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

02V171000 — Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator

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

Compare all Maxima years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System

39 Engine And Engine Cooling

12 Air Bags

10 Structure

7 Suspension

All reported categories

Steering

6 Service Brakes, Hydraulic

5 Fuel System, Gasoline

4 Latches/locks/linkages

4 Power Train

4 Vehicle Speed Control

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

0–25K

25–50K

50–75K

75–100K

100–150K

150K+

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

3 reports

Clear category filter

20,000 miles · Sep 21, 2011

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

IN THE BEGINNING I NOTICED IT TOOK ME A COUPLE TIMES TO START VEHICLE AND IT WOULD LOOSE POWER AT CERTAIN STOPS OR WHEN I SLOWED DOWN OR CAME TO A STOP. AND AS TIME I FELT IT JERK AND PULL AT TIMES WHEN I WAS NOT DRIVING TOO FAST THIS CONTINUED AND THEN IT WAS ONE DAY THAT IT DOES NOT WANT TO START UP, NEW STARTER, NEW BATTER…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10426551

135,000 miles · Feb 12, 2010

Vehicle Speed Control

1997 NISSAN MAXIMA SE - CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING EITHER UNWANTED ACCELERATION OR UNWANTED DECELERATION. HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WITH DIFFERENT DRIVERS TO THE POINT WE NO LONGER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE IN THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10310064

85,892 miles · Jul 28, 2003

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

Read full complaint

CLICKING NOISE FROM MY 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA 5 - SPEED ODOMETER. SHIFTING PROBLEMS, NO CRUISE CONTROL AND NO MPH READING OR ODOMETER READING AFTER CLICKING STOPPED. SHIFTING COMPLETELY FAILED AFTER ABOUT A MONTH. MECHANIC THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM SAID THAT THE ODOMETER BOX LOCATED NEAR THE GEARS FELL APART AND THE PIECES OF THE ODOMETER COMPONENTS FELL INTO MY GEARS DAMAGING THEM AND ULTIMATELY PREVENTING THE USE OF MY VEHICLE. MECHANIC ALSO TOLD ME IT WAS NOTHING I HAD DONE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10030231

Recall campaigns

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

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.