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1998 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 99.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

41 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 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.

13 crash reports12 fire reports6 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

24 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2006
Air BagsElectrical System

RECALL-NISSAN MAXIMA ALTERNATOR ,1998 .OPEN RECALL,DOES NOT NEED TO BE ORIGINAL OWNER. BEFORE I WAS INFORMED OF RECALL ALTERNATOR STOPPED WORKING (ON HIGHWAY GOING 55 LUCKY TO BE ALIVE)! AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE,CAR CAME OUT OF REPAIR SHOP WITH AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKING. TOOK CAR TO NISSAN. AFTER PAYING $100.00,THEY INFORMED ME…

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RECALL-NISSAN MAXIMA ALTERNATOR ,1998 .OPEN RECALL,DOES NOT NEED TO BE ORIGINAL OWNER. BEFORE I WAS INFORMED OF RECALL ALTERNATOR STOPPED WORKING (ON HIGHWAY GOING 55 LUCKY TO BE ALIVE)! AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE,CAR CAME OUT OF REPAIR SHOP WITH AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKING. TOOK CAR TO NISSAN. AFTER PAYING $100.00,THEY INFORMED ME SIDE AIR BAGS WERE FAULTY AND THEY'RE NOT SURE IF FRONT AIR BAGS WILL WORK PROPERLY. AFTER I WAS INFORMED OF RECALL I BROUGHT CAR BACK TO NISSAN,THEY REPLACED NEW ALTERNATOR WITH ANOTHER NEW ALTERNATOR AND PAID ME FOR THE FIRST ALTERNATOR. MY CLAIM IS THAT THE FAULTY ALTERNATOR UNDER A RECALL NOTICE CAUSED MY AIR BAGS TO STOP WORKING. NISSAN HAS INFORMED ME IT'S POSSIBLE WE WILL LOOK INTO IT. HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM NISSAN. THEY DID INFORM ME IT WOULD COST $1,200.00 TO FIX. SO NOW MY SON IS DRIVING THE CAR WITHOUT KNOWING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IF THE AIR BAGS WILL WORK. NISSANS NOT SURE IF FRONTS WILL WORK! NISSAN NEEDS TO REPLACE AIR BAGS AT THERE COST. THERE PRODUCT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10150580

103,000 miles · Dec 15, 2005
Electrical SystemFire

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND THE FIRE WAS IMMEDIATELY EXTINGUISHED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP YET FOR INSPECTION. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT UNDER NHTSA RECALL 02V171000 .THE MANUFACTURER HAS AGREED TO FIX THE VEHICLE UND…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND THE FIRE WAS IMMEDIATELY EXTINGUISHED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP YET FOR INSPECTION. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT UNDER NHTSA RECALL 02V171000 .THE MANUFACTURER HAS AGREED TO FIX THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT MADE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10145292

64,336 miles · Oct 25, 2005
Electrical SystemSuspensionFire

DT: THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ALTERNATOR, HOWEVER, NISSAN STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD HEAR A SOUND AND VIEWED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE IN MIDDLE OF THE ALTERNATOR. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 15, 200…

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DT: THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ALTERNATOR, HOWEVER, NISSAN STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD HEAR A SOUND AND VIEWED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE IN MIDDLE OF THE ALTERNATOR. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 15, 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER KEPT THE BAD ALTERNATOR. *AK RECALL CAMPAIGN# 02V171000. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ALTERNATOR. THERE WAS ALSO A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10134029

Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2004
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. RECALL 02V171000 WAS ISSUED. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AS THE HOOD WAS OPENED FIRE WAS SEEN BURNING INSIDE THE ALTERNATOR. AFTER TESTING THE ALTERNATOR R…

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VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. RECALL 02V171000 WAS ISSUED. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AS THE HOOD WAS OPENED FIRE WAS SEEN BURNING INSIDE THE ALTERNATOR. AFTER TESTING THE ALTERNATOR RESULTS CONFIRMED THAT THE MALFUNTION TO BE IDENTICAL WITH THE BASIS OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAULTYALTERNATOR WITH A NEW ONE. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10099275

135,000 miles · Mar 7, 2004
Electrical SystemFire

1998 NISSAN MAXIMA , VIN # [XXX] . I CHECK THE RECALL VIN # ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT WAS NOT IN THE RANGE OF #'S. BUT MY ALTERNATOR STARTED ON FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I STARTED IT UP THAT NIGHT. IT DID EVERYTHING THE RECALL STATED IT WOULD. I AM CALLING THE DEALER TOMORROW TO SEE IF ITS COVERED. *JB UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INF…

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1998 NISSAN MAXIMA , VIN # [XXX] . I CHECK THE RECALL VIN # ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT WAS NOT IN THE RANGE OF #'S. BUT MY ALTERNATOR STARTED ON FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I STARTED IT UP THAT NIGHT. IT DID EVERYTHING THE RECALL STATED IT WOULD. I AM CALLING THE DEALER TOMORROW TO SEE IF ITS COVERED. *JB UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #10060625

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2003
Electrical System

THE BATTERY WAS CONSTANTLY DRAINED AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE DIM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10017327

8,788 miles · Feb 26, 2003
Electrical System

HEADLIGHT HARNESS CONNECTORS BURNED OUT IN 3 MONTHS CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD FOR NIGHT DRIVING. I HAVE REPLACED THE RIGHT AND LEFT HARNESS 6 TIMES AND THEY CONTINUE TO BLOW. THE REPLACEMENT HARNASSES ARE OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS AND WERE PURCHASED FROM THE NISSAN DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #10008142

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2002
Electrical System

A CLICKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE THAT WAS GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER. ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO STATED IT WAS THE ALTERNATER, NOT TO USE REAR DEFOGGER BECAUSE IT MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE, ALSO DEALER TOLD CONSUMER NOT TO FIX IT BECAUSE THERE WAS GOING TO BE A REC…

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A CLICKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE THAT WAS GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER. ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO STATED IT WAS THE ALTERNATER, NOT TO USE REAR DEFOGGER BECAUSE IT MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE, ALSO DEALER TOLD CONSUMER NOT TO FIX IT BECAUSE THERE WAS GOING TO BE A RECALL.*AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #8016277

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2002
Electrical System

VEHICLE STALLED AND STARTED SMOKING IN A BUSY INTERSECTION WHILE MAKING A TURN. ENGINE FAILED WITH NO DASBBOARD WARNING LIGHTS. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED FOR A LOOSE WIRE IN ALTERNATOR WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE TO VEHICLE. CONSUMER JUST RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 02-V-171-000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLE…

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VEHICLE STALLED AND STARTED SMOKING IN A BUSY INTERSECTION WHILE MAKING A TURN. ENGINE FAILED WITH NO DASBBOARD WARNING LIGHTS. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED FOR A LOOSE WIRE IN ALTERNATOR WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE TO VEHICLE. CONSUMER JUST RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 02-V-171-000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8016200

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2002
Electrical System

BATTERY EXPLODED WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY DEALER IN FEBRUARY 2002. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8014276

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.