IllustrationAFTER VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED FOR ABOUT 5-7 MINUTES, IT BURSTED INTO FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID FLAMES CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ENTIRE HOOD WAS DAMAGED BY FIRE. *AK
1986 Nissan Maxima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1986 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: 0 of 60 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 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports36 fire reports2 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
10 reportsWHILE DRIVING ALONG SMELLED GAS, AND KIND OF IGNORED IT BECAUSE WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH AUTOMOBILE. KEPT GOING AND WAS TOLD THAT HIS AUTOMOBILE WAS ON FIRE- HE RECEIVED HELP TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. *AK
TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK
PARKED ALL DAY; DROVE LESS THAN TWO MILES, WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK FIRE WAS CAUSED DUE TO A FUEL LEAK, RECALL 95I006 DESCRIBES PROBLEMS CONSUMER EXPERIENCED. ENGINE BELTS REPLACED. STRUT FAILURE CAUSED NOISE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS. SPARK PLUGS REPLACED. FR…
Read full complaint
PARKED ALL DAY; DROVE LESS THAN TWO MILES, WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK FIRE WAS CAUSED DUE TO A FUEL LEAK, RECALL 95I006 DESCRIBES PROBLEMS CONSUMER EXPERIENCED. ENGINE BELTS REPLACED. STRUT FAILURE CAUSED NOISE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS. SPARK PLUGS REPLACED. FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED, ROTORS TURNED. POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD CONSUMER BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE THEN SAW BLACK SMOKE COMING UP THROUGH THE DASH, AFTER GETTING OUT AND OPENING HOOD THE FLAMES TOOK OVER. *AK
IN NORMAL CITY TRAFFIC SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE HOOD PULLED OVER AND FLAMES CAME FROM UNDER HOOD. CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED POPPING SOUND, THEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSS SPEED, AND SMOKE FROM GLOVE COMPARTMENT, SUBSEQUENTLY CAUGHT FIRE. TT
FUEL HOSES MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
ON COLD START DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY. SECOND ATTEMPT VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. 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.
PE94018 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Feb 22, 1994 · Closed Jun 23, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available