IllustrationNO DESCRIPTION. *JB
1998 Nissan Maxima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 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
525–50K
650–75K
575–100K
13100–150K
10150K+
41 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 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.
13 crash reports12 fire reports6 injury reports
Power Train complaints
6 reportsI OWN A 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA SE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR THE REVIEWS ON THE CAR HAD STATED THAT THE POWERTRAIN SHIFTING WAS HARD AND ROUGH.SINCE I HAD THE CAR IT HAS BEEN DOING JUST THAT . IT SHIFTS SO HARD SOMETIMES FROM A STOP THAT I…
Read full complaint
I OWN A 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA SE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR THE REVIEWS ON THE CAR HAD STATED THAT THE POWERTRAIN SHIFTING WAS HARD AND ROUGH.SINCE I HAD THE CAR IT HAS BEEN DOING JUST THAT . IT SHIFTS SO HARD SOMETIMES FROM A STOP THAT I FEEL THAT ITS NOT GOING TO GO INTO GEAR.ITS NOT DRIVEN HARD AT ALL, SO COULD SOMEONE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON NOW FROM MY TORQUE CONVERTER CIRCUIT BEING INTERMITTENED.I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH, THANKS. *AK
AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID DRAINED FROM THE BACK END AND THE THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD I HIT A BUILDING. THERE IS OVER $8000.00 DAMAGES TO THE CAR AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO TOTAL THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE VEHICLE FOR ME. THIS VEHICLE IS A LEASED VEHICLE AND BECAUSE THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OW…
Read full complaint
AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID DRAINED FROM THE BACK END AND THE THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD I HIT A BUILDING. THERE IS OVER $8000.00 DAMAGES TO THE CAR AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO TOTAL THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE VEHICLE FOR ME. THIS VEHICLE IS A LEASED VEHICLE AND BECAUSE THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. ALSO THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE CAR WAS GOING 35 MILES PER HOUR WITH IT HIT THE BUILDING. I AM TRYING TO JUST GET THE DEALER TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AND REPLACE IT WITH ANOTHER BUT THEY ARE NOT COOPERATING. I HAVE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY AND HE SAYS I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DEALER TO TAKE THE CAR BACK. THE DEALER IS NOT ADMITTING THERE IS A DEFECT IN THIS CAR. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID PUDDLE AND THE DAMAGES TO THE CAR AND BUILDING. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS ALSO FAILING TO RESPOND TO MY REQUEST TO TOTAL THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE CAR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO FROM HERE?*AK
WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER CANNOT READ THE SPEEDOMETER BECAUSE OF THE LIGHT. *AK
FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, AS DESCRIBED IN SERVICE BULLETINS DATABASE, EXIST IN OWNED AUTOMOBILE; HAVE REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP; WERE DISMISSED AS "COULD NOT DETECT" OR "NO REMEDY AVAILABLE"; CONDITIONS ARE AS REPORTED IN SERVICE BULLETINS EC98032A, NTB99030 AND NTB99024; NHTSA ITEM NUMBERS, SB607329, SB605012 AND SB604794.
TRANSMISSION HANGS UP/HESITATES UPPON ACCELERATION INTO TRAFFIC, POSING COLLISION POSSIBILITY. *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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.