1986 Nissan Maxima Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Nissan Maxima, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Fuel system3650.0%
- Engine912.5%
- Electrical811.1%
- Seat belts56.9%
- Driver assistance22.8%
- Brakes22.8%
- Suspension22.8%
- Interior & seats22.8%
- Steering22.8%
- Transmission11.4%
- Heating & air conditioning11.4%
- Tires & wheels11.4%
- Body & structure11.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
SUSPECT FUEL INJECTION CAUSED FIRE. DEALER WORKED ON PROBLEM WITH GAS FUMES APX 6 WEEKS PRIOR AND DID NOT CHECK FOR RECALL ON INJECTION SYSTEM. NISSSAN CONTACTED AND DENIES INVESTIGATION.*AK
THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM ON MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED SOMETIMES IN 1997. NOW, I EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE: SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER, AND SMELL OF FUEL. I CONTACTED NISSAN. THE COMPANY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT THE DEALER PUT IN MY CAR. THEY TOLD ME THAT IF THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
AFTER VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED FOR ABOUT 5-7 MINUTES, IT BURSTED INTO FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID FLAMES CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ENTIRE HOOD WAS DAMAGED BY FIRE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ALONG SMELLED GAS, AND KIND OF IGNORED IT BECAUSE WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH AUTOMOBILE. KEPT GOING AND WAS TOLD THAT HIS AUTOMOBILE WAS ON FIRE- HE RECEIVED HELP TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. *AK
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED AT 9:00 POSITION, VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, DRIVER'S SIDE LAP/SHOULDER DID NOT RETRACT. SEAT BELT RELEASED AND UNLATCHED DUE TO IMPACT. *AK
REAR SEAT BELT FAILURE, SEAT BELT WILL NOT UNLATCH. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES AND HAS CAUSED TWO ACCIDENTS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
FOOT ON BRAKE SHIFTED TO REVERSE, ACCELERATOR STUCK, VEHICLE SURGED REARWARD UP A BRICK WALL. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS APPLIED BRAKES VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR GARAGE KEPT FROM NEW/FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT ONLY IN THE AREA WHERE THE REAR ANTI SWAY BAR ATTACHES/RIGHT SIDE HAS DETACHED/LEFT SIDE ABOUT TO LET GO/IS CAR SAFE/ 85,86, AND 87 SAME PLATFORM?*AK
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD CONSUMER BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE THEN SAW BLACK SMOKE COMING UP THROUGH THE DASH, AFTER GETTING OUT AND OPENING HOOD THE FLAMES TOOK OVER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED POPPING SOUND, THEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSS SPEED, AND SMOKE FROM GLOVE COMPARTMENT, SUBSEQUENTLY CAUGHT FIRE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE, RESULTING IN FAILURE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
MANUAL TRANSMISSION THROW OUT BEARING FAILED. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE OZONE PRODUCED BY THE FAN BRUSHES OF THE INTERNAL FAN BLOWER IS NOT VENTED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR BUT TO THE INTERNAL PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. LONG EXPOSURE TO OZONE WILL SHOW UP IN CHEST X-RAY AS CLOUDING OF THE LUNGS. I DO NOT HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO MEASURE THE LEVELS OF OZONE CONCENTRATION AND WAS HOPING THAT NHTSA HAS THAT CAPABILITY. MR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL INJECTOR LEAK CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR GARAGE KEPT FROM NEW/FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT ONLY IN THE AREA WHERE THE REAR ANTI SWAY BAR ATTACHES/RIGHT SIDE HAS DETACHED/LEFT SIDE ABOUT TO LET GO/IS CAR SAFE/ 85,86, AND 87 SAME PLATFORM?*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .