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
What owners actually said
102 reports
80,500 miles · Jun 8, 2005
Structure
DT: CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER IS UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE DUE TO FACT THAT VEHICLE WASI NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY, VEHCILE DOES NOT COMFORTABLY FIT A PERSON OF AT LEAST 6 FOOT TALL, CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING LABEL ADVISING PERSONS OF AT LEAST 6 FOOT IN HEIGHT NOT TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE, VEHICLE IS UN-SAFE TO DRIVE FOR A…
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DT: CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER IS UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE DUE TO FACT THAT VEHICLE WASI NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY, VEHCILE DOES NOT COMFORTABLY FIT A PERSON OF AT LEAST 6 FOOT TALL, CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING LABEL ADVISING PERSONS OF AT LEAST 6 FOOT IN HEIGHT NOT TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE, VEHICLE IS UN-SAFE TO DRIVE FOR A PERSON OF THIS HEIGHT TO DRIVE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10124612
Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2005
Electrical System
NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V171000 CONCERNING THE ALTERNATOR. A FEW MONTHS AFTER HAVING THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10115080
Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2005
Electrical System
97 NISSAN MAXIMA - I GOT THE ALTERNATOR RECALL AND TOOK IT INTO A NISSAN DEALTERSHIP. AFTER THEY FIXED IT THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TAKEN OUT A "BOLT" OFF A CERTAIN PART, AND THEY COULD NOT PUT IT BACK ON, AND THAT MY CAR WOULD MAKE NOISES IT I DIDN'T PAY TO GET THAT PART FIXED. NOW FOR 2 YEARS MY CAR MAKES A SCREACHING NOISE…
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97 NISSAN MAXIMA - I GOT THE ALTERNATOR RECALL AND TOOK IT INTO A NISSAN DEALTERSHIP. AFTER THEY FIXED IT THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TAKEN OUT A "BOLT" OFF A CERTAIN PART, AND THEY COULD NOT PUT IT BACK ON, AND THAT MY CAR WOULD MAKE NOISES IT I DIDN'T PAY TO GET THAT PART FIXED. NOW FOR 2 YEARS MY CAR MAKES A SCREACHING NOISE WHEN I TURN IT ON FOR ABOUT 45 SEC - WHICH WAKES UP THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE REASON I AM FILING THIS IS BECUASE, BEFORE THE RECALL THE CAR WAS FINE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, AND IT SEEMS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME NOISE, SO I FEEL AS IF IT IS ALMOST AN EPIDEMIC AMONGST NISSAN'S, MAXIMAS SPECIFICALLY. PLEASE ADVISE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10113876
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline
WHILE SHIFTING GEARS THE VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10109208
Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2004
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10103436
129,000 miles · Dec 3, 2004
Electrical SystemFire
RECALL 02V171000 CONCERNING ALTERNATOR. CONSUMER WAS IN THE PARKING LOT AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, THEN SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER LIFTED UP THE HOOD AND FLAMES CAME OUT FROM THE ALTERNATOR. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD R…
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RECALL 02V171000 CONCERNING ALTERNATOR. CONSUMER WAS IN THE PARKING LOT AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, THEN SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER LIFTED UP THE HOOD AND FLAMES CAME OUT FROM THE ALTERNATOR. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD RECORDS INDICATING THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL WAS WARRANTED FOR 1 YEAR. IT WAS PAST A YEAR, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10103116
Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2004
Electrical System
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V171000 CONCERNING ALTERNATOR. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR I…
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CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V171000 CONCERNING ALTERNATOR. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ATERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10102051
102,000 miles · Oct 29, 2004
Electrical System
RECALL 02V171000 CONCERNING ALTERNATOR. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE AND A ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER CONCERNING THIS RECALL. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *NM
NHTSA ODI #10090101
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2004
Air Bags
PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WENT OFF INADVERTENTLY WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH. CONSUMER WAS NOT INJURED, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10097810
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2004
Air Bags
WITH EXTENSIVE FRONT-END DAMAGE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *BF WHILE DRIVING OUR VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE, MY SON REAR-ENDED A FORD WINSTAR VAN. HE BELIEVES THAT HE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO BRAKE TO SOME EXTENT BEFORE HITTING HER REAR BUMPER. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED. HOWEVER THERE WAS E…
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WITH EXTENSIVE FRONT-END DAMAGE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *BF WHILE DRIVING OUR VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE, MY SON REAR-ENDED A FORD WINSTAR VAN. HE BELIEVES THAT HE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO BRAKE TO SOME EXTENT BEFORE HITTING HER REAR BUMPER. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED. HOWEVER THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE MAXIMA. THIS INCLUDED THE FRONT BUMPER, GRILL, RADIATOR, HOOD AND OTHER COMPONENTS THAT I WAS UNABLE TO ASSESS. HOWEVER OUR BODY SHOP AND INSURANCE COMPANY FELT THAT THE COST OF REPAIRS EXCEEDED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICHLE SUCH THAT THEY "TOTALED" THE CAR. MY CONCERN WAS THAT WITH SUCH EXTENSIVE FRONT-END DAMAGE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NISSAN SEEMS TO THINK THAT THIS WAS APPROPRIATE. HOW CAN WE DETERMINE IF THIS IS CORRECT. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU. *AK FOLLOW UP LETTER FROM 10078979 *TC
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
1
PE02034 · Alternator Fires
Opened Mar 15, 2002 · Closed Jul 22, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
No summary supplied.
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