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1994 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 99.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 10 of 89 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 →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

18 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

THERE WAS A FAULTY FUEL LINE IN CONSUMERS 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA. *TS THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP AND TEMPERATURE SENSOR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10142085

90,000 miles · May 31, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineVisibility

DT: FOR THE PAST YEAR SMELLED GAS. BEEN TOOK TO DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. DONE REPAIRS TO HOSES,EXHAUST, ETC. LATER DISCOVERED THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL INJECTION. SYSTEM. WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON HIGH THE SMELL WAS EVIDENT. ALSO, THIS WAS PRESENT IN THE MORNING WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED FOR THE FIRST 5 …

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DT: FOR THE PAST YEAR SMELLED GAS. BEEN TOOK TO DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. DONE REPAIRS TO HOSES,EXHAUST, ETC. LATER DISCOVERED THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL INJECTION. SYSTEM. WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON HIGH THE SMELL WAS EVIDENT. ALSO, THIS WAS PRESENT IN THE MORNING WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED FOR THE FIRST 5 MINUTES. TOOK TO SERVICE DEALER, AND FOUND NO LEAKS, BUT DID PERFORM SMOKE TEST AND NUMEROUS INSPECTIONS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, IS WAS PRESENT WHEN IS DEFROST WAS TURNED ON. GAS SMELL IWASSTRONGER WHEN ACCELERATING ABOUT 25 MPH OR SO IN STOP OR GO TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10122494

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineWheels

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALLS 95V244000 AND 94V194000 REPAIRS CONCERNING WHEELS AND THE FUEL FILLER. CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR THE LABOR, AND THE REPAIRS ON THE WHEELS WAS NOT PERFORMED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. A BROKE VACUUM LINE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO IDLE POORLY. T…

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CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALLS 95V244000 AND 94V194000 REPAIRS CONCERNING WHEELS AND THE FUEL FILLER. CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR THE LABOR, AND THE REPAIRS ON THE WHEELS WAS NOT PERFORMED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. A BROKE VACUUM LINE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO IDLE POORLY. THE VEHICLE'S WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10094097

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE BOLTS ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM ENGINE ARE BREAKING OFF, CONSUMER STATES IT IS DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF EXHAUST SYSTEM FROM ENGINE, THE EXHAUST PIPE IS PULLING ON MANIFOLD OFF ENGINE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #563287

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

CRANKSHAFT INTAKE MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. FASTER VEHICLE GOES NOISE GETS LOUDER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #882903

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

FUEL INJECTOR FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #785205

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainUnknown Or Other

PLASTIC PARTS ON WINDOW REGULAR FAILED CAUSING WINDOW TO FALL INSIDE DOOR, CAR HAS A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN IDELING ESPECIALLY IN COOLER MONTHS,BUMPED CONSOLE GEAR SHIFT WHILE DRIVING AND PUSHED CAR OUT OF GEAR (2), CAR SOMETIMES HESITATES WHEN PUT IN GEAR OR LUNGES WHEN PUT IN GEAR, TRUCK LATCH CATCHES AND MUST BE MANUALLY RESE…

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PLASTIC PARTS ON WINDOW REGULAR FAILED CAUSING WINDOW TO FALL INSIDE DOOR, CAR HAS A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN IDELING ESPECIALLY IN COOLER MONTHS,BUMPED CONSOLE GEAR SHIFT WHILE DRIVING AND PUSHED CAR OUT OF GEAR (2), CAR SOMETIMES HESITATES WHEN PUT IN GEAR OR LUNGES WHEN PUT IN GEAR, TRUCK LATCH CATCHES AND MUST BE MANUALLY RESET TO WORK.

NHTSA ODI #724362

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE BOLTS ARE BREAKING OFF WHERE THE EXHAUST MOUNTS TO THE BLOCK OF THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH, THIS IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE ON EVERY VEHICLE THAT USES THIS ENGINE (NISSAN QUEST, MAXIMA, AND MERCURY VILLAGER). ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE BOLTS ARE TO THIN/FRAGILE TO H…

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THE BOLTS ARE BREAKING OFF WHERE THE EXHAUST MOUNTS TO THE BLOCK OF THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH, THIS IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE ON EVERY VEHICLE THAT USES THIS ENGINE (NISSAN QUEST, MAXIMA, AND MERCURY VILLAGER). ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE BOLTS ARE TO THIN/FRAGILE TO HANDLE THE HEAT STRESS WHICH IS CAUSING THE HEADS OF THE BOLTS BREAK OFF, AND THEN RESULTING IN AN EXHAUST LEAK. THE EXHAUST LEAK IS LEAKING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY DURING WARM UP. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN A RECALL CAMPAIGN STARTED. ANY ESCALATION THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE IN GETTING THE MANUFACTURER TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS NOTORIOUS PROBLEM WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIPS IS CHARGING APPROXIMATELY $710.00 FOR THIS REPAIR TO BE DONE ON BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK EXHAUST MOUNTS. THE GUY AT THE GARAGE GAVE ME THE QUOTE OFF THE TOP OF HIS HEAD, AND STATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN ALOT OF THESE COME IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP, ROBERT BOOTH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #717943

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

BOLTS ARE BREAKING OFF WHERE THE EXHAUST MOUNTS TO THE BLOCK OF THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH ABOUT THIS, THIS IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE ON EVERY VEHICLE THAT USES THIS ENGINE (NISSAN QUEST, MAXIMA, AND MERCURY VILLAGER). THE BOLTS ARE TO THIN/FRAGILE TO HANDLE THE HEAT STESS WHICH IS CAUSING…

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BOLTS ARE BREAKING OFF WHERE THE EXHAUST MOUNTS TO THE BLOCK OF THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH ABOUT THIS, THIS IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE ON EVERY VEHICLE THAT USES THIS ENGINE (NISSAN QUEST, MAXIMA, AND MERCURY VILLAGER). THE BOLTS ARE TO THIN/FRAGILE TO HANDLE THE HEAT STESS WHICH IS CAUSING THEM TO BREAK OFF, RESULTING IN A EXHAUST LEAK. THE EXHAUST IS LEAKING INTO THE INTERIOR OF MY VEHICLE DURING WARM UP ESPECIALLY AFTER WARM UP IT'S NOT AS NOTICABLE. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY. ANY ESCALATION THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE IN GETTING THIS FIXED WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS, ROBERT BOOTH

NHTSA ODI #717913

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

3 PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASING AUTO:ACCELERATION OFF(FUEL INJECTION), BROKEN MANIFOLD STUD (EXHAUST) AND BROKEN AXLE

NHTSA ODI #713978

Official recalls

2

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.

94V194000 · Wheels

Oct 5, 1994

THE ALUMINUM WHEELS WERE CLEAR COATED SEVERAL TIMES TO PROTECT THE METAL FINISH. SOME EXCESSIVE COATING CAN LEAVE THE WHEEL NUTS AN EXCESSIVE DISTANCE FROM THE WHEEL HUB WHEN TIGHTENED, ALLOWING THEM TO LOOSEN OVER TIME.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE HUB BOLTS TO BREAK AND RESULT IN THE WHEEL SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CLEAR PLASTIC COATING FROM THE BRAKE ROTOR MATING SURFACE ON THE BACK OF EACH WHEEL AND FROM THE WHEEL NUT MATING SURFACES. THE WHEELS WILL BE REINSTALLED AND THE WHEEL NUTS TIGHTENED. WHEELS, HUB BOLTS, AND NUTS WILL BE REPLACED IF NECESSARY.

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.