RoadVitals

1994 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.
18
Latest Oct 27, 2005
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.
20%
of 89 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.
0
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 1994 Nissan Maxima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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

EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 27, 2005

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
EngineFuel systemVisibility
Filed May 31, 2005

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
EngineFuel systemOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 14, 2005

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
Engine
Filed Sep 26, 2001

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
Engine
Filed Mar 13, 2001

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

NHTSA ID
882903
Body & structureElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Dec 29, 2000

FUEL INJECTOR FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
785205
EngineTransmissionVisibility
Filed Jun 22, 2000

PLASTIC PARTS ON WINDOW REGULAR FAILED CAUSING WINDOW TO FALL INSIDE DOOR, CAR HAS A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN IDELING ESPECIALLY IN COOLER MONTHS,BUMPED CONSOLE GEAR SHIFT WHILE DRIVING AND PUSHED CAR OUT OF GEAR (2), CAR SOMETIMES HESITATES WHEN PUT IN GEAR OR LUNGES WHEN PUT IN GEAR, TRUCK LATCH CATCHES AND MUST BE MANUALLY RESET TO WORK.

NHTSA ID
724362
Incident
Feb 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Jan 27, 2000

THE BOLTS ARE BREAKING OFF WHERE THE EXHAUST MOUNTS TO THE BLOCK OF THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH, THIS IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE ON EVERY VEHICLE THAT USES THIS ENGINE (NISSAN QUEST, MAXIMA, AND MERCURY VILLAGER). ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE BOLTS ARE TO THIN/FRAGILE TO HANDLE THE HEAT STRESS WHICH IS CAUSING THE HEADS OF THE BOLTS BREAK OFF, AND THEN RESULTING IN AN EXHAUST LEAK. THE EXHAUST LEAK IS LEAKING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY DURING WARM UP. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN A RECALL CAMPAIGN STARTED. ANY ESCALATION THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE IN GETTING THE MANUFACTURER TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS NOTORIOUS PROBLEM WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIPS IS CHARGING APPROXIMATELY $710.00 FOR THIS REPAIR TO BE DONE ON BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK EXHAUST MOUNTS. THE GUY AT THE GARAGE GAVE ME THE QUOTE OFF THE TOP OF HIS HEAD, AND STATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN ALOT OF THESE COME IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP, ROBERT BOOTH. *AK

NHTSA ID
717943
Engine
Filed Jan 26, 2000

BOLTS ARE BREAKING OFF WHERE THE EXHAUST MOUNTS TO THE BLOCK OF THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH ABOUT THIS, THIS IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE ON EVERY VEHICLE THAT USES THIS ENGINE (NISSAN QUEST, MAXIMA, AND MERCURY VILLAGER). THE BOLTS ARE TO THIN/FRAGILE TO HANDLE THE HEAT STESS WHICH IS CAUSING THEM TO BREAK OFF, RESULTING IN A EXHAUST LEAK. THE EXHAUST IS LEAKING INTO THE INTERIOR OF MY VEHICLE DURING WARM UP ESPECIALLY AFTER WARM UP IT'S NOT AS NOTICABLE. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY. ANY ESCALATION THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE IN GETTING THIS FIXED WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS, ROBERT BOOTH

NHTSA ID
717913
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 27, 1999

3 PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASING AUTO:ACCELERATION OFF(FUEL INJECTION), BROKEN MANIFOLD STUD (EXHAUST) AND BROKEN AXLE

NHTSA ID
713978
Incident
Jul 22, 1998
Engine
Filed Jan 12, 1999

THE ENGINE TYPE ON MY MAXIMA SE IS VE30DE. I BROUGHT MY MAXIMA TO MY MECHANIC WHEN I NOTICED A RATCHETING SOUND WHEN THE CAR WAS AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS. AT FIRST THE SOUND WAS THE ONLY SYMPTOM, BUT ENGINE VIBRATION IS NOW NOTICEABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MY MECHANIC WAS INFORMED BY THE NISSAN PARTS DEPARTMENT THAT THE PROBLEM IS A COMMON ONE -- THE VTC INTAKE CAMSHAFT SPROKETS -- AND WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1300 TO FIX. THE NISSAN PARTS DEPARTMENT ALSO INFORMED MY MECHANIC THAT THE REPAIR PARTS ARE THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL PARTS, AND THAT THE FIX WOULD ONLY LAST FOR ABOUT A YEAR. IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE FOR NISSAN TO IGNORE A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT REOCCURS AFTER EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. I SPOKE TO NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANY MORE INFORMATION YOU NEED. THANK YOU, CHRIS

NHTSA ID
700147
Incident
Aug 18, 1998
EngineTransmission
Filed Nov 5, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED UNEXPECTEDLY, WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NISSAN HAS REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION, PROBLEM TAKEN CARE OF. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
830172
Incident
Jul 15, 1998
Engine
Filed Feb 24, 1998

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
531349
Incident
Nov 19, 1997
Engine
Filed Feb 11, 1998

ENGINE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
530761
Incident
Nov 19, 1997
Engine
Filed Jan 9, 1998

ENGINE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
528255
Incident
Nov 19, 1997
Engine
Filed Jan 1, 1998

TIMING CHAIN MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID
527646
Incident
Nov 19, 1997
Engine
Filed Dec 29, 1997

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
527582
Incident
Nov 19, 1997
EngineSuspension
Filed Jan 3, 1995

THE STRUT WAS BAD THERE IS A NOISE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND THE ENGINE LIGHT MALFUNCTION. TT

NHTSA ID
958122
Incident
Jan 3, 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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .