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1990 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 99.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 11 of 106 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 →
  • Visibility. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 10 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 reports3 fire reports5 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

6 reports
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122,500 miles · Oct 10, 2002
Electrical System

WENT TO REPLACE BULB IN ASSEMBLY. FOUND PLASTIC BRACKETS INSIDE MELTED. TRIED TO REPLACE WITH USED PART, BUT EVERY ASSEMBLY I FOUND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING A NUMBER OF TIMES RECENTLY, BUT HAD NEVER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD, SINCE ITS CLEAR ALL VEHICLES WILL HAVE TH…

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WENT TO REPLACE BULB IN ASSEMBLY. FOUND PLASTIC BRACKETS INSIDE MELTED. TRIED TO REPLACE WITH USED PART, BUT EVERY ASSEMBLY I FOUND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING A NUMBER OF TIMES RECENTLY, BUT HAD NEVER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD, SINCE ITS CLEAR ALL VEHICLES WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768334

NHTSA ODI #10007490

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 1999
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT COMPLETLY AND THEN THE OIL STARTED LEAKING . ALSO, BRAKES SPEEDOMETER ARE HORN IS NOT WORKING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851455

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 1999
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

INITIAL ACTION TAKEN WHEN THE DASH NO LONGER DISPLAYED NUMBERS, WENT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER. I INFORMED THE DEALER THAT I COULD NO LONGER SEE THE SPEED AT WHICH I WAS TRAVELING, HOW MUCH FUEL WAS IN THE TANK, OR THE CORRECT MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT OPERATE BECAUSE OF THIS. THEY INFORMED ME THA…

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INITIAL ACTION TAKEN WHEN THE DASH NO LONGER DISPLAYED NUMBERS, WENT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER. I INFORMED THE DEALER THAT I COULD NO LONGER SEE THE SPEED AT WHICH I WAS TRAVELING, HOW MUCH FUEL WAS IN THE TANK, OR THE CORRECT MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT OPERATE BECAUSE OF THIS. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD BE A COSTLY REPAIR, AND TO NOT FIX IT BECAUSE THE DASH HAS NOT BEEN FIXED CORRECTLY. RECENTLY I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TRIED TO CLEAN THE COMPONENTS ON THE DASH, HOPING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AT THIS TIME, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY NO LONGER REPLACE THE DASHES. THEY REFER THE CUSTOMER TO AN ELECTRONIC SPECIALIST. AFTER CALLING AND VISITING NUMEROUS SPECIALISTS, I FOUND NO LUCK IN ANYONE SERVICING MY PROBLEM. I THEN PROCEEDED TO WRITE NISSAN A LETTER EXPLAINING MY SITUATION AND ASKING FOR A SOLUTION. I RECEIVED A POST CARD STATING NISSAN NEEDED MORE INFORMATION THAT I ALREADY GAVE TO THEM. I THEN RECEIVED A CALL FROM A REPRESENTATIVE OF NISSAN TELLING ME MY SOLUTION WAS TO SWITCH TO AN ANALOG DASH AND THAT THEY COULD GET A QUOTE FROM THE DEALER AT THAT TIME. WHEN I CALLED BACK NISSAN I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE CANNOT ACCEPT THE ANALOG DASH AND THAT I NEED TO REPLACE IT WITH A $2,000.00 DIGITAL DASH. HOWEVER, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT SUGGEST REPLACING THE DIGITAL DASH BECAUSE IT WILL NOT WORK IN A MATTER OF TIME, AND THEN I AM OUT $2,000.00. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE, HE REPLIED "NOTHING". APPARENTLY ALL OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE DRIVING AROUND VEHICLES WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR SPEED, AN OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN COLDER CLIMATES DUE TO THE MOISTURE. THE DIGITAL DASH WAS ONLY PLACED IN CERTAIN VEHICLES FROM 1989-90, AND IS NO LONGER BEING PRODUCED FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. PLEASE ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE. I AM WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES. ALSO, I HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF MY CALLS AND COPIES OF ALL RECEIPTS AND LETTERS. THANK YOU. *A

NHTSA ODI #702680

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1996
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

ALTERNATOR REPLACED DUE TO STALLING.

NHTSA ODI #510708

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 1996
Electrical System

STALLS WIHILE DRIVING. PLEASE EXPLAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #803312

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 1996
Electrical System

RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKED THROUGH HEATER CORE ONTO FLOOR CARPET, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORT TO ECU AND EQUIPMENT UNDER FLOOR, RESULTING IN FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #508218

Official recalls

1

95V244000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.