL NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #602541

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 1997
SuspensionCrash

VEHICLE DRIFTED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTING IN A CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #808167

Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 1996
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER, INCLUDING BRAKES/STEERING, COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, ACCORDING TO DEALER, CAUSED BY COMPUTER UNIT FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #806755

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP OR PRESSING THE PEDAL REAL HARD, BRAKES LOCK UP, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #806117

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 1996
Vehicle Speed Control

COMMENTS ON REFORMULATED GASOLINE CAUSING LEAKS IN FUEL SYSTEM WHICH MAY RESULT IN FIRES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #508935

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.