IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH TIMING BELT BLEW OUT FOR THE FOURTH TIME, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
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 →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: 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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
21 reportsFUEL INJECTOR FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 12-95, RECALL WORK PREFORMED ON 7-31-97, HOWEVER FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO LEAKAGE ONTO EXHAUST PIPE. *YC
I HAVE REPLACE NUMEROUS PARTS IN SHORTS PERIODS OF TIME
THE DEFECTIVE HEAD BOLT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BROKE OFF AND JAMMED THE CAMSHAFT, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. *AK
VEHICLE FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO LACK OF SERVICE RECORDS.
ENGINE STALLED/CAUGHT FIRE.
ENGINE FIRE.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT 45MPH, VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES, LOCKING DRIVER INSIDE VEHICLE, DRIVER MANAGED TO GET HIMSELF FREE. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER MOVING AND RESTARTING THE CAR 2 TIMES. THE FIRE/EXPLOSION BEGAN IN THE ENGINE AREA MOSTLY ON THE LEFT SIDE. *AK CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT SOME VEHICLE'S HAS FUEL LEAKS CONSUMER STATES SHE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED.*JB
LEAKY FUEL INJECTORS CAUSE STRONG FUEL ODOR IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *DH
Official recalls
0No 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
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.
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