IllustrationINTERLOCK CABLE BETWEEN IGNITION SWITCH AND SHIFTER BROKE MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR THE KEY TO BE TAKE OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD DOWN THE DRIVEWAY.
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 WAS DRIVING APPROX. 5MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT. CONSUMER HIT BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT, RESULTING IN CRASHING INTO GAURDRAIL. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK
HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED AND DID NOT DEPLOY. DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
PAINT IS THIN AND IS PEELING.
ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED A FIRE IN THE TRUNK.
WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO GO OUT OF PARK. GEAR STICKS, AND THE DRIVER HAS TO REALLY STRUGGLE TO GET THE GEAR OUT OF THIS POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE THIRD TIME THE DEALER FINALLY REPLACED THE BUSHING LOCK IN THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE…
Read full complaint
WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO GO OUT OF PARK. GEAR STICKS, AND THE DRIVER HAS TO REALLY STRUGGLE TO GET THE GEAR OUT OF THIS POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE THIRD TIME THE DEALER FINALLY REPLACED THE BUSHING LOCK IN THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL IS GOING ON. *AK
THE DESIGN OF THE REAR SEAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO PROPERLY INSTALL A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. OWNER IS INTERESTED IN A SAFETY SEAT THAT WILL FIT PROPERLY.
DRIVER'S SEAT IS LOOSE, AND IT COMES OUT OF ITS RAILS. *AK
TRANSMISSION IS DELAYED WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR. *AK
MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. NLM
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.