IllustrationALTERNATOR HAS FAILED, BURNING SMELL FROM UNDER HOOD. VEHICLE HAS MISSED RECALL BY 16 DAYS. *LA
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
What owners actually said
102 reportsREAR 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
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 ODOME…
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
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED INTO SHARP PIECES INSTEAD OF ROUND PEBBLES. *JB PH *JB
THE ALTERNATOR BURNED OUT TWICE. *NLM
THE VEHICLE WAS HIT AT 25 MPH IN THE FRONT CENTER BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH CAUSED MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. *NLM
THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR CAME OFF THE HINGE, AND FELL ONTO THE HIGHWAY. *JB
THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL SMELL THAT ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. *JB THE HEAVY GAS SMELL WOULD FILL THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, AND WITHOUT A/C ON. THE REPAIR SHOP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *SCC
CAR INITIALLY HAD TROUBLE STARTING. THE CAR LATER WOULD NOT START AT ALL; TOWED TO SERICE DEALER. I ALSO NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION. IT IS MAKING A NOISE WITH EACH BUMP IN THE ROAD OR WHEN A LEFT TURN IN MADE.
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, AND THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION.*JB PH
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.