IllustrationAT 30MPH VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATED PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE ALTERNATOR. *JG
1997 Nissan Maxima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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
20–25K
125–50K
650–75K
1175–100K
10100–150K
0150K+
30 reports with mileage · 72 unknown
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.
- Electrical System. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports16 fire reports6 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
39 reportsI PUT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE. I CAME BACK OUT TO THE GARAGE TO GET SOMETHING ELSE OUT OF THE CAR AND I SMELLED A HORRIBLE SMELL, LIKE PLASTIC BURNING. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THE FLAMES. MY NEIGHBOR HELPED ME PUSH THE CAR OUT FHE GARAGE. I RAN A HOSE OVER THE ENGINE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. HAD I NOT…
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I PUT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE. I CAME BACK OUT TO THE GARAGE TO GET SOMETHING ELSE OUT OF THE CAR AND I SMELLED A HORRIBLE SMELL, LIKE PLASTIC BURNING. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THE FLAMES. MY NEIGHBOR HELPED ME PUSH THE CAR OUT FHE GARAGE. I RAN A HOSE OVER THE ENGINE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. HAD I NOT GOTTEN THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE, MY CAR COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE, BURNED MY BRAND NEW HOUSE DOWN AND POSSIBLY KILLED ME. I AM APALLED THAT I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS RECALL MORE THAN 1 YEAR AFTER MY INCIDENT. I THOUGHT IT WAS ISOLATED UNTIL I READ ABOUT IT IN THE NEWPAPER. IT COST MORE THAN $650 TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND FIX THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I AM GOING TO CONTACT NISSAN FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I AM VERY LUCKY THAT MY SITUATION DID NOT END UP KILLING ME.*AK
PE-02-034; VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 30 MINUTES BEFORE TURNED OFF AND PARKED. CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. SMOKE CAME FROM BENEATH THE HOOD, AND FLAMES BLAZED WHEN HOOD WAS OPENED. VEHICLE WAS NOT TOTALED. DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR DUE TO IT GOING BAD. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
I OWN 2 OF THE SAMES CARS MAKE YEAR AND MODEL AND THE SAME THING HQAPPENED 2 BOTH CARS BUT ONE OF THEM WAS REALLY SERIOUS IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AS I WAS DRIVING I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO I THINK THERE SHOULDVE BEEN A RECALL OR SOMETHING PLEASE HELP THNK YOU. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
SMOKE NOTICED FROM UNDERHOOD WHILE VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE. FIRE INSIDE ALTERNATOR-PUT OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER. *AK
ALTERNATOR NOT CHARGING-AFTER STARTING CAR IN SHOP-ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE. SECOND 1997 MAXIMA WE HAVE WITNESS WITH THIS CONDITION-WILL SEND FILL OUT SEPERATE FORM ON OTHER CAR ALSO.*AK
ALTERNATOR JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE, MECHANIC DOES NOT KNOW WHY. THERE WAS NO WARNING, I DROVE FROM THE 6TH FLOOR TO THE 3RD FLOOR OF THE PARKING GARAGE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, SMELLED SMOKE LIFTED UP THE HOOD NOTICED THE ORANGE AND RED FLAMES. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO CONCORD NISSAN WAS TOLD THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAD CAUGHT FIRE & BURNED …
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ALTERNATOR JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE, MECHANIC DOES NOT KNOW WHY. THERE WAS NO WARNING, I DROVE FROM THE 6TH FLOOR TO THE 3RD FLOOR OF THE PARKING GARAGE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, SMELLED SMOKE LIFTED UP THE HOOD NOTICED THE ORANGE AND RED FLAMES. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO CONCORD NISSAN WAS TOLD THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAD CAUGHT FIRE & BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS AND FAN BELT. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT NISSAN THERE IS NO KNOWN CAUSE FOR THIS INCIDENT.
SMELLED SMOKE IMMEDIATLY AFTER STARTING CAR TURNED CAR OFF,INVESTIGATED AND SAW 3INCH FLAME EMITTING FROM ALTERNATOR NO WORK EVER DONE WITH ALTERNATOR IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM CONTACTED MANU. UNRESOLVED AS OF THIS TIME COMPLETE FAILURE RESULTED IMMEDIATLY. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
102V171000 · Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator
Jun 24, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, ONE OF THE DIODES USED IN THE ALTERNATOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED WHEN BUILT. THIS CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE DIODE AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH COULD MELT THE PLASTIC HOUSING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE COMBUSTIBLE GAS EMITTED BY THE MELTING PLASTIC DOES NOT DISPERSE DUE TO AIR FLOW THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IT COULD IGNITE AND IN TURN IGNITE THE FAN GUIDE IN THE ALTERNATOR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 29, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
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
1PE02034 · Alternator Fires
Opened Mar 15, 2002 · Closed Jul 22, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
No summary supplied.