IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
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 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
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.
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 50 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'SAIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
STRUCK ANOTHER CAR AT 35 MPH WITH FRONT BUMPER AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY / MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE / CAR WAS IN DEALER FOR REPAIR OF AIR BAG 6 WEEKS AGO FOR THE THIRD TIME. *AK
EVERY SIDE OF VEHICLE WAS HIT AGAINST A CEMENT BRIDGE. WHY DIDN'T MY AIR BAGS DEPLOY? *AK
MY CAR IS AGAIN AT THE DEALER BEING SERVICED. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR AIRBAG SERVICE ON 11 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 10 MONTHS AFTER I DROVE OFF THE LOT WITH THE CAR. I AM CONVINCED NISSAN HAS BEEN GIVEN A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I NOW NEED RESULTS SO I CAN DRIVE A CAR T…
Read full complaint
MY CAR IS AGAIN AT THE DEALER BEING SERVICED. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR AIRBAG SERVICE ON 11 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 10 MONTHS AFTER I DROVE OFF THE LOT WITH THE CAR. I AM CONVINCED NISSAN HAS BEEN GIVEN A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I NOW NEED RESULTS SO I CAN DRIVE A CAR THAT WILL WORK AS DESGINED.
OCCURS 90% OF TIME AND MOST OFTEN AFTER CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN 10 MILES OR SO. NO SAFETY DEFECT ENUMERATED. *AK
TRANSMISSION HANGS UP/HESITATES UPPON ACCELERATION INTO TRAFFIC, POSING COLLISION POSSIBILITY. *AK
SQUEAKY BRAKES.
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.