IllustrationTHE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED INTO SHARP PIECES INSTEAD OF ROUND PEBBLES. *JB PH *JB
1997 Nissan Maxima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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
Compare all Maxima years →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
20–25K
125–50K
650–75K
1175–100K
10100–150K
0150K+
30 reports with mileage · 72 unknown
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.
- Electrical System. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports16 fire reports6 injury reports
Visibility complaints
2 reportsWHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON 11/98, I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN I HEARD A NOISE LIKE ICE OR WATER FALLING ON THE ROOF OF MY CAR, WHEN I LOOKED IN FRONT OF MY CAR I SAW MY WINDSHIELD CRACK JUST BELOW MY LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER. THE CRACK STARTED FROM BENEATH MY LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER AND PROCEEDED UP ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND …
Read full complaint
WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON 11/98, I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN I HEARD A NOISE LIKE ICE OR WATER FALLING ON THE ROOF OF MY CAR, WHEN I LOOKED IN FRONT OF MY CAR I SAW MY WINDSHIELD CRACK JUST BELOW MY LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER. THE CRACK STARTED FROM BENEATH MY LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER AND PROCEEDED UP ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND RAN ALL ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD ACROSS TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERHSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOOK A PEN AND FOLLOWED THE CRACK UP THE WINDSHIELD AND LIFTED THE WIPER AND HE SAID THAT IT LOOKS LIKE A PEEBLE HIT MY CAR. THE HOLE WAS THE SIZE OF THE TIP OF A PEN. I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS NOT NEAR ANY TRUCKS OR CLOSE ENOUGH FOR A CAR TO DO THIS. SO HE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT MYSELF. I STILL FEEL THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD, SOMEHOW MAYBE EFFECTED BY THE COLD WEATHER AS WELL. *AK
Official recalls
102V171000 · Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator
Jun 24, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, ONE OF THE DIODES USED IN THE ALTERNATOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED WHEN BUILT. THIS CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE DIODE AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH COULD MELT THE PLASTIC HOUSING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE COMBUSTIBLE GAS EMITTED BY THE MELTING PLASTIC DOES NOT DISPERSE DUE TO AIR FLOW THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IT COULD IGNITE AND IN TURN IGNITE THE FAN GUIDE IN THE ALTERNATOR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 29, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
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
1PE02034 · Alternator Fires
Opened Mar 15, 2002 · Closed Jul 22, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
No summary supplied.