IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STRUCK A POTHOLE WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE POTHOLE CAUSED HIS VEHICLE TO BECOME OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND RESULTED IN A BENT CV JOINT AXLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 144,000.
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 →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
525–50K
650–75K
575–100K
13100–150K
10150K+
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
Suspension complaints
6 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT AXLE IS ABOUT TO BREAK. THERE IS A LOUD CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE AXLE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE.
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…
Read full complaint
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
STEERING PULL TO RIGHT ALL THE TIME. AFTER FOUR ALIGNMENTS, MANY TIRE ROTATIONS AND WHEEL BALANCING, AND NEW TIRES THE CAR CONTINUES TO PULL TO THE RIGHT . PULLS BOTH AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS.
AIR SUSPENSION REPLACED TWICE; WIRING HARNESS ALSO REPLACED
NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.