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1996 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 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: 15 of 96 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports3 fire reports7 injury reports

Parking Brake complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 2001
Parking BrakeCrash

THIS CAR WAS PARKED ON A DRIVEWAY ON THE SIDE OF A HOME. THE CAR WAS FACING THE STREET AND THE DRIVEWAY HAD A SLOPE DOWNWARDS TOWARDS THE STREET. THE CAR HAS A FIVE SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE CAR WAS PARKED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE PULLED UP AND THE GEAR IN 2ND. ABOUT 45 MINUTES AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND …

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THIS CAR WAS PARKED ON A DRIVEWAY ON THE SIDE OF A HOME. THE CAR WAS FACING THE STREET AND THE DRIVEWAY HAD A SLOPE DOWNWARDS TOWARDS THE STREET. THE CAR HAS A FIVE SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE CAR WAS PARKED WITH THE PARKING BRAKE PULLED UP AND THE GEAR IN 2ND. ABOUT 45 MINUTES AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE DRIVER WENT INTO THE HOME, THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE FAILED AND THE CAR ROLLED INTO THE STREET CAUSING AN ACCIDENT - A CAR THAT WAS TRAVELLING ON THE STREET HIT THIS CAR ON THE SIDE AS IT ROLLED INTO THE STREET AFTER THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED. THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED BY HITTING A HILL ON THE NEIGHBOR'S FRONT YARD ACCROSS THE STREET. SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS NOTICED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS IN THE UP POSITION (ENGAGED). AFTER THIS ACCIDENT, THE PARKING BRAKE WAS FOUND TO HAVE NO RESISTANCE AT ALL FURTHER SUPPORTING THE CLAIM THAT THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE FAILED. THIS IS A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION IN THE CAR AND SHOULD BE PURSUED.

NHTSA ODI #755936

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.