RoadVitals

1987 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.
21
Latest Jul 15, 1999
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.
12%
of 176 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.
10
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

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 1987 Nissan Maxima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 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 Jul 15, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH TIMING BELT BLEW OUT FOR THE FOURTH TIME, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
842450
Incident
May 12, 1996
EngineFuel system
Filed May 14, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ROUGH IDLE, DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE. *YC

NHTSA ID
545605
Incident
May 1, 1999
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jan 21, 1999
1 death reported

I HAVE REPLACE NUMEROUS PARTS IN SHORTS PERIODS OF TIME

NHTSA ID
702448
Incident
Apr 17, 1993
Engine
Filed Nov 10, 1997

THE DEFECTIVE HEAD BOLT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BROKE OFF AND JAMMED THE CAMSHAFT, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
818760
Incident
Nov 9, 1997
Engine
Filed Jul 11, 1997
Fire reported

VEHICLE FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO LACK OF SERVICE RECORDS.

NHTSA ID
520126
Engine
Filed Jun 2, 1997
Fire reported

ENGINE STALLED/CAUGHT FIRE.

NHTSA ID
517716
Engine
Filed Mar 10, 1997
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE.

NHTSA ID
515503
Incident
Aug 1, 1995
Engine
Filed Nov 18, 1996
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT 45MPH, VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES, LOCKING DRIVER INSIDE VEHICLE, DRIVER MANAGED TO GET HIMSELF FREE. *AK

NHTSA ID
805212
Incident
Oct 22, 1996
EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 17, 1996
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER MOVING AND RESTARTING THE CAR 2 TIMES. THE FIRE/EXPLOSION BEGAN IN THE ENGINE AREA MOSTLY ON THE LEFT SIDE. *AK CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT SOME VEHICLE'S HAS FUEL LEAKS CONSUMER STATES SHE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED.*JB

NHTSA ID
803649
Incident
Oct 15, 1996
EngineFuel systemInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Aug 5, 1996

LEAKY FUEL INJECTORS CAUSE STRONG FUEL ODOR IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *DH

NHTSA ID
507093
Incident
Oct 26, 1990
Engine
Filed Jul 17, 1996

MS. FREY HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO SEND HEMPSTEAD DEALER THE PARTS FOR REPAIR SINCE 4-30-96. (RECALL 951006000). *AK

NHTSA ID
987005
Engine
Filed Jun 11, 1996

DEALERSHIP IS TRYING TO CHARGE FOR THE RECALL WORK AND HE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM NISSAN 95I006000. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
985511
Incident
Jun 11, 1996
Engine
Filed May 28, 1996

TIMING BELT BROKE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE.

NHTSA ID
504739
Incident
May 5, 1996
Engine
Filed Apr 25, 1996

NO PARTS AVAILABLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA ID
983524
Incident
Mar 10, 1996
Engine
Filed Mar 15, 1996

HAD FUEL INJECTION RECALL WORK DONE, VEHICLE STILL STARTED TO SMOKE. (95I-006). *AK

NHTSA ID
980802
Incident
Feb 12, 1996
Engine
Filed Dec 26, 1995

PURCHASE CAR NEW START THE CAR AND ENGINE BLEW . TT

NHTSA ID
976943
Engine
Filed Sep 7, 1995
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD

NHTSA ID
483818
Incident
Aug 6, 1995
Engine
Filed Apr 5, 1995
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *AW

NHTSA ID
489019
Incident
Mar 19, 1995
Engine
Filed Mar 4, 1995
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *AW

NHTSA ID
481549
Incident
Feb 11, 1995
Engine
Filed Jan 31, 1995
Fire reported

ENGINE MADE LOUD POPPING NOISE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. *SKD

NHTSA ID
480298
Incident
Jan 31, 1995
Engine
Filed Jan 26, 1995
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE. *SKD

NHTSA ID
480862
Incident
Dec 1, 1994

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 system101Electrical21Seat belts15

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .