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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 →
54Owner complaints

Model-year median: 99

1Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
19825
198330
198454
198560
1986176
198760
1988
Compare all Maxima years →

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

What owners reported most

Fuel System, Gasoline
32Engine And Engine Cooling
13Electrical System
7Power Train
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2
All reported categories
Fuel System, Other
1Steering
1Tires
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1

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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

32 reports
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90,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineSteeringFire

ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AS A RESULT OF ADMITTED DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTORS(ON RECALL). NISSAN REPLACED FUEL INJECTORS AT NO CHARGE, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE OTHER DAMAGED ITEMS SUCH AS, POWER STEERING, "SEVERE" SEAL DAMAGE CAUSING LARGE OIL LEAK, AND OTHER DAMAGES. I HAVE CALLED AND WRITTEN NISSAN. ALSO, NO APOLOGIES FOR MY INCONV…

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ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AS A RESULT OF ADMITTED DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTORS(ON RECALL). NISSAN REPLACED FUEL INJECTORS AT NO CHARGE, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE OTHER DAMAGED ITEMS SUCH AS, POWER STEERING, "SEVERE" SEAL DAMAGE CAUSING LARGE OIL LEAK, AND OTHER DAMAGES. I HAVE CALLED AND WRITTEN NISSAN. ALSO, NO APOLOGIES FOR MY INCONVENIENCES.

NHTSA ODI #10069981

90,000 miles · Aug 25, 2003
Fuel System, GasolineFire

FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTORS. ROYED INJECTORS AND OWER STEERING PUMP, NUMEROUS OIL SEALS, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, ETC. IN ADDITION THERE WAS GENERAL SOOT ALL OVER THE ENGINE, WHICH WIIL NOT COME OFF.*AK FURTHERMORE, IT WAS A DANGEOUS SITUATION, AND HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPT.. NISSAN AGREED …

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FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTORS. ROYED INJECTORS AND OWER STEERING PUMP, NUMEROUS OIL SEALS, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, ETC. IN ADDITION THERE WAS GENERAL SOOT ALL OVER THE ENGINE, WHICH WIIL NOT COME OFF.*AK FURTHERMORE, IT WAS A DANGEOUS SITUATION, AND HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPT.. NISSAN AGREED TO FIX/REPLACE FUEL INJECTORS "ONLY".

NHTSA ODI #10033449

95,000 miles · Jun 28, 2003
Fuel System, GasolineFire

NISSAN MAXIMA FUEL INJECTORS LEAKED CAUSING LARGE FIRE IN ENGINE AREA. INJECTORS ARE ON RECALL BECAUSE OF DEFECT BUT I WAS NOT INFORMED. NISSAN REFUSES TO PAY FOR ALL DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE FIRE. NISSAN ADMITS INJECTORS ARE DEFECTIVE. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10023942

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

HAD FUEL INJECTORS SERVICE 10/2001, NOW VEHICLE DOES NOT PASS EMISSION TEST AND DEALER DENIES ANY CONNECTION. SAYS NEEDS $2100.00 PLUS REPAIR WORK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #741525

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

I HAVE SINCE HAD MY LEAK REPAIRED AFTER LEARNING OF THE RECALL ON THE INTERNET (CAR POINT). I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY NISSAN OF THE RECALL IN 1995. I PAID TO FIX THE PROBLEM OF THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IN APRIL OF 1995 BUT CAR STILL SMELLED LIKE GAS INTERMITTENTLY AND I WAS NEVER TOLD BY ANYONE THAT MY CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE! THANKF…

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I HAVE SINCE HAD MY LEAK REPAIRED AFTER LEARNING OF THE RECALL ON THE INTERNET (CAR POINT). I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY NISSAN OF THE RECALL IN 1995. I PAID TO FIX THE PROBLEM OF THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IN APRIL OF 1995 BUT CAR STILL SMELLED LIKE GAS INTERMITTENTLY AND I WAS NEVER TOLD BY ANYONE THAT MY CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE! THANKFULLY, THE PROBLEM IS FIXED WITH A NEW INJECTOR AND HOSE HARNESS SYSTEM, AND MY FAMILY AND MY HOME ARE NO LONGER IN DANGER OF FIRE BUT BUT I FEEL THAT NISSAN SHOULD PAY FOR PREVIOUS REPAIRS THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #729614

Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED, THE CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED RECALL 95I-006, DUE TO TIME PERIOD. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #783590

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 1998
Fuel System, GasolineFire

VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO RECALL COMPONENT FAILURE OF THE FUEL INJECTORS, PRIOR TO COMPLETION OF RECALL REPAIR, WHICH CAUSED WIRING HARNESS TO BURN.

NHTSA ODI #542926

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 1998
Fuel System, GasolineFire

FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #534433

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 1998
Fuel System, GasolineFire

HAD RECEIVED NOTICE (395I006000) & CALLED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. TOOK NOTIFICATION & TORE IT UP. DROVE TO A STORE & VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #821045

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 1997
Fuel System, GasolineFire

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #515273

Official recalls

1

86V096000 · 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

2

EA94018 · 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