1987 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 1987 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 system10154.0%
- Engine2111.2%
- Electrical2111.2%
- Seat belts158.0%
- Driver assistance73.7%
- Visibility63.2%
- Transmission52.7%
- Interior & seats21.1%
- Steering21.1%
- Brakes21.1%
- Exterior lighting10.5%
- Body & structure10.5%
- Other / unspecified10.5%
- Powertrain (other)10.5%
- Tires & wheels10.5%
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
1987 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO VEHICLE FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, ONE OF THE PASSENGERS STARTED TO SMELL BURNING WIRE. SOON AFTER HIS WIFE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET TO A SAFE SPOT AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE HE WAS INFORMED THE INJECTORS DID NOT WANT TO SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR AN INJECTOR PROBLEM AND THE RECALL HAD NEVER BEEN PERFORMED.
FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE. *TR
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH TIMING BELT BLEW OUT FOR THE FOURTH TIME, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ROUGH IDLE, DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE. *YC
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
1987 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO VEHICLE FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, ONE OF THE PASSENGERS STARTED TO SMELL BURNING WIRE. SOON AFTER HIS WIFE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET TO A SAFE SPOT AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE HE WAS INFORMED THE INJECTORS DID NOT WANT TO SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR AN INJECTOR PROBLEM AND THE RECALL HAD NEVER BEEN PERFORMED.
HAD COME UPON A STOP LIGHT, STARTED TO TAKE OFF & SMELLED FUEL. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OVER & LIFTED HOOD. NOTICED FLAMES & PUT OUT FIRE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC CHECKED VIN & NOTICED A RECALL AFFECTING THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER REFUSED RECALL REPAIRS DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS. *AK *ML
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CABLE POPPED OUT AND IT WOULD'NT MOVE. NOW IT ONLY WORKS MANUALLY. *JB
DRIVER;S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION; STOPPED HALF WAY. NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. *NLM
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER IS CALLING TO REPORT THAT ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
I HAVE REPLACE NUMEROUS PARTS IN SHORTS PERIODS OF TIME
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 60 MPH SUN ROOF FLEW OFF . OWNER STATES PROBLEM OCCURRED BECAUSE OF AGE OF VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING WITH SUN ROOF CLOSED, THE VEHICLE'S SUN ROOF FLEW UP WITHOUT REARSON, RSULTING IN SUN ROOF HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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
I HAVE REPLACE NUMEROUS PARTS IN SHORTS PERIODS OF TIME
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
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
HAVE OCAISIONALLY FOUND PARKING LIGHTS ON FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. SOMETIMES BATTERY IS DEAD. CAN TURN OFF BY ROTATING SW HARD TO "OFF". ONLY HAPPENS IN SPRING (?) 2 YRS. RUNNING NOW. RUBBER BAND HOLDING SW IN "OFF" WORKS MOST DAYS.
LEAKY FUEL INJECTORS CAUSE STRONG FUEL ODOR IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *DH
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
THE RACK ALWAYS NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AND HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE.
THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS FROM THE CUP AND A GRINDING NOISE BECOMES PRESENT. PLEASE EXPLAIN. 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
CONTINUALLY SQUEAKS AT ANY SPEED, EVEN WITH NEW BRAKES. *AK
VEHICLE PARKED, PUT VEHICLE IN GEAR, VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK OFF, BRAKES WENT TO FLOOR, DRIVER HIT A HOUSE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
LEAKY FUEL INJECTORS CAUSE STRONG FUEL ODOR IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *DH
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
POWER DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. OCCUPANTS WERE TRAPPED INSIDE AND HAD TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE FROM SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE TO OPEN THE DOOR IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. POWER WINDOWS COULD BE LOWERED TO PASS IGNITION KEY TO SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHILE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. THIS OCCURED ON 4 SEPERATE OCCASIONS. DEALER FIRST REPORTED THAT THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR (PART # 80551-38E00) REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER, AFTER THIS WAS REPLACED, THE DOORS ONCE AGAIN FAILEDD TO OPEN FOR THE FOURTH TIME. DEALER THEN DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BEING A DEFECTIVE LOCK CYLENDER AID CLIP ( PART # 80552-34A00 --HOLDER--AND PART # 80534-34A05--PLATE--L) NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THESE INCIDENTS WERE SIMILAR TO REPORT ODI ID 904944 REPORTED ON 20 MAR 91.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE BOLTS BROKE WHILE DRIVING, TIRE BROKE OFF. TT CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RIGHT FRONT SPINDLE DRUM AND TIRE FLEW OFF AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM RECALLED, WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TOO LACK OF PARTS, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE FUEL INJECTION FAILURE AND LACK OF RECALL REPAIR.
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
AFTER MARKET TIRES, P185/70R13 SIZE. TREAD ON THE REAR LEFT TIRE SEPARATED AT 45MPH.*AK WHEEL WAS DAMAGED DUE TO BLOWOUT, DUNLOP SP4N M+S, DOT NUMBER U2FM2KB457. *SLC
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 .