IllustrationTRANSMISSION FAILED AT 92,000. MANY REPLACEMENT PARTS AND PROBLEMS. *AK
1989 Nissan Maxima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 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 62 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 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. 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.
7 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
62 reportsA/C FAILED; SANTA MONICA NISSAN CLAIMED THE WHOLE DASHBOARD COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT $1000. LATER FOUND YOUR BULLETIN FC0006029. *AK
CONSUMER NOTICED A BIG HOLE IN THE INSIDE OF THE TRUNK LEADING TO THE BACK TIRE. FUEL FILLER TUBE WAS CAUSING THE INTERIOR WHEEL HOUSING TO RUST. ALSO, SEATBELT WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE CAR. IT RUSTED AND CAME OFF. CONSUMER HAS SMALL CHILDREN THAT ARE NORMALLY RESTRAINED IN THOSE SEATS. *AK
THE CASE NUMBER AT NISSAN IS I-19755. I HAVE OVER $ 50,000 IN MEDICAL BILLS THAT NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO PAY. TWO NISSAN DEALERSHIPS HAS REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO NISSAN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART ON 3-2-00 AT MARK ESCUDE NISSAN; PHONE # 601-956-7522, INVOICE # NICS70185. THE CONTACT PERSON AT NISSAN IS CURTIS T…
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THE CASE NUMBER AT NISSAN IS I-19755. I HAVE OVER $ 50,000 IN MEDICAL BILLS THAT NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO PAY. TWO NISSAN DEALERSHIPS HAS REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO NISSAN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART ON 3-2-00 AT MARK ESCUDE NISSAN; PHONE # 601-956-7522, INVOICE # NICS70185. THE CONTACT PERSON AT NISSAN IS CURTIS THREET, CONSUMER SPECIALIST. ADDRESS IS P.O.BOX191,GARDENA,CA. 90248-0191 , PHONE # 1-800-647-7261. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. SMOKE COME FROM HOOD. COASTED TIL GOT OFF MAIN ROAD. CAR STARTED FLAMING UNDER HOOD. WROTE UP AS TOTAL LOSS. *AK
MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED CAUSED THE VEHCLE TO JERK AND STALL ON THE ROAD. YH
IN ADDITION TO THE RECALL 95V244 FOR 89-93 NISSAN MAXIMAS FOR A FUEL FILLER REPLACEMENT, ANOTHER PROBLEM I HAVE IS THE REAR WHEEL HOUSINGS WHICH ROT THROUGH (NOTED SOMEWHAT IN 95V244 AS "REAR SEAT BELT ATTACHMENT TO WHEEL HOUSING"). WHEN THERE IS REAR WHEEL HOUSING DAMAGE DUE TO CORROSION (SALT), SINCE THERE IS NO PLASTIC "LIN…
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IN ADDITION TO THE RECALL 95V244 FOR 89-93 NISSAN MAXIMAS FOR A FUEL FILLER REPLACEMENT, ANOTHER PROBLEM I HAVE IS THE REAR WHEEL HOUSINGS WHICH ROT THROUGH (NOTED SOMEWHAT IN 95V244 AS "REAR SEAT BELT ATTACHMENT TO WHEEL HOUSING"). WHEN THERE IS REAR WHEEL HOUSING DAMAGE DUE TO CORROSION (SALT), SINCE THERE IS NO PLASTIC "LINER" FOR THE HOUSING, WATER (WHEN RAINING) IS ALLOWED TO ENTER THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FLOODING IT - BUT ONLY WHEN THE DRIVER RIDES IN THE RAIN. (THE REAR WHEEL THROWS THE WATER HIGH AND A WATER TRAIL FINDS ITS WAY DOWN THE REAR SEAT EDGE THAT CONTACTS THE WHEEL HOUSING. THIS OPEN, CORRODED AREA COULD ALSO LET EXHAUST FUMES IN. NISSAN SHOULD HAVE PUT A PLASTIC WHEEL HOUSING LINER IN THE REAR AS THEY DID IN THE FRONT TO AVOID THIS POSSIBILITY. (IS THERE ONE AVAILABLE)? THIS IS A POPULAR CAR AND BUT IT MIGHT 6-9 YEARS FOR THIS CORROSION TO COME THROUGH.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE KEEPS SHOWING 15MPH EVENTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS A T STOP. ALSO, THE GAS GAUGE SOMETIMES SHOWS EMPTY EVENTHOUGH THE TANK IS FULL. THOSE PROBLEMS HAPPEN VERY OFTEN. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT GEAR AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. I HAVE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART AGAIN, THEN THE TRANSMISSION BE…
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THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE KEEPS SHOWING 15MPH EVENTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS A T STOP. ALSO, THE GAS GAUGE SOMETIMES SHOWS EMPTY EVENTHOUGH THE TANK IS FULL. THOSE PROBLEMS HAPPEN VERY OFTEN. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT GEAR AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. I HAVE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART AGAIN, THEN THE TRANSMISSION BECOMES NORMAL. IT DOESN'T MATTER IN HOT OR COLD WEATHER. ACCORDING TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER, HE HAD THE PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON 30,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED THE NEW FACTORY SPEEDOMETER BY NISSAN DEALER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM VEHICLE, AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING, CONSUMER HAD TO HOLD FOOT DOWN ON THE BRAKES. ALSO BRAKE LIGHT STAYED ON, AND THE SOCKET WAS BURNED OUT. BRAKES STARTED TO SMOKE. *AK
Official recalls
195V244000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Dec 15, 1995
IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A MIXTURE OF MUD AND SALT TO GET TRAPPED BETWEEN THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND WHEEL HOUSING. THE TRAPPED MUD AND SALT CAN RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND THE WHEEL HOUSING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SIGNIFICANT CORROSION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE MAY RESULT IN FUEL LEAKS WHICH IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. IN ADDITION, THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS MOUNTED TO THE WHEEL HOUSING AND IN THE EVENT OF SIGNIFICANT CORROSION, AND THE MOUNTING COULD FAIL IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN DEPENDING UPON THE EXTENT OF THE CORROSION.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.