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1999 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 99.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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
142,421 miles · Oct 25, 2008
Tires

AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, I REPLACED A TOYO TIRE (WITH LESS THAN 35,000 MILES ON IT) ON MY 1999 MAXIMA. AN EXTERIOR BUBBLE BEGAN TO APPEAR IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE PASSENGER-SIDE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246700

101,000 miles · Sep 15, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE MISFIRING DUE TO THE COIL PACKS THAT SIT ON THE CYLINDERS. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL COILS AND THAT WAS A SHORT TERM FIX. NOW I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE LURCHING DURING IDLE AND WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE SHOP AND THEY REPLACES 4 COILS BUT …

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I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE MISFIRING DUE TO THE COIL PACKS THAT SIT ON THE CYLINDERS. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL COILS AND THAT WAS A SHORT TERM FIX. NOW I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE LURCHING DURING IDLE AND WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE SHOP AND THEY REPLACES 4 COILS BUT THE CAR STILL JERKS WHEN IDLING AND RIGHT AFTER ACCELERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10242368

88,000 miles · Aug 31, 2008
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, IT STARTED TO MISS, SPUTTER, RUN BAD, VIBRATE AND ALMOST TURN OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND AFTER HAVING THE CODES READ (P1320) AND RESEARCHING DTC P1320 AND/OR SPARK KNOCK (DETONATION) DUE TO IGNITION COIL (S). I FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL YEARS OF MAXIMAS. I ALSO FO…

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WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, IT STARTED TO MISS, SPUTTER, RUN BAD, VIBRATE AND ALMOST TURN OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND AFTER HAVING THE CODES READ (P1320) AND RESEARCHING DTC P1320 AND/OR SPARK KNOCK (DETONATION) DUE TO IGNITION COIL (S). I FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL YEARS OF MAXIMAS. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE NEWER COILS WITH A GRAY DOT, THAT IS TO BE USED TO REPLACE THE OLDER DEFECTIVE ONES. NOT ONLY ARE THE BAD ONES RECOMMENDED FOR REPLACEMENT, BUT ALL 6 ARE RECOMMENDED FOR REPLACEMENT. WHY IS THIS? I BELIEVE IS WAS BECAUSE OF A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE PARTS. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED SEVERAL OF THESE COILS AND IT DON'T TAKE LONG BEFORE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON, AND THE CAR IS ONCE AGAIN MISFIRING AND GETTING BAD GAS MILEAGE BECAUSE OF CODE P1320, ANOTHER BAD COIL. NISSAN SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX THIS CONTINUOUSLY ONGOING PROBLEM . THIS MISFIRING ON INTERSTATES AND BUSY ROADS AT HIGH SPEEDS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS, BECAUSE IT SLOWS THE CAR DOWN ALL OF A SUDDEN AND COULD RESULT IN A REAR END CRASH. THIS MISFIRING ALSO RESULTS IN FUEL NOT BEING BURNED IN THE CYLINDER AND IS WASTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240485

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAD THIS 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA SINCE YEAR 2000. THE FOLLOWING EXPENSES I INCUR WAS REPLACING 6 IGNITION COILS AT THE NISSAN DEALER COSTING OVER $700.00 WHERE THEY ADVISE ONLY ONE COIL WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. RECENTLY AFTER TAKING MY CAR IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC BECAUSE THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CHECK AND REPLACED THE EGR V…

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I HAD THIS 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA SINCE YEAR 2000. THE FOLLOWING EXPENSES I INCUR WAS REPLACING 6 IGNITION COILS AT THE NISSAN DEALER COSTING OVER $700.00 WHERE THEY ADVISE ONLY ONE COIL WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. RECENTLY AFTER TAKING MY CAR IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC BECAUSE THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CHECK AND REPLACED THE EGR VALVE THREE TIME(COST OVER $1100.00 FOR THE FIRST REPLACEMENT), REPLACED THE STARTER, FUEL FILTER. NOW THE SAME LIGHT IS ON RIGHT NOW. NO ONE SEEM TO KNOW IF THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT (YES , I BELIEVE) OR WHAT IS THE PROBLEMS WITH MISSED READING TEST RESULTS. WHAT'S NEXT REPLACE THE CAR? NEED HELP BEFORE I DONE REPLACE THIS CAR OR SOMEONE GETS INQUIRE BECAUSE OF DEALER, MANUFACTURER AND TECHNICIANS DON'T KNOW THE RESOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240472

142,000 miles · Aug 27, 2008
Electrical SystemFuel System, Other

I HAVE A 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA, 5-SPD, WITH 142K MILES. GENERALLY THE CAR IS A TREAT TO DRIVE AND I HAVE HAD NO SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS TO DATE WITH ITS OPERATION. HOWEVER, UPON TRAVELING WESTWARD, FROM VA ALONG I-70 IN OH, THE CAR SIMPLY CUT OUT FROM ITS CURRENT SPEED AND STOPPED ACCELERATING AND BEGAN TO HESITATE AND BUCK. IT…

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I HAVE A 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA, 5-SPD, WITH 142K MILES. GENERALLY THE CAR IS A TREAT TO DRIVE AND I HAVE HAD NO SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS TO DATE WITH ITS OPERATION. HOWEVER, UPON TRAVELING WESTWARD, FROM VA ALONG I-70 IN OH, THE CAR SIMPLY CUT OUT FROM ITS CURRENT SPEED AND STOPPED ACCELERATING AND BEGAN TO HESITATE AND BUCK. IT WAS AS THOUGH THE IGNITION COILS BRIEFLY STOPPED WORKING OR THE FUEL FILTER SUDDENLY BECAME CLOGGED WITH PARAFFIN. SINCE MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THIS WAS A BIT DISCONCERTING. I IMMEDIATELY MOVED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL FOR MORE FUEL. THAT ACTION WORKED BRIEFLY, BUT THEN THE CAR BUCKED REPEATEDLY AGAIN. WE WERE ABLE TO MANAGE THE REMAINING 80 MILES TOWARD HOME THEREAFTER. I FEEL THAT EITHER THE IGNITION COILS ARE MALFUNCTIONING W/O WARNING, OR THAT SOME OTHER MECHANISM OF FUEL FEED SYSTEM IS FAILING ALSO W/O WARNING. THE CAR DOES NOT KNOCK OR PING, MAYBE THE GASOLINE OR FUEL INJECTORS ARE FOULING (HOWEVER, I USE 87 RON GRADE GASOLINE, AND OFTEN ADD OCTANE BOOSTERS, I ALSO CLEAN THE FUEL INJECTORS BY RUNNING CHEVRON'STECHRON ABOUT EVERY 3500 MILES). THIS MAY SIGNIFY A SEVERE PROBLEM LURKING; I HOPE YOU CONSIDER ISSUING A RECALL FOR THE 1999 MAXIMA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10239948

126,000 miles · Jul 4, 2008
Electrical System

THREE FAULTY IGNITION COILS IN 1 1/2 YEARS. TWO IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH ON MY 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA GLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10233177

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2008
Electrical System

I HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH AL 6 IGNITION COILS OF MY 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT I NO LONGER HAVE. I HAVE WRITTEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217615

100,000 miles · Dec 27, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WITH MY 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA SE V6, EGR VALVE RELATED ISSUES WERE DETECTED AND ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO COME UP SOON AFTER THE IGNITION. ACCORDING TO NISSAN DEALER, OXYGEN SENSORS AND EGR VALVES WORK IS NEED THAT WOULD COST $1800 OR MORE. AT THAT TIME THE CAR MILEAGE WAS AROUND 80,000. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIX THAT. BUT LATER ONE …

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WITH MY 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA SE V6, EGR VALVE RELATED ISSUES WERE DETECTED AND ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO COME UP SOON AFTER THE IGNITION. ACCORDING TO NISSAN DEALER, OXYGEN SENSORS AND EGR VALVES WORK IS NEED THAT WOULD COST $1800 OR MORE. AT THAT TIME THE CAR MILEAGE WAS AROUND 80,000. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIX THAT. BUT LATER ONE OF THE ROD IN THE ENGINE BROKEN, FIRE STARTED UNDER THE ENGINE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 70 M/H ON THE HIGHWAY. MY FAMILY WAS IN A GREAT DANGER AND WE WERE LUCKY TO SURVIVE WITH THE HELP OF POLICE AND FIRE ENGINE WHEN SOMEONE CALLED 911. THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER COMPLAIN ABOUT EGR VALUE ON NHTSA WEB SITE BY ANOTHER NISSAN MAXIMA OWNER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10212953

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2007
Electrical System

IGNITION COIL FAILURE, DEFECT AND REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10211600

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2007
Electrical System

THE IGNITION COILS ARE DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10209282

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.