1996 Nissan Maxima Electrical Problems

CAR FIRE. MY SON'S CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE HE WAS DRIVING IT DUE TO A PART NISSAN KNEW WAS DEFECTIVE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR 1997-1999 NISSAN MAXIMAS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THEIR ALTERNATORS THAT CAUSED THEM TO CATCH FIRE. DETAILS ABOUT THE RECALL ARE BELOW. MY SON WAS DRIVING HIS 1996 MAXIMA WHEN THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE. LUCKILY, HE ESCAPED WITHOUT INJURY. ALTHOUGH HIS CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, CLEARLY THE PART THAT STARTED THE FIRE IS THE SAME AND IT IS THE PART THAT IGNITED THE FIRE. I SPOKE WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS THREE TIMES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. I AM CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET NISSAN TO DISCUSS THIS EVENT IN TERMS OF THE SECURITY ASPECT OF IT. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY CHOSE TO LOOK AT IT STRICTLY AS A WARRANTY ISSUE. IT STANDS TO REASON, IF THIS PART WAS IN MY SON'S CAR, IT IS ALSO IN OTHER 1996 MAXIMAS. THE NEXT PERSON WHO EXPERIENCES A CAR FIRE DUE TO A FAULTY ALTERNATOR MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY AS MY SON. NOTE: I BOUGHT BACK THE ALTERNATOR FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND I HAVE IT AT HOME. WWW.AUTOMOBILEMAG.COM/AM/1997/NISSAN/MAXIMA/RECALLS.HTML RECALL ID # 02V171000 - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR RECALL DATE: JUN 24, 2002 MODEL AFFECTED: 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, ONE OF THE DIODES USED IN THE ALTERNATOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED WHEN BUILT. THIS CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE DIODE AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH COULD MELT THE PLASTIC HOUSING. CONSEQUENCE: IF THE COMBUSTIBLE GAS EMITTED BY THE MELTING PLASTIC DOES NOT DISPERSE DUE TO AIR FLOW THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IT COULD IGNITE AND IN TURN IGNITE THE FAN GUIDE IN THE ALTERNATOR. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $560 UPDATED 10/17/11 *TR

NHTSA ID

10421503

Incident

Aug 8, 2011

Mileage

198,000 mi

MY 1996 NISSAN MAXIMA CAUGHT ON FIRE BY ITSELF IN THE MIDNIGHT, AND IT WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. I RECEIVED THE VEHICLE FROM MY FRIEND AS A GIFT, WHICH WAS IN A VERY GOOD CONDITION. AND I ALSO PAID THE BUCKNER'S AUTO SERVICE CENTER AT KNOXVILLE, TN FOR CHECKING THE CAR IN DETAIL AND GETTING IT REPAIRED. BUT 8 DAYS AFTER, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. DURING THE 8 DAYS, THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT IN FRONT OF MY APARTMENT, AND NOBODY EVER TOUCHED THE CAR. IT'S CLOUDY OR RAINY IN ALL THESE DAYS. THOUGH FORTUNATELY MY WIFE AND I WERE SAFE, WE WERE REALLY SCARED AND MY WIFE WAS AFRAID OF VEHICLES FROM THEN ON. WE HAVE ARRIVED AT THE U.S LESS THAN 2 MONTHS, AND THIS INCIDENT ALMOST COMPLETELY DISRUPTED OUR LIVES. THE FOLLOWING IS THE DESCRIPTION FROM THE KNOXVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT CRIME REPORT: THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR EIGHT DAYS. INTERVIEWED CAR OWNER, WHO STATES HE HAS BEEN IN THE US FOR ABOUT ONE MONTH, AND HAD RECEIVED THE VEHICLE AS A GIFT FROM A FRIEND. HE SAID THAT HE HAD TAKEN THE CAR FOR REPAIRS AND TO BE SERVICED AT BUCHNERS AUTO REPAIR ON 9/8/2009 AND HAD AN INVOICE OF THE WORK PERFORMED. HE SAID THAT THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THEN BECAUSE HE WAS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING HIS DRIVER LICENSE. THERE WAS ONLY AN 8 MILE DIFFERENCE THE INVOICE MILEAGE AND THE CARS ODOMETER READING. INVESTIGATION OF THE VEHICLE REVEALED AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. THE CAR WAS LOCKED AND HOOD WAS SECURE WHEN ENG 12 ARRIVED. THEN HAD TO FORCE THE HOOD SINCE THE CABLE DID NOT FUNCTION DUE TO FIRE DAMAGE. AREAS OF HIGH HEAT WERE INDICATED ON THE HOOD OVER THE BATTERY AND FUEL/AIR INTAKE LOCATIONS. ALSO OF NOTE WAS THAT THE COOLING FANS WERE DESTROYED AND ONE HAD FALLEN TO THE GROUND. THIS FIRE IS CONSIDERED TO ACCIDENTAL AND THE CAUSE TO BE A MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. THE OWNER DOES NOT HAVE INSURANCE ON THE VEHICLE. SUGGESTED THAT THE OWNER TAKE PHOTOS AND CONTACT BUCHNERS TO CHECK FOR ANY RECALLS OR TO'S FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10286192

Incident

Sep 18, 2009

Mileage

206,576 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1996 NISSAN MAXIMA. SHE STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED AT ALL TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WA 75,900. UPDATED 02/01/08 *LJ. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE RADIO DID NOT WORK

NHTSA ID

10198673

Incident

Jul 3, 2007

Mileage

75,000 mi

ON GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING, USUALLY IT OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP POSTION OR ACCELERATING FROM A LOW SPEED. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK DEALER REPLACED FRONT TIMING COVERS, GASKETS, INTAKE MANIFOLD COLLECTOR, COIL PACKS, PLUGS, AND PERFORMED THROTTLE CHAMBER SERVICE, NOW VEHICLE HAS AN OIL LEAK. TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. STARTER MOTOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

883027

Incident

Sep 14, 2000

WATER LEAKED INTO EMISSION CONTROLCANISTER CAUSING ECU TO BURN OUT ,ENGINE CAME ON.ECU NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

843223

ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED A FIRE IN THE TRUNK.

NHTSA ID

537629

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.

NHTSA ID

603117

Incident

Mar 1, 1996

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING UNDER THE PASSENGER'S SIDE MANUAL SEAT, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ID

809758

Incident

Mar 3, 1997

BATTERY REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

602795

Incident

May 3, 1996

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER, INCLUDING BRAKES/STEERING, COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, ACCORDING TO DEALER, CAUSED BY COMPUTER UNIT FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

806755

Incident

Dec 23, 1996