1994 Nissan Maxima Owner Complaints

SINCE I PURCHASED VEHICLE BACK IN 2007, THIS VEHICLE LEAKS GASOLINE WHEN FULL TANK IS FUELED. IT CREATES A LARGE PUDDLE OF FUEL IN THE REAR UNDER THE FUEL NECK FILL PIPE. IT TAKES ABOUT 20 MILES OF DRIVING FOR THE LEAK TO STOP. I HAD NEVER BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS BEING A COMMON PROBLEM BY ANY SERVICE CENTER I HAVE TAKEN IT TO. MY HOUSEHOLD IS SAFETY CONSCIOUS WHEN IT COMES TO THE USE OF ANY FLAMMABLE ITEMS THAT COULD POSE A RISK OF FIRE WHEN THESE LEAKS OCCUR. I ALWAYS TRY NOT TO FILL THE TANK COMPLETELY BUT I ADMIT SOMETIMES I SIMPLY FORGET, ONLY REALIZING IT AFTER THE FUEL STATION GASOLINE HOSE STOPS ON ITS OWN. MY CONCERN HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT WHILE DRIVING AND IS LEAKING, SOMEONE MAY THROW OUT THEIR WINDOW A CIGARETTE OR I MAY GO OVER SOMETHING THAT COULD TRIGGER A SPARK, CAUSING A FIRE/EXPLOSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10496684

Incident

Mar 1, 2007

Mileage

134,000 mi

VEHICLE: 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA (VIN# [XXX]) EVERY TIME I PUMP IN A FULL TANK OF FUEL AT THE GAS STATION, THE FUEL BEGINS TO LEAK AND CREATES A PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND WHEEL HOUSING IS SIGNIFICANTLY CORRODED THAT HAS RESULTED IN A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, IT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. ALSO, THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS MOUNTED TO THE WHEEL AND THE MOUNTING COULD FAIL IN A VEHICLE CRASH. I DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 95V244000, WHICH WAS A RECALL ON THE 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE TANK: TANK ASSEMBLY: FILLER PIPE AND CAP. A MIXTURE OF MUD AND SALT GOT TRAPPED BETWEEN THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND WHEEL HOUSING THAT RESULTED IN CORROSION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND WHEEL HOUSING. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGED-KEPT AND ONLY HAS 140,000 MILES FOR A 16-YEAR-OLD VEHICLE. ON 6/18/2010, I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO ROSENTHAL NISSAN DEALER IN VIENNA, VA FOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT, BUT AFTER CALLING NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC., I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL AND I WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR/REPLACE IT AT MY OWN EXPENSE (FILE# [XXX]). THE RECALL WAS SPECIFIC FOR THE TYPE OF SAFETY DEFECT THAT I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING ON THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE, BUT NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. REFUSES TO HEED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 95V244000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10339798

Incident

Jun 18, 2010

MY MAXIMA HAS A PLASTIC SHROUD AROUND THE FUEL FILLER NECK, PRESUMABLY TO PROTECT IT FROM ROAD DEBRIS, ROCKS, ETC, BLASTING THE FILLER NECK. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SHROUD TRAPS FINE DIRT AND MOISTURE. THIS INCLUDES WINTER ROAD SALT. WHEN I REMOVED THE SHROUD, MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF FINE SAND & DIRT FELL TO THE GROUND. WHEN I CLEANED OUT WHAT WAS STUCK UP INSIDE THE REAR QUARTER PANEL AREA, I SWEPT UP 3 FULL DUSTPANS. IT WAS CLOSE TO 10LBS OF CRAP. THE FILLER NECK WAS BADLY RUSTED. THE REAR QUARTER PANEL WAS RUSTED BADLY. WHEN I STARTED TO DISMANTLE, I WENT TO REMOVE SEATBELT BOLT. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THE ENTIRE AREA WHERE THE SEATBELT ATTACHED WAS BEHIND FILLER NECK AND COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THE SHEET METAL TWISTED APART EASILY AND WOULD NOT HAVE PROTECTED THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER IN A 5 MPH COLLISION. IT WOULD HAVE JUST TORE AWAY. YEARS AGO MY '86 HONDA PRELUDE HAD A RUSTY FILLER NECK. I REMOVED IT AND WENT TO BUY THE PART, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. IT WAS CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN I ASKED NISSAN A FEW MONTHS AGO, THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE (ON 2 ISSUES: STRONG FUEL ODORS AND NO SEATBELT PROTECTION). I FIND THAT UNACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT I CAN SEE THE FLAWED DESIGN. I HAVE ALSO SEEN MANY OTHER NISSAN OWNERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR NISSAN AXXESS AND NISSAN MURANO ( AND I HAVEN'T EVEN SEARCHED OR LOOKED FOR THESE COMPLAINTS). ALSO, I HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING AUTO MVAS FOR 25 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263816

Incident

Nov 1, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER TRENDSETTER SE, SIZE P206/65R15 (NA) TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SAW A DEFECTIVE TREND IN SEVERAL COOPER TIRES THAT SHE PURCHASED. SHE BOUGHT FOUR TIRES INITIALLY IN AUGUST OF 2006. THE CONTACT RETURNED ONE TIRE ON DECEMBER 6, 2007 BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, TRANSMISSION TYPE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, ENGINE SIZE, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 178,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,307.

NHTSA ID

10216626

Incident

Dec 6, 2007

Mileage

176,307 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A, SIZE P245/45R18 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD A CRACKED SIDEWALL. GOODYEAR WAS NOTIFIED. THERE WAS A BUY BACK PROGRAM ON THIS TIRE THAT EXPIRED ON DECEMBER 31, 2007. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,000.

NHTSA ID

10214753

Incident

Jan 14, 2008

Mileage

43,000 mi

THERE WAS A FAULTY FUEL LINE IN CONSUMERS 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA. *TS THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP AND TEMPERATURE SENSOR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10142085

Incident

Sep 29, 2005

FUEL TANK LEAKS DURING FILL-UPS AND IF CAR IS POSITIONED ON AN INCLINE.

NHTSA ID

10127168

Incident

Jun 20, 2005

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN 2003 I GOT IT REBUILT IT WENT OUT AGAIN IN 2004 EVERY PERSON I KNOW OWN A 1991-1994 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS THESE PROBLEMS AND I DONT THINK ITS RIGHT.SO THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE CARS TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID

10125937

Incident

Feb 18, 2004

Mileage

129,000 mi

DT: FOR THE PAST YEAR SMELLED GAS. BEEN TOOK TO DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. DONE REPAIRS TO HOSES,EXHAUST, ETC. LATER DISCOVERED THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL INJECTION. SYSTEM. WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON HIGH THE SMELL WAS EVIDENT. ALSO, THIS WAS PRESENT IN THE MORNING WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED FOR THE FIRST 5 MINUTES. TOOK TO SERVICE DEALER, AND FOUND NO LEAKS, BUT DID PERFORM SMOKE TEST AND NUMEROUS INSPECTIONS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, IS WAS PRESENT WHEN IS DEFROST WAS TURNED ON. GAS SMELL IWASSTRONGER WHEN ACCELERATING ABOUT 25 MPH OR SO IN STOP OR GO TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ID

10122494

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

Mileage

90,000 mi

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALLS 95V244000 AND 94V194000 REPAIRS CONCERNING WHEELS AND THE FUEL FILLER. CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR THE LABOR, AND THE REPAIRS ON THE WHEELS WAS NOT PERFORMED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. A BROKE VACUUM LINE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO IDLE POORLY. THE VEHICLE'S WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10094097

Incident

Jan 17, 2003

NHTSA RECALL 95V244000 CONCERNING FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY PIPE FILLER NECK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL. HOWEVER, DEALER CHARGED CONSUMER $1,700.00 FOR RECALL REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10094453

Incident

Aug 25, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONCE, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10074305

Incident

May 11, 2004

Mileage

12,000 mi

1994 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE WHEN STARTED IN THE MORNINGS. USUALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS, ODOR GOES AWAY AFTER 20-30 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THIS IS A RANDOM PROBLEM, AND APPEARS TO BE WORSE IN COOLER WEATHER BUT HAS OCCURRED IN WARM WEATHER. STRENGTH OF THE ODOR VARIES DAY BY DAY. THE CAR HAS BEEN CHECKED FOR FAULTY FUEL INJECTORS, THE HOSING HAS BEEN CHECKED, THE FUEL FILTER CHANGED. THERE ARE NO "CLEAN SPOTS" INDICATING GAS LEAKAGE ON AN OLD DIRTIER ENGINE. ODOR IS SO STRONG AT TIMES THAT THE CAR HAS TO BE PARKED OUTSIDE THE GARAGE AT HOME FOR FEAR THAT A SPARK FROM THE HOT WATER HEATER WILL IGNITE THE FUMES. ALSO, FIRE FROM ENGINE HEAT IS A CONCERN AS IS DRIVING THE CAR AND HAVING ANOTHER MOTORIST TOSS OUT A CIGARETTE BUTT. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT 95 MODELS HAD A DEVICE INSTALLED IN THE FUEL LINE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10043845

Incident

Aug 1, 2003

Mileage

100,000 mi

1994 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS 138,000 MILES. ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. WHEN DRIVING, THE DIGITAL READOUT ON THE CAR CLOCK BEGINS TO FADE. THEN THE RADIO CUTS ON AND OFF. THEN, ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASH ARE LOST, THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON, AND THE CAR DIES. AFTER BEING TOWED, THE BATTERY WAS RECHARGED, THE ALTERNATOR SHOWED IT WAS CHARGING THE BATTERY, AND THE CAR CRANKED AND RAN FINE. IT WILL RUN FINE FOR A DAY OR TWO, THEN IT TOTALLY CUTS OFF WHEN IT IS BEING DRIVEN. TO MAKE THINGS MORE INTERESTING, THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR WINDOW WILL GO DOWN WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED, BUT WILL NOT GO UP UNTIL THE CAR IS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 20-30 MINUTES. INDIVIDUAL TAIL LIGHTS ARE OUT AT TIMES, BUT IT IS NEVER THE SAME BULB AT ANY TIME AND THE BULB IS NOT BAD.*AK

NHTSA ID

10043842

Incident

Oct 27, 2003

Mileage

137,990 mi

THE FRONT SEAT FAILED.*DT *JB

NHTSA ID

10007110

Incident

May 23, 2001

BRAKE LINE CORRODED, CONSUMER FOUND OUT ABOUT CORRODED BRAKE LINE WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER WHO WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AKTHE DEALER ESTIMATED DAMAGES AT 1500 DOLLARS. THE BRAKE LINE AND THREE GAS LINES (FUEL, RETURN AND SEND) NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO CORROSION. THE BRAKE LINE LEAKS AT THE POINT UNDER THE LEFT FRONT DOOR. CORROSION COULD BE DUE TO ROAD SALT. *JG

NHTSA ID

8012906

Incident

Jun 2, 2002

BOSE RADIO/CD/TAPE PLAYER FAILS PARTICULARLY IN COLD WEATHER/NOW ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

760205

WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL BETWEEN 45 AND 55 MPH TRANSMISSION WILL START VIBRATING. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND HE SAID THAT NOISE AND VIBRATION WAS DUE TO SHIFTING GEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8002077

Incident

Jan 10, 2002

THE BOLTS ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM ENGINE ARE BREAKING OFF, CONSUMER STATES IT IS DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF EXHAUST SYSTEM FROM ENGINE, THE EXHAUST PIPE IS PULLING ON MANIFOLD OFF ENGINE.*JB

NHTSA ID

563287

POWER WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. HAD TO REPLACE EVERY ONE OF THE 4 WINDOWS. *AK

NHTSA ID

751153

Incident

Jun 21, 1999

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HOLDING 1ST GEAR UNTIL 5000-6000 RPMS. RIDES FINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION REQUIRING REPLACEMENT, INCLUDING NEW RADIATOR & LABOR AT A COST OF $3,600. DEALER FAILED TO MENTION THE TSBS ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. PERHAPS, ADDRESSING THE ISSUES OUTLINED IN THE TSB WOULD MITIGATE THE PROBLEM I.E., A/T SOLENOID REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. NISSAN POWERTRAIN WARRANTY IS 5 YEAR OR 60K. AUTO HAS 52K ORIGINAL HIGHWAY MILES. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE TO REQUEST LIBERAL INTERPRETATION OF WARRANTY POLICY IN LIGHT OF THE LOW MILEAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID

748153

Incident

Jul 6, 2001

POWER WINDOW - REGULATOR ARM BROKE, HEATER & A/C - CABIN FAN ONLY RUNS ON HIGH SPEED

NHTSA ID

745486

Incident

Apr 15, 2001

OFFSET FRONTAL COLLISION OCCURRED WITH MANUAL SEAT ADJUSTMENT THAT FAILED TO ENGAGE CAUSING SEAT AND DRIVER TOGO 6 TO 18" FORWARD IN CRASH THAT SHOULD HAVE RESULTED IN NO INJURY. INJURY TO RIGHT FOOT AND ANKLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

742593

Incident

Oct 1, 1994

CRANKSHAFT INTAKE MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. FASTER VEHICLE GOES NOISE GETS LOUDER. *AK

NHTSA ID

882903

FUEL INJECTOR FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

785205