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1987 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1987 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 99.

About this comparison →
176Owner complaints

Model-year median: 99

0Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
30
198454
198560
1986176
198760
198862
1989106
1990
Compare all Maxima years →

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

What owners reported most

Fuel System, Gasoline
100Electrical System
22Engine And Engine Cooling
21Seat Belts
15Vehicle Speed Control
7
All reported categories
Visibility
6Power Train
5Unknown Or Other
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Steering
2Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Other
1Interior Lighting
1Structure
1Tires
1Wheels
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: 4 of 176 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 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports95 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

176 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2012
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineFire

1987 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO VEHICLE FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, ONE OF THE PASSENGERS STARTED TO SMELL BURNING WIRE. SOON AFTER HIS WIFE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET TO A SAFE SPOT AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE VEHICLE …

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1987 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO VEHICLE FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, ONE OF THE PASSENGERS STARTED TO SMELL BURNING WIRE. SOON AFTER HIS WIFE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET TO A SAFE SPOT AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE HE WAS INFORMED THE INJECTORS DID NOT WANT TO SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR AN INJECTOR PROBLEM AND THE RECALL HAD NEVER BEEN PERFORMED.

NHTSA ODI #10486801

13,000 miles · Nov 7, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208189

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2004
Seat Belts

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CABLE POPPED OUT AND IT WOULD'NT MOVE. NOW IT ONLY WORKS MANUALLY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #859548

178,276 miles · Jun 30, 2004
Fuel System, GasolineFire

VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED AND THEN WAS PARKED DUE TO FUEL LEAKING. ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED FUEL LEAK DUE TO FAULTY FUEL LINE AND FUEL INJECTION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10079091

150,000 miles · Dec 4, 2003
Seat Belts

DRIVER;S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION; STOPPED HALF WAY. NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10049229

155,000 miles · Nov 3, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

RE: 1987 NISSAN MAXIM I OWN 3 OF THESE VEHICLES. IN 2 OF THEM, THE PRESSURIZED FUEL LINE COMING OUT OF THE GAS TANK HAS FAILED, ALLOWING STRONG FUEL VAPORS TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS LINE IS DIRECTLY UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT AND RAW FUEL ALSO IS ABLE TO FLOW UNDER THE SEAT. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10045344

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL INLECTORS LEAKING, THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS AN INJECTOR RECALL. (RECALL NOT LIFETIME WARRANTY)-DEALER MADE THE REPAIRS *SCC

NHTSA ODI #567954

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2002
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS INOPERABLE. DOESNOT MOVE WHEN OPENING DOOR. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8009152

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER IS CALLING TO REPORT THAT ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #896064

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineFire

RECALL 95I00600, 15 MINUTES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER COULD SEE FLAMES COMING FROM ENGINE NEAR FUEL INJECTORS. CONSUMER WAS 2ND OWNER OF VEHICLE, AND MANUFACTURER SENT A LETTER SHOWING THAT IT WAS DONE. PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED, AND CONSUMER WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO MANUFACTURER TO AT LEAST SENT SOMEONE OR GIVE DEAL…

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RECALL 95I00600, 15 MINUTES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER COULD SEE FLAMES COMING FROM ENGINE NEAR FUEL INJECTORS. CONSUMER WAS 2ND OWNER OF VEHICLE, AND MANUFACTURER SENT A LETTER SHOWING THAT IT WAS DONE. PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED, AND CONSUMER WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO MANUFACTURER TO AT LEAST SENT SOMEONE OR GIVE DEALER AUTHORIZATION TO INSPECT VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #882097

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.

DP92009 · Sudden Acceleration

Opened Apr 20, 1992 · Closed Aug 20, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available