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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.

About this comparison →
113Owner complaints

Model-year median: 99

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
152
199596
1996102
1997113
1998165
1999360
2000172
2001
Compare all Maxima years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
24Electrical System
24Service Brakes, Hydraulic
10Structure
8Power Train
6
All reported categories
Suspension
6Tires
6Visibility
6Engine And Engine Cooling
5Unknown Or Other
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Fuel System, Gasoline
4Steering
4Equipment
3Child Seat
2Engine
2Seat Belts
2Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Other
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Parking Brake
1

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

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

10 reports
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7,500 miles · Feb 28, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES FAILED TO HOLD AND SMOKE CAME FROM REAR BRAKES. AT APPROX 7500 MILES, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE GRINDING AND SQEALING BRAKE SOUNDS.THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. CARS WAS TAKEN BACK ON TWO MORE OCCASIONS TO REPORT BRAKE SOUNDS. DEALERSHIP COULD REPRODUCE SOUNDS DURING TEST DRIVE AND SAID THE BRAKES WER…

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BRAKES FAILED TO HOLD AND SMOKE CAME FROM REAR BRAKES. AT APPROX 7500 MILES, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE GRINDING AND SQEALING BRAKE SOUNDS.THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. CARS WAS TAKEN BACK ON TWO MORE OCCASIONS TO REPORT BRAKE SOUNDS. DEALERSHIP COULD REPRODUCE SOUNDS DURING TEST DRIVE AND SAID THE BRAKES WERE FINE. THE LAST INCIDENT WITH THE LOCK UP AND SMOKE, VEHICLE WITH APPROX.44,000 MILES WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING BRAKE RELINE AND REAR BRAKE CABLES AT A COST OF $400 PLUS. THE PROBLEM OF TOO MUCH BRAKE PEDAL WAS SAID TO BE THE NORM. BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WAS NEVER THIS MUCH WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10060006

40,500 miles · Feb 7, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I WAS DRIVING ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD AND APPLIED MY BRAKES. I GOT NOTHING BUT INSTANT AND COMPLETE ABS, AND AFTER QUICKLY RELEASING AND REAPPLYING THE BRAKES, STILL HAD NOTHING BUT ABS. PH

NHTSA ODI #10005471

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND HIGHER, AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE FRONT WHEELS LOCK UP AND BRAKES DON'T HOLD. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON 3 OCCASIONS, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. MR

NHTSA ODI #8024167

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN RELEASING PEDAL AFTER BRAKING THERE IS A GRINDING AND HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED REAR BRAKE CABLES AND TURNED REAR ROTORS.*AK *JG

NHTSA ODI #8008671

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

PER DEALERSHIP, REAR BRAKE CABLE DOES NOT RELEASE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #742537

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAD ABS PROBLEM ON 05-04-00,07-17-00 AND TWO OTHER TIME IN 1999&2000. *AK

NHTSA ODI #730370

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED BRAKES GRIND. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #864212

Mileage unknown · May 7, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722380

Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2000
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING SOUND IN THE BRAKES. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT RELEASING PROPERLY AT 9000MILES, AND AT 26000 MILES THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #861059

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SQUEAKY BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI #609117

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.