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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

106 reports
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 · Sep 30, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS A LEAKAGE OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, CAUSING STRONG FUMES OF FUEL TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN HAVING THE DRIVER NOT ABLE TO DRIVE PROPERLY. CONTACTED DEALER. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8019751

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2002
Exterior Lighting

THE LOCAL DEALER SHOP PERSONNEL HAVE HEARD AND SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS. MR

NHTSA ODI #767841

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2002
Exterior Lighting

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP ON A REGULAR BASIS WHEN THE BRAKE PAD IS APPLIED. THE CONNECTORS THAT TOUCH THE LIGHT BULBS ARE VERY SENSITIVE. THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT CAUSES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BULB AND CONNETOR TO FAIL. I HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WITH NUMEROUS MAXIMAS ON THE ROAD. THIS PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THE REAR LIG…

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REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP ON A REGULAR BASIS WHEN THE BRAKE PAD IS APPLIED. THE CONNECTORS THAT TOUCH THE LIGHT BULBS ARE VERY SENSITIVE. THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT CAUSES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BULB AND CONNETOR TO FAIL. I HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WITH NUMEROUS MAXIMAS ON THE ROAD. THIS PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THE REAR LIGHTS AS WELL (NOT ONLY WHEN BRAKING). THE REAR 3RD BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS CORRODED AND DOES NOT PERMIT THE BULB TO BE INSTALLED. THIS PROBLEM EXISTED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 92,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. ATTEMPS TO HAVE IT REPAIRED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC ARE IN VEIN BECAUSE THE PROBLEM REOCCURS WITHIN A COUPLE DAYS AFTER BEING 'REPAIRED'. SEEMS AS IF ONLY HALF OF THE TOAL CONNECTORS ARE IN EVERYDAY WORKING CONDITION. THE OTHER HALF TURN ON AND ON SPORADICALLY. THIS MAKES IT SEEM AS IF I HAVE SOME 'TAIL LIGHTS OUT'. THIS IN TURN GIVES POLICE OFFICERS A REASON TO CONTINUALLY PULL ME OVER AND LET ME KNOW ABOUT THE LIGHTING SITUATION. IN ADDITION, THE NON-WORKING CONNECTORS GIVE THE CAR A POOR APPEARANCE. LASTLY, THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE REAR LIGHTING MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. NLM

NHTSA ODI #767583

Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2002
Seat Belts

REAR LEFT PASSENGER RESTRAINT WEBBING HAS SEPARATED FROM TRACK DUE TO RUST. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE MAKE/MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN#. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8017106

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2002
Interior LightingFire

LAMP BULBS IN HIGH CENTER AUXILLARY STOP MELT SOCKETS, THEN CASING, CAUSING FIRE HAZARD ON REAR PACKAGE SHELF.*AK

NHTSA ODI #761708

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN WITHOUT WARNING CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8002021

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineCrashFire

DUE TO SIGNIFICANT CORROSION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE RESULTED 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. I HAVE ALREADY …

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DUE TO SIGNIFICANT CORROSION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE RESULTED 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. I HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED NISSAN AND DEALER IN THIS REGARD; THE NISSAN IS NOT GIVING RESPONSE FROM LAST ONE MONTH TO THE DEALER. I HAVE A NEWBORN BABY, I AM WORRIED OF CRASH OR FIRE, PLEASE HELP ME TO SOLVE THIS ASAP. THERE IS RECALL AVAILABLE ON THESE ITEMS ALREADY BUT NISAAN IS BOT RELACING THEM. I HAVE GOT A CASE OPENED WITH NISSAN I.E 3517845. PLEASE HELP ME TO TAKE SOME STEP. I HAVE BEEN CALING NISSAN ALMOST EVERYDAY. PLEASE HELP..HELP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #752288

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

CONSUMER HAS HAD FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEM WHICH CAUSES AN UNEVENESS IN THE RUNNING OF THE MOTOR. NLM

NHTSA ODI #558294

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND HAVE PUT A LOT OF MONEY AND TIME INTO IT. BUT MY MECHANIC WARNED ME AFTER HAVING MY TUNE-UP DONE THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS ARE LEAKING. HE SUGGESTED I CONTACT NISSAN TO VERIFY WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAD RECALLED MY VEHICLE MODEL FOR THIS DEFECT. ACCORDING TO A NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS…

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I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND HAVE PUT A LOT OF MONEY AND TIME INTO IT. BUT MY MECHANIC WARNED ME AFTER HAVING MY TUNE-UP DONE THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS ARE LEAKING. HE SUGGESTED I CONTACT NISSAN TO VERIFY WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAD RECALLED MY VEHICLE MODEL FOR THIS DEFECT. ACCORDING TO A NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS ASSOCIATE, THE 1990 MAXIMA DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED FOR THE PREVIOUS YEARS MAXIMA. BUT I HAVE SEARCHED THE NHTSA SITE AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WITH MY MAXIMA. *AK

NHTSA ODI #736654

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.