IllustrationTHE BATTERY WAS CONSTANTLY DRAINED AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE DIM. *JB
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
What owners actually said
113 reportsLETTER ON BEHALF OF ANTHONY A ABELE CONCERNING NON DEPLOYMENT OF FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS DURING A CRASH INVOLVING 1998, NISSAN MAXIMA. *AK
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.
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
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
ON 6/11/02 I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP (TOWING IS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED IN MY WARRANTY WHICH THEY MADE ME PAY FOR). IT WAS NOT DRIVEABLE DUE TO WHITE SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST, SPUTTERING/HESITATION, FUMES INSIDE CAR, SOAKED FRONT FLOOR MATS. SERVICE MGR CALLED ME TO SAY THE TECH FOUND WATER BACKED UP IN AC HEAT…
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ON 6/11/02 I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP (TOWING IS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED IN MY WARRANTY WHICH THEY MADE ME PAY FOR). IT WAS NOT DRIVEABLE DUE TO WHITE SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST, SPUTTERING/HESITATION, FUMES INSIDE CAR, SOAKED FRONT FLOOR MATS. SERVICE MGR CALLED ME TO SAY THE TECH FOUND WATER BACKED UP IN AC HEATER BOX FROM 'DEBRIS'. THIS 'DEBRIS' WAS LEAVES FROM TREES, THAT CAUSED WATER TO DRIP ON THE COMPUTER. (COMPUTER IS A COVERED COMPONENT ACCORDING TO MY WARRANTY). THEY COULD NOT REPLACE MY COMPUTER DUE TO 'NO DEFECT'. THEY SAY IT WAS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. HOWEVER, I PURCHASED THE CAR 11 MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT. THERE IS A DEFECT SOMEWHERE THAT 'DEBRIS' IS GETTING STUCK/CLOGGED. I GARAGE MY CAR AND DON'T HAVE ANY 'FALLING DEBRIS' FROM ANY TREES IN MY YARD. I DON'T HAVE TREES NEAR ME LIKE THAT. I REFUSED TO PAY THE $1100.00 THEY SAY THE COMPUTER WOULD COST TO BE REPLACED SO THEY PLACED IT IN THE 'SUN' TO 'DRY' AND CLEANED OUT THE EVAPORATOR CASE (WHICH IS WHERE THE 'CLOGGING' OCCURRED). THAT ALONE COST ME $365.65. I WROTE TO NISSAN MOTOR CORP, AMITY NISSAN AND CONTINUOUS CUSTOMER CARE (WARRANTY COMPANY). RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM ANY OF THEM. I WANT MY COMPUTER REPLACED AND BE REIMBURSED FOR THE BILL I HAD TO PAY. IT CLEARLY STATES, IN MY WARRANTY BOOK, THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE COVERED UP UNTIL 100,000 MILES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED-- STACEY J. GUENTHER NLM
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
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
BATTERY EXPLODED WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY DEALER IN FEBRUARY 2002. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE LOOKING UNDER HOOD PRESSURE SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING HOOD TO FALL, AND CAUSING INJURY.*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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.