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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 →
102Owner complaints

Model-year median: 99

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
89
1994152
199596
1996102
1997113
1998165
1999360
2000
Compare all Maxima years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
39Engine And Engine Cooling
12Air Bags
10Structure
7Suspension
7
All reported categories
Steering
6Service Brakes, Hydraulic
5Fuel System, Gasoline
4Latches/locks/linkages
4Power Train
4Vehicle Speed Control
3Engine
2Equipment
2Tires
2Visibility
2Exterior Lighting
1Parking Brake
1Seat Belts
1Seats
1Service Brakes
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

102 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury

TRAVRELING 45MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS MAKING A TURN IN FRONT, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE. INSTEAD, HIT VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE THEN ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS BEPLOYED BUT MUST HAVE POPPED OR FIZZLED OUT. DRIVER'S HEAD MADE CONTACT WITH THE FRONT WINDSHILD AND THER…

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TRAVRELING 45MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS MAKING A TURN IN FRONT, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE. INSTEAD, HIT VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE THEN ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS BEPLOYED BUT MUST HAVE POPPED OR FIZZLED OUT. DRIVER'S HEAD MADE CONTACT WITH THE FRONT WINDSHILD AND THERE WAS SMOKE INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #843453

Mileage unknown · May 11, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKES ARE GRINDING AND SQUEAKING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837761

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Steering

POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #609272

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Equipment

A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #607255

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SOLENOID FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #607113

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages

IN COLD WEATHER DOOR LATCH REFUSED TO ENGAGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #702693

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 1999
Suspension

THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT WAS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE & REPLACED STRUT, BEARING, SPRINGS 6/8/98. AGAIN THE SAME NOISE OCCURED, AND THE BEARING WAS LUBED AND THE CONTROL ARMS WERE TIGHTENED 8/31/98. CURRENTLY, THE CAR IS MAKING THE SAME NOISE AND AGAIN VARIOUS PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER AND MUST BE REPLACED BY 1/26/98. THANK YOU FOR Y…

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THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT WAS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE & REPLACED STRUT, BEARING, SPRINGS 6/8/98. AGAIN THE SAME NOISE OCCURED, AND THE BEARING WAS LUBED AND THE CONTROL ARMS WERE TIGHTENED 8/31/98. CURRENTLY, THE CAR IS MAKING THE SAME NOISE AND AGAIN VARIOUS PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER AND MUST BE REPLACED BY 1/26/98. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #702625

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPYLING THE BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832899

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

VEHICLE STALLS CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #780507

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 1998
Latches/locks/linkages

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE AUTOMATIC TRUNK OPENS UNEXPECTEDLY. IF AN OBJECT WAS TO FLY OUT OF THE TRUNK IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DEALER FOR A YEAR, DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #824479

Official recalls

1

02V171000 · 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

1

PE02034 · Alternator Fires

Opened Mar 15, 2002 · Closed Jul 22, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

No summary supplied.