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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.

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 →
113Owner complaints

Model-year median: 99

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

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

Inspection summary

1998 Nissan Maxima

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 113 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 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)

  • Air Bags: 24 reports
  • Electrical System: 24 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 10 reports
  • Structure: 8 reports
  • Power Train: 6 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
152
199596
1996102
1997113
1998165
1999360
2000172
2001
Compare all Maxima years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
24Electrical System
24Service Brakes, Hydraulic
10Structure
8Power Train
6
All reported categories
Suspension
6Tires
6Visibility
6Engine And Engine Cooling
5Unknown Or Other
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Fuel System, Gasoline
4Steering
4Equipment
3Child Seat
2Engine
2Seat Belts
2Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Other
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Parking Brake
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Steering complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2008
Steering

1988 NISSAN MAXIMA AUTO PART FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RACK AND PINION WENT BAD DUE TO THE INTERNAL SEALS LEAKING FLUID OUT OF THE RUBBER BOOTS AIR BLEED HOLES THAT DID NOT HAVE PROPER INSERTS IN THEM TO CONNECT TO THE HOSE LINE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHIN ONE WEEK OF INSTALLATION. *NJ THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE RACK …

Read full complaint

1988 NISSAN MAXIMA AUTO PART FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RACK AND PINION WENT BAD DUE TO THE INTERNAL SEALS LEAKING FLUID OUT OF THE RUBBER BOOTS AIR BLEED HOLES THAT DID NOT HAVE PROPER INSERTS IN THEM TO CONNECT TO THE HOSE LINE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHIN ONE WEEK OF INSTALLATION. *NJ THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER THE MECHANIC STATED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO BAD INSTALLATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10239350

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2001
Steering

WHILE DRIVING RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS LEAKING ONTO ENGINE. THIS CAUSED A BURNING ODOR INSIDE VEHICLE. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT PROBLEM OF RACK AND PINION LEAKAGE EXISTED, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRABLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #887728

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2000
Steering

OCCURS 90% OF TIME AND MOST OFTEN AFTER CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN 10 MILES OR SO. NO SAFETY DEFECT ENUMERATED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #717659

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 1998
SteeringCrash

WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH OR MORE THE VEHICLE STARTS TO VIBRATE, AND IT IS VERY HARD TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SPINNED AROUND, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT A METAL WALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #829406

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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