IllustrationDURING VEHICLE FRONT END COLLISION THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS WHICH RESULTED IN INJURY TO THE CONSUMER (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER). *MJS
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Maxima years →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
What owners actually said
96 reportsCONSUMER REPLACED TWO FRONT TIRES (NO MAKE OR SIZE) DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION WHICH WAS ALSO CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE, ONE OF THE PLACES THAT THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO STATED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES. *SLC
CONSUMER WAS SITTING AT A LIGHT & WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. REAR BUMPER WAS PUSHED IN THE BACK SEAT. AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY & THE SEATBELT DIDN'T LOCK. CONSUMER SUSTAINED FACIAL & DENTAL INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAD AN INSPECTOR TO LOOK AT VEHICLE & FOUND SEATBELT & AIRBAG IN GOOD WORKING ORDER.*AK
I NEED DIRECTIONS ON WHERE TO GO WITH MY PROBLEM. I BOUGHT A CAR FROM MY BROTHER LAST YEAR. I FOUND OUT THE CARS WERE SWITCHED AT THE DEALER AND NOW THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO COOPERATE.
NO SUMMARY
ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE GONE OUT OF ROUND AND HAVE A NOTICEABLE SIDE TO SIDE MOTION AT SLOW SPEEDS.*AK (TIRESIZE: P215R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215R15 )
I PURCHASED 4 OF THESE TIRES IN NOV 1998 AND THE 1ST TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION IN NOV 1999(IT WAS THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT)THE 2ND TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION IN MAR 2000(DRIVER SIDE REAR)----THE 1ST TIRE LEFT DAMAGE ON THE INNER WHEEL WELL OF THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT---APPROXIMATE DAMAGE $300( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P20565R15 )
EMISSIONS CONTROL PARTS FAILURE - MIL LIGHT ON-KNOWN PROBLEM/VOLUNTARY RECALL BUT NOT COVERED FOR CA VEHICLES SO COST IS OVER $500.*AK
THERE IS A DECREASE IN ACCELERATION. VEHICLE IS SLOW AND SLUGGISH. ALSO THERE IS A PROBLEM WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THERE IS A MICO COMPUTER CHIP THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
CONSUMER COULD LEAVE VEHICLE WITHOUT BEING USED FOR A COUPLE DAYS. THEN WHEN TRYING TO START ENGINE, IT WILL NOT START AND MAKES NOISE. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.