1994 Nissan Maxima Fuel system Problems

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

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

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

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

FUEL INJECTOR FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

785205

THREE OF FOUR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE FAILED IN THE CAR. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL YEAR. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE WAS NOT A VERY GOOD DESIGN AS WELL. THEY INDICATED THAT THE HEAT FROM THE MOTOR CAUSED THE RUBBER TO BREAK DOWN, AND THAT'S WHY STRONG FUEL ODORS COULD BE DETECTED WHEN USING THE DEFROST ON COLD MORNINGS.

NHTSA ID

734669

Incident

Oct 12, 2000

VEHICLE BLEW A FUEL INJECTOR . VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GASOLINE. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP.*AK WHEN THE CUSTOMER STARTED TO DRIVE, THE RPM BECAME ERRATIC WITH NO POWER ON ACCELERATION BEFORE THIS, CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THERE WAS STRONG SMELL OF GAS BECAUSE THE INJECTOR SOLNOID FAILED AND BURNT OUT THE INJECTOR RESULTING IN FUEL/GAS LEAK. THE INJECTOR IS DEFECTIVE. *YH

NHTSA ID

865859

Incident

Jun 8, 2000

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A SMELL OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED. THE MANFACTURER WAS CONTACTED CONCERNIG RECALL 95V24400/ FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY: FILLER:NECK. BUT, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDR RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

857891

Incident

Feb 16, 2000

IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEALER AND NISSAN, ETHANOL IN THE FUEL IS HINTED AT AS A CAUSE OF THE FAILURES TO THE FUEL HOSES AS WELL AS 4 OF 6 FUEL INJECTORS. THE INJECTORS HAVE FAILED ONE BY ONE, STARTING AT 47K MILES WITH THE LATEST AT 67K MILES. I AM SURE THE LAST TWO WILL ALSO FAIL.

NHTSA ID

718592

Incident

Jan 9, 1998

FUEL LEAKAGE AT INJECTOR SEALS (3 PLACES) RESULTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

717737

Incident

Jan 15, 2000

FUEL LEAK @/ON THE RUBBER HOSE WHERE THE FUEL LINE CONNECTS TO THE EJECTOR RAIL. DETECTED LEAK WHEN AIR TEMPERATURE DROPPED TO LESS THAN 40F AND ENGINE WAS STARTED. GASOLINE SPOT 6" DIA 1/4"DEEP LEFT ON CARPORT CONCRETE. FUEL LEAK IS ON THE RUBBER HOSE WHERE THE FUEL LINE CONNECTS @ THE INJECTOR RAIL. (LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE) LEAKS WHEN IGNITION ACTIVATES FUEL PUMP AND CONTINUES UNTIL HOSE IS WARMED TO MAKE FLEXIBLE AND SEAL BREAK IN HOSE. THIS GAS LEAKS ONTO ELECTRICAL WIRING AND "HOT" ENGINE PARTS. AS THIS HAPPENS ONLY ON START-UP WITH COLD WEATHER, COULD GO UNNOTICED UNTIL IGNITING OR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

714405

Incident

Nov 1, 1999

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

NHTSA ID

713978

Incident

Jul 22, 1998

FUEL INJECTION CLOGGED UP, CAUSING ENGINE PROBLEM WITH 3 INJECTORS. ALL OF THE INJECTORS WERE ALREADY REPLACED, AND 3 NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

841916

Incident

Jul 31, 1997

FUEL INJECTOR FAILURES.

NHTSA ID

530749

Incident

Dec 9, 1997

RECALL 95V244000; OWNER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL, AND DEALER KEPT VEHICLE FOR A MONTH. THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS DONE. LATER, OWNER FOUND OUT THAT RECALL WAS NOT TAKEN CARE. NOW THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO PARTS.

NHTSA ID

817049

RECALL RELATED, VEHICLE REPAIRED ON 11-7-96, VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOUR DAYS, TRUNK AND REAR INSIDE COMPARTMENT FIRE, FUEL FILLER NECK PIPE 95V244. *AK

NHTSA ID

807322

Incident

Dec 28, 1996