Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
1125–50K
2950–75K
1375–100K
28100–150K
6150K+
89 reports with mileage · 76 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 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 18 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 reports5 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
165 reports
96,000 miles · Sep 3, 2019
Electrical SystemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED FLAMES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH ICE WATER SHE HAD INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE 1997 AND 1998 MODELS WERE INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS A 1999, SHE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH THE RECALL. AUTONATION NISSAN MARIETTA (925 COBB PKWY SE, MARIETTA, GA 30060, 770-674-6081) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #11252943
Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFire
CAR HAD JUST BEEN SHUT OFF FROM RUNNING TO STORE I RAN INSIDE MY HOUSE REAL QUICK CAME BACK OUT TO LEAVE AGAIN BUT CAR DIDN'T START. BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICAL PARTS WERE BURNING SO I OPENED HOOD TO NOTICE FIRE COMING FROM ALTERNATOR. I USED MY SHIRT TO PUT OUT…
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CAR HAD JUST BEEN SHUT OFF FROM RUNNING TO STORE I RAN INSIDE MY HOUSE REAL QUICK CAME BACK OUT TO LEAVE AGAIN BUT CAR DIDN'T START. BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICAL PARTS WERE BURNING SO I OPENED HOOD TO NOTICE FIRE COMING FROM ALTERNATOR. I USED MY SHIRT TO PUT OUT AND DURING INSPECTION OF DAMAGE FOUND THE FIRE BURNED WIRE HARNESSES AND PART OF VALVE COVER ASSEMBLY WHERE OIL CAP IS LOCATED. THIS IS AN ORIGINAL OEM PART AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 118,000 ORIGINAL MILES. FOUND THAT A RECALL WAS DONE ON THE YEARS PRIOR FOR SAME ISSUE BUT DEALER STATED THEY WOULD NOT DO NOTHING DUE TO NO RECALL. ALTERNATOR S DON'T JUST CATCH FIRE...
NHTSA ODI #11024584
Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2016
Air Bags
POSSIBLE "TAKATA RECALL." THESE PARTICULAR MAKE, MODELS AND YEAR, VEHICLES HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WHERE THE AIRBAGS HAVE NOT DEPLOYED AFTER HAVE HIGH SPEED ACCIDENTS. I AM VERY SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY AN AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER AND TWO OTH…
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POSSIBLE "TAKATA RECALL." THESE PARTICULAR MAKE, MODELS AND YEAR, VEHICLES HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WHERE THE AIRBAGS HAVE NOT DEPLOYED AFTER HAVE HIGH SPEED ACCIDENTS. I AM VERY SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY AN AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER AND TWO OTHER SEPARATE AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SHOPS THAT THE AIR BAGS MUST BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF OVER $500.00, TO INSURE THEIR INTEGRITY AND THAT THEY WILL PROPERLY DEPLOY IN THE UNFORTUNATE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. RIGHT NOW I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO THE FACT THE FAILED AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED! I HAVE SEEN THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY CARS OF THIS SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR THAT HAVE COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME NATURE, EXHIBITING THE SAME AIRBAG FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ANOMALIES AND WORST OF ALL, MANY OF THEM NOT DEPLOYING AFTER HIGH SPEED ACCIDENTS WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE! PLEASE INCLUDE THESE VEHICLES IN THE TAKATA RECALLS, AS IT HAS SHOWN TO HAVE AN SIGNIFICANT MANUFACTURES DEFECT, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY CLAIM SOME LIVES IF NOT ADDRESSED ASAP; PLEASE DO NOT LET ME OR SOMEONE ELSE LOSE THEIR LIFE DUE TO THIS ISSUE NOT BEING ADDRESSED APPROPRIATELY AND IMMEDIATELY! I TRUST THAT THIS INFORMATION WILL LAND ON THE DESK OF SOMEONE WHO WILL ESTABLISH THE FACTS I HAVE PRESENTED HERE TODAY AND TAKE THE PUBLIC'S SAFETY TO HEART AND DON'T LEAVE THIS ISSUE UP TO WHATEVER FATE MAY COME OF IT! THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY VOICE, IT REPRESENTS MANY OTHERS WHO STILL DRIVE THIS SAME VEHICLE; EVEN THOUGH THE NUMBERS OF US ARE MUCH LESS AT THIS TIME THAN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST MANUFACTURED; WE STILL DESERVE THE SAME CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO ALL OF THE NEWER VEHICLES ARE RECEIVING ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT NUMBERS OF THOSE VEHICLES AND DRIVERS ARE MUCH GREATER! SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10897416
Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2015
Air Bags
TAKATA RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #10808012
147,000 miles · Aug 18, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemStructureVehicle Speed Control
I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT GOING UP HILL. WHEN I REACHED THE TOP OF THE HILL AND LET OFF THE PETAL, THE CAR CONTINUED TO PICK UP SPEED. THE BRAKE PETAL WAS STIFF AND UNRESPONSIVE. THERE WAS NOTHING UNDER THE PETAL. AS I WAS QUICKLY APPROACHING ANOTHER RED LIGHT WITH STOPPED TRAFFIC. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ROUNDED …
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I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT GOING UP HILL. WHEN I REACHED THE TOP OF THE HILL AND LET OFF THE PETAL, THE CAR CONTINUED TO PICK UP SPEED. THE BRAKE PETAL WAS STIFF AND UNRESPONSIVE. THERE WAS NOTHING UNDER THE PETAL. AS I WAS QUICKLY APPROACHING ANOTHER RED LIGHT WITH STOPPED TRAFFIC. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ROUNDED THE YIELD INTO A DESERTED PARKING LOT DOING ABOUT 80MPH. THE CAR SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND REMOVE THE KEYS. THE CAR CONTINUED TO TRAVEL WHEN TURNED OFF WITH THE BRAKE UNRESPONSIVE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I CLICKED IT OVER AND THE CAR CONTINUED ITS BEHAVIOR. I QUICKLY TURNED THE CAR OFF. REMOVED THE KEY AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. I INFORMED HIM OF THE PROBLEM AND ASKED HIM NOT TO START THE CAR. WHEN MY MECHANIC RECEIVED THE CAR HE INFORMED ME THAT THE STUD THAT HOLDS THE HARNESS AWAY FROM THE THROTTLE COMPONENTS HAD BROKEN OFF AND LODGED DOWN IN THERE HOLDING THE ACCELERATOR IN AN OPEN POSITION. BECAUSE THE CAR BELIEVED THE ACCELERATOR WAS BEING DEPRESSED, RENDERED THE BRAKE INACTIVE. I WAS TERRIFIED AND DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE. I THOUGHT ABOUT SELLING, ' THE CAR THAT ALMOST KILLED ME ', BUT WE OWN 2 OF THEM. MY 1999 AND MY HUSBAND'S 2000. I HAVE THE LUXURY EDITION AND IT HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD CAR. JUST FEEL I HAVE BEEN TAINTED BY THE EXPERIENCE EVEN AFTER MY MECHANIC REMOVED THE OTHER STUD AND CALLED IT A FREAK ACCIDENT. OBVIOUSLY I'M STILL THINKING ABOUT IT. AND YES I DID LOOK AT OUR 2000 MAXIMA TO SEE IF IT MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THOSE COMPONENTS ARE NOT IN THE SAME POSITION. JUST MINE.
NHTSA ODI #10749601
130,000 miles · Jun 17, 2015
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, THE KNOCK SENSOR AND THE COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, THE KNOCK SENSOR AND THE COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE KNOCK SENSOR, SOLENOID CONTROL AND THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. MA 08/13/15 UPDATED 10/25/2017*CN
NHTSA ODI #10725747
Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2014
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10618617
Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2013
Structure
EXCESSIVE RUSTING TO THE RADIATOR SUPPORT COMPONENT. WHILE REGULAR OIL CHANGE TIME, A MECHANICS NOTICED THE EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF A BODY PART THAT SUPPORTS THE RADIATOR. THIS IS VITAL PART THAT SUPPORTS THE RADIATOR. IT COULD BE DANGEROUS IF RADIATOR DROPS WHILE DRIVING ON ANY HIGHWAY AT STATED SPEED. NISSAN MAXIMA HAS MULTIPLE …
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EXCESSIVE RUSTING TO THE RADIATOR SUPPORT COMPONENT. WHILE REGULAR OIL CHANGE TIME, A MECHANICS NOTICED THE EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF A BODY PART THAT SUPPORTS THE RADIATOR. THIS IS VITAL PART THAT SUPPORTS THE RADIATOR. IT COULD BE DANGEROUS IF RADIATOR DROPS WHILE DRIVING ON ANY HIGHWAY AT STATED SPEED. NISSAN MAXIMA HAS MULTIPLE RUSTING ISSUE WITH BODY FOR THIS GENERATION OF CAR. PROBLEM WITH RADIATOR SUPPORT IS ONE OF THE DANGEROUS SINCE IT CAN KILL OR HURT MANY IF RADIATOR FALLS DUE TO RUSTED SUPPORT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10536718
Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2013
Fuel/propulsion System
AFTER FILLING GAS TO THE FULL TANK, CAR WAS PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE. SOON GARAGE SMELLED LIKE A GAS SPILL/LEAK. LOOKED AROUND AND UNDER THE CAR FOR LEAKAGE. NO VISIBLE SIGN OF LEAK. HAD TO MOVE THE CAR OUTSIDE THE GARAGE TO AVOID FILLING THE GARAGE WITH GASOLINE SMELL AND FUMES AND AVOID ANY POSSIBLE HAZARDS TO HOUSE AND HUMAN.…
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AFTER FILLING GAS TO THE FULL TANK, CAR WAS PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE. SOON GARAGE SMELLED LIKE A GAS SPILL/LEAK. LOOKED AROUND AND UNDER THE CAR FOR LEAKAGE. NO VISIBLE SIGN OF LEAK. HAD TO MOVE THE CAR OUTSIDE THE GARAGE TO AVOID FILLING THE GARAGE WITH GASOLINE SMELL AND FUMES AND AVOID ANY POSSIBLE HAZARDS TO HOUSE AND HUMAN. NEXT DAY, TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. MECHANICS CHECKED IT OUT AND MENTIONED THAT GAS FILLER PIPE (METAL PIPE BETWEEN GAS FILLING HOLE TO GAS TANK) IS RUSTED AND HAS HOLES FROM WHERE THE GAS LIQUID ESCAPED AND SMELLED. IF I HAD LEFT THE CAR IN GARAGE FOR OVERNIGHT, WHICH COULD HAVE FILLED UP GARAGE WITH GASOLINE FUMES AND COULD HAVE CREATED HAZARDS CONDITION. ALSO, HAVING HOLE IN THE FILLER PIPELINE IS ALSO A POTENTIAL HAZARDS SINCE GAS SPILLING CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAN ALSO CREATE FIRE HAZARDS SITUATION IF THERE IS ANY SPARK NEAR BY. SPILLING WOULD NOT BE VISIBLE UNLESS HOLE GETS BIGGER AND MASS AMOUNT OF GAS RUSHES OUT. IN ANY CASE, GAS LEAK IS DANGEROUS TO ENVIRONMENT AND HUMANS. NISSAN SHOULD PROVIDE THE FIX AT NO CHARGE TO CUSTOMERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10536710
71,000 miles · Mar 27, 2013
Seat Belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RETRACTOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROX…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RETRACTOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10504721
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1999 Nissan Maxima Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year