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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.

About this comparison →
96Owner complaints

Model-year median: 99

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
78
199389
1994152
199596
1996102
1997113
1998165
1999
Compare all Maxima years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
17Air Bags
16Power Train
12Electrical System
8Suspension
8
All reported categories
Steering
7Tires
7Unknown Or Other
6Vehicle Speed Control
5Equipment
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Structure
4Visibility
4Seats
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2Engine
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Other
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Parking Brake
1Seat Belts
1

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

Visibility complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2001
Power TrainVisibility

WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE CONSUMER HAD TO FORCE IT. PART HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY DEALER, CONSUMER WAS TOLD NISSAN COMPANY ADVISED DEALER NOT TO REPLACE THIS COMPONENT AGAIN, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. ALSO ON DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WATER WAS LEAKING INTO VEHICLE, ENOUGH TO SOAK CARPET. DEALER SAID THAT WAS NORMAL…

Read full complaint

WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE CONSUMER HAD TO FORCE IT. PART HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY DEALER, CONSUMER WAS TOLD NISSAN COMPANY ADVISED DEALER NOT TO REPLACE THIS COMPONENT AGAIN, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. ALSO ON DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WATER WAS LEAKING INTO VEHICLE, ENOUGH TO SOAK CARPET. DEALER SAID THAT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE VEHICLE. *AK THE MILDEW SMELL AFTER RAIN AND CAR WASH. *YH

NHTSA ODI #878152

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 1997
Visibility

PROBLEM WITH SUN/MOON ROOF.

NHTSA ODI #603264

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 1997
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WASHER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #603246

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1996
Visibility

VENT CONTROL VALVE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #602840

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.