RoadVitals

1986 Nissan Maxima Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Dec 23, 1997
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 60 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
7
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1986 Nissan Maxima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Dec 23, 1997
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A DRIVE-THROUG THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HOOD STARTED SMOKING. THE CONSUMER AS SOON AS SHE SAW THE SMOKE SHE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF PARKING LOT WHERE SHE HAS SEEN THE VEHICLE ON FIRE; THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND THEY SAID THE FIRE HAD STARTED ON THE ENGINE. A MECHANIC SAID EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD WAS BURNED, THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
820122
Incident
Nov 7, 1997
BrakesElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Nov 13, 1996
Fire reported

PARKED ALL DAY; DROVE LESS THAN TWO MILES, WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK FIRE WAS CAUSED DUE TO A FUEL LEAK, RECALL 95I006 DESCRIBES PROBLEMS CONSUMER EXPERIENCED. ENGINE BELTS REPLACED. STRUT FAILURE CAUSED NOISE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS. SPARK PLUGS REPLACED. FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED, ROTORS TURNED. POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK. *SLC

NHTSA ID
804868
Incident
Nov 8, 1996
Engine
Filed Oct 29, 1996

MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE.

NHTSA ID
510733
Incident
Oct 22, 1996
Engine
Filed Oct 18, 1996
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE--CAUSE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
510293
Incident
Aug 23, 1996
EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 5, 1996
Fire reported

DRIVING VEHICLE, STOPPED AT LIGHT, NOTICED SMOKE NEAR WINDSHIELD, THOUGHT WAS OTHER VEHICLE, PULLED OVER TO GAS STATION, LIFTED HOOD, NOTICED FIRE, DID NOT HAVE EXTINGUISHER, CALLED FIRE DEPT WHO PUT FLAMES OUT.AK

NHTSA ID
800499
Incident
Jul 9, 1996
EngineFuel system
Filed Jul 31, 1996
Fire reported

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, NO ONE WAS INJURED . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

NHTSA ID
800274
Incident
May 19, 1995
Engine
Filed May 6, 1996
Fire reported

DRIVING VEHICLE, SMELLED SMOKE, STOPPED VEHICLE, LIFT HOOD OF VEHICLE, FLAMES SHOT UP QUICKLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
984069
Incident
Apr 22, 1996
Engine
Filed Feb 13, 1996
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)*SD

NHTSA ID
501322
Incident
Dec 25, 1995
EngineSeat beltsSteering
Filed May 3, 1995

SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE, RESULTING IN FAILURE. TT

NHTSA ID
964784
Incident
Jan 1, 1995

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Fuel system36Electrical8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .