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: 12 of 110 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports3 fire reports11 injury reports
What owners actually said
110 reports
Mileage unknown · May 3, 1999
Visibility
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A 1992 NISSAN MAXIMA PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER OF 1996. THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP (SOMERSWORTH NISSAN, SOMERSWORTH, NH) BECAUSE MY WIPERS WERE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. THE CAR STILL HAD 3 MONTHS LEFT ON THE 5 YEAR 60 THOUSAND MILE WARRANTY. THE SERVICE MGR.…
Read full complaint
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A 1992 NISSAN MAXIMA PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER OF 1996. THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP (SOMERSWORTH NISSAN, SOMERSWORTH, NH) BECAUSE MY WIPERS WERE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. THE CAR STILL HAD 3 MONTHS LEFT ON THE 5 YEAR 60 THOUSAND MILE WARRANTY. THE SERVICE MGR. TOLD ME MY VTC SPROCKETS WERE DEFECTIVE AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. SHE CONTACTED NISSAN WHO IN-TURN SAID THEY WOULD COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE REPAIR IS NORMALY ABOUT $1500.00 DOLLARS. LESS THAN 2 YEARS LATER THE PART NISSAN REPLACED IS DEFECTIVE AGAIN. NISSAN REFUSES TO COVER THE COST. I AM SLOWLY FINDING OUT THAT VTC SPROCKETS ARE A CONTINUAL PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL 1992 MAXIMA OWNERS. WHY SHOULD I CONTINUE TO PAY $1500.00 EVERY TWO YEARS WHEN IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A POOR ENGINE DESIGN PROBLEM THAT NISSAN SHOULD NOT PASS ON TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. AS FAR AS I KNOW I CAN EXPECT TO PAY $1500.00 EVERY 2 YEARS. ANOTHER NISSAN DEALERSHIP SAID THE VTC SPROCKETS ARE DEFECTIVE AND WILL CONTINUALY GO BAD. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY. NISSAN NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRODUCTS IT MAKES AND SELLS!
NHTSA ODI #706202
Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline
WHEN ACCELERATING I SMELL STRONG FUEL FUMES. IT CONCERNS ME AND I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET IT FIXED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705934
Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 1999
Fuel System, GasolineVisibility
FUEL INJECTOR LEAKED GAS INTO THE ENGINE WHILE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING. YH
NHTSA ODI #782052
Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline
A VERY LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMES FROM THE FUEL INJECTOR AREA. IT GOES IN AND OUT, AND IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE IT HAS STARTED. CLEANER DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. MECHANICS DIFFER ON SOLUTION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705137
Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE CAMSHAFT BRACKET WHICH HOLDS TIMING CHAIN IN PLACE FAILED, CAUSING TIMING CHAIN TO FALL OUT. MAY CAUSE DAMAGES TO T VEHICLE, AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NISSAN HAS MADE AN IMPROVED BRACKETS AFTER 1994. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #834998
Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 1999
SeatsCrashInjury
DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED DURING IMPACT, RENDERING SEATBELTS INEFFECTIVE. DRIVER TOSSED AROUND, RESULTING IN SEVERE BRUSING AND WHIPLASH. HAVE PHOTOS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #703401
Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1999
Electrical System
HAVE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THIS FIXED TWICE, TO NO AVAIL. IT APPEARS TO BE A TEMPERMENTAL PROBLEM. SOMETIMES THE CAR STARTS WITH NO PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #703209
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 1999
Air Bags
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 50 MPH THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE DEALER WILL CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM TODAY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #834117
Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 1999
Structure
WAS TRYING TO UNLOCK POWER DOORS & THEY FAILED TO UNLOCK. ELCTRICAL SYSTEM HAD MALFUNCTIONED. WHENEVER INSIDE OF VEHICLE, DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY & CANNOT BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD BE UNLOCKED. *AK
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.
IN SOME UNDERBODY IMPACTS THE AIRBAG SENSOR ACTIVATES AND SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE AIRBAG, LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG TO INFLATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AIRBAG INFLATION MAY OCCUR WHEN IT IS NOT NEEDED TO PROTECT THE DRIVER AND MAY RESULT IN MINOR INJURIES TO THE DRIVER FROM THE INFLATING AIRBAG.
Remedy: A TUNNEL SENSOR OF DIFFERENT DESIGN WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
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
EA93024 · Inadver.air Bag Deployment
Opened Oct 8, 1993 · Closed Jan 25, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
There is no summary currently available
PE93063 · Inadver.air Bag Deployment
Opened Jul 12, 1993 · Closed Oct 8, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
There is no summary currently available
1992 Nissan Maxima Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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