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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
102Owner complaints

Model-year median: 99

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1997 Nissan Maxima

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 102 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 39 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 12 reports
  • Air Bags: 10 reports
  • Structure: 7 reports
  • Suspension: 7 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
89
1994152
199596
1996102
1997113
1998165
1999360
2000
Compare all Maxima years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
39Engine And Engine Cooling
12Air Bags
10Structure
7Suspension
7
All reported categories
Steering
6Service Brakes, Hydraulic
5Fuel System, Gasoline
4Latches/locks/linkages
4Power Train
4Vehicle Speed Control
3Engine
2Equipment
2Tires
2Visibility
2Exterior Lighting
1Parking Brake
1Seat Belts
1Seats
1Service Brakes
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS ACTIVATES ON ITS OWN SPORADICALLY. THE DEALER SPECULATED THAT DIRT OR MUD ENTERS THROUGH THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND CAUSES THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CLEANED THE COMPONENT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY AFTER THE REMEDY. THE CONTACT WENT BACK TO THE DE…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS ACTIVATES ON ITS OWN SPORADICALLY. THE DEALER SPECULATED THAT DIRT OR MUD ENTERS THROUGH THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND CAUSES THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CLEANED THE COMPONENT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY AFTER THE REMEDY. THE CONTACT WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 07/08/09 *BF UPDATED 07/08/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10274261

52,000 miles · Aug 6, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKES/CALIPERS AND DISCS OVERHEATED, HAD BEEN SERVICED 3 TIMES IN 1 MONTH FOR NEW BRAKES TWICE. BRAKES HAVE BURNED UP WITH CALIPERS WHICH LOCKED, AND HAVE ALMOST GONE ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10030942

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE. WHILE TRYING TO PUT ON BRAKES, FOOT HIT THE GAS PEDAL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850567

Mileage unknown · May 11, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKES ARE GRINDING AND SQUEAKING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837761

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPYLING THE BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832899

Recall campaigns

1

02V171000 · 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 ↗

Defect investigations

1

PE02034 · Alternator Fires

Opened Mar 15, 2002 · Closed Jul 22, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

No summary supplied.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.