IllustrationVEHICLE WAS IMPACTED AT 9:00 POSITION, VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, DRIVER'S SIDE LAP/SHOULDER DID NOT RETRACT. SEAT BELT RELEASED AND UNLATCHED DUE TO IMPACT. *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.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →60Owner complaints
Model-year median: 99
1Recall campaignsView recall details →
2InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1986 Nissan Maxima
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 60 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Fuel System, Gasoline: 36 reports
- Electrical System: 10 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 9 reports
- Seat Belts: 5 reports
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Maxima years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
Seat Belts complaints
5 reportsREAR SEAT BELT FAILURE, SEAT BELT WILL NOT UNLATCH. TT
SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE, RESULTING IN FAILURE. TT
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS BROKEN. TT
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IS DEFFECTIVE, BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. TT
Recall campaigns
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 ↗
Defect 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
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.