IllustrationSTARTED VEHICLE AT NOON. AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 2 HOURS, SAW SMOKE THEN FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD AREA OF VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT FIRE OUT. *AK
1985 Nissan Maxima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1985 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
Limited mileage data: 3 of 54 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports37 fire reports1 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
7 reportsWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OWNER SMELLED GAS, WHEN OWNER PULLED OVER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE ENTIRE ENGINE AREA WAS BURNED. *AK
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, SAW SMOKE, PULLED OVER, WAITED & LIFTED HOOD, SAW FIRE, TURNED VEHICLE OFF, SMOTHERED FLAMES W/BLANKET.
310-698-3235: UNDERHOOD FIRE WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF OWNER'S PLACE OF ABOVE; VEHICLE TOTALED. TT
ENGINE DAMAGED BY ELECTRICAL FIRE. *SD
FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, RESULTING IN TOTALLED. TT
UPON PARKING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM RIGHT SIDE OF HOOD, MOMENTS LATER ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE, FIRE DEPT. EXTINGUISHED. TT
Official recalls
186V096000 · Visibility:windshield
Jul 16, 1986
THERE MAY BE INSUFFICIENT THICKNESS OF ADHESIVE IN THE CONTACT AREA BETWEEN THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD GLASS AND THE BODY. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS LACK OF ADHESIVE MAY CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO DISMOUNT IN AN ACCIDENT, THUS FAILING TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 212, WINDSHIELD MOUNTING AND WHICH MAY ALLOW THE OCCUPANTS TO BE EJECTED OUT OF THE CAR, CAUSING MORE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: ADD MORE ADHESIVE TO BOTTOM OF FRONT WINDSHIELD GLASS.
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
2EA94018 · Fuel Injector Assembly Leakage
Opened Jun 23, 1994 · Closed Nov 8, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System
AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC FILE.SERVICE CAMPAIGN 95I-006.
PE88025 · Steering Malfunction
Opened Feb 9, 1988 · Closed May 11, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available