1997 Nissan Maxima Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

1997 NISSAN MAXIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RECALL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BECAUSE HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS OTHER NISSAN'S THAT WERE RECALLED. *JB

ABS LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. THEN SOLID BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR GAVE OFF A STRANGE SMELL. TURNED OFF CAR. PARKED CAR IN THE STREET. 2 HOURS LATER THE POLICE ALERTED US THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE ENGINE BAY WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. VIDEO OF THE FIRE WAS CAPTURED ON MY RING DOORBELL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WENT OFF INADVERTENTLY WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH. CONSUMER WAS NOT INJURED, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. *AK

WITH EXTENSIVE FRONT-END DAMAGE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *BF WHILE DRIVING OUR VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE, MY SON REAR-ENDED A FORD WINSTAR VAN. HE BELIEVES THAT HE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO BRAKE TO SOME EXTENT BEFORE HITTING HER REAR BUMPER. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED. HOWEVER THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE MAXIMA. THIS INCLUDED THE FRONT BUMPER, GRILL, RADIATOR, HOOD AND OTHER COMPONENTS THAT I WAS UNABLE TO ASSESS. HOWEVER OUR BODY SHOP AND INSURANCE COMPANY FELT THAT THE COST OF REPAIRS EXCEEDED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICHLE SUCH THAT THEY "TOTALED" THE CAR. MY CONCERN WAS THAT WITH SUCH EXTENSIVE FRONT-END DAMAGE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NISSAN SEEMS TO THINK THAT THIS WAS APPROPRIATE. HOW CAN WE DETERMINE IF THIS IS CORRECT. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU. *AK FOLLOW UP LETTER FROM 10078979 *TC

I HAD MY 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA REPAIRED BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE AXLE FROM THE FACTORY. THERE WERE SEVERAL BEARINGS MISSING AND IT LOOKED LIKE WHAT APPEARED TO BE WASHERS LOOSE. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE CENTER WHERE I HAD MY CAR REPAIRED, THEIR OPINION WAS THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT (THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT) AND FELT THAT WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE "CAUGHT" IT IN TIME. I SAW THE DEFECTIVE PART MYSELF AND STILL HAVE IT FOR INSPECTION. *JB

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 02V146000 CONCERNING CONTROL ARM:LOWER CONTROL ARM. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT WHICH SUPPORTS RADIATOR AND FRONT ENGINE MOUNT, RUSTS COMPLETELY THROUGH. COMMON PROBLEM (ACCORDING TO VARIOUS ON-LINE SOURCES) FROM 1995-2001 MAXIMA MODELS DRIVEN IN THE SALT BELT STATES. REPAIR CAN BE EXTENSIVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE FRONT RADIATOR ENGINE FRAME STRUCTURE. SOME SHOPS ARE REPLACING ROTTED SECTION WITH A PIECE OF ANGLE IRON AND DRILLING HOLES TO REMOUNT FRONT ENGINE MOUNT. *TR

DT: CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER IS UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE DUE TO FACT THAT VEHICLE WASI NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY, VEHCILE DOES NOT COMFORTABLY FIT A PERSON OF AT LEAST 6 FOOT TALL, CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING LABEL ADVISING PERSONS OF AT LEAST 6 FOOT IN HEIGHT NOT TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE, VEHICLE IS UN-SAFE TO DRIVE FOR A PERSON OF THIS HEIGHT TO DRIVE.*AK

ABS LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. THEN SOLID BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR GAVE OFF A STRANGE SMELL. TURNED OFF CAR. PARKED CAR IN THE STREET. 2 HOURS LATER THE POLICE ALERTED US THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE ENGINE BAY WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. VIDEO OF THE FIRE WAS CAPTURED ON MY RING DOORBELL.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS ACTIVATES ON ITS OWN SPORADICALLY. THE DEALER SPECULATED THAT DIRT OR MUD ENTERS THROUGH THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND CAUSES THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CLEANED THE COMPONENT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY AFTER THE REMEDY. THE CONTACT WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 07/08/09 *BF UPDATED 07/08/09.*JB

CONSUMER STATES: DEALER SAYS NEED A POWER STEERING RACK. DEALER REPLACED LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD FOR THE SEAT BELT AND HAD THEM CHECK IT THEN THEY CAME BACK TOLD US WE NEEDED POWER STEERING RACK. *AK *TT *NM

AT 45 THOUSAND MILES, THE RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *YD

THE HOOD IS SUPPOSED TO BE SUPPORTED BY SHOCKS, BUT THEY FAIL AFTER A FEW YEARS. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO, THE HOOD SLAMMED DOWN MOMENTS AFTER MY HEAD WAS UNDER IT. NOW, IT WON'T STAY UP AT ALL. I ASKED MY DEALERSHIP WHY THEY DIDN'T TELL ME IT WOULDN'T STAY UP AND THEY SAID B/C IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AFTER A FEW YEARS AND THEY DON'T RELY ON IT ANYWAY. SEEMS THEY SHOULD TELL THEIR CUSTOMERS THAT AND RETURN TO A ROD-SUPPORTED HOOD. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR MAJOR INJURY TO UNAWARE CUSTOMERS, AND THE FACT THAT THE DEALERSHIPS KNOW ABOUT IT (AND DON'T TELL) IS SCARY.*AK

THE HOOD FELL ON MY HEAD AFTER LIFTING IT TO CHECK FLUID LEVELS. THE WEIGHT OF THE HOOD COULD NOT BE SUPPORTED BY STANDARD EQUIPED HYDRAULIC LIFT MECHANISM. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE MANUFACTURER BUT AS OF THIS DATE NO RESPONSE HAS BEEN RECEIVED. I ALSO FILLED OUT A QUALITY REPORT SENT TO ME ASKING HOW I RATED THEIR CUSTOMER SUPPORT. I RECEIVED NO RESPONSE TO THAT REPORT EITHER. WHAT A JOKE!!*AK

I NEEDED TO REPLACE A MUFFLER ON MY 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA. ON 092209 I TOOK MY MAXIMA TO A MUFFLER SHOP, THE MECHANIC NOTICED A VERY STRONG RAWFUEL SMELL. HE SAID HE COULD NOT USE A FLAME TORCH DUE TO A POSSIBLE EXPLOSION. HE REPLACED THE MUFFLER BY HAND AND TOLD ME TO HAVE THE FUEL SYSTEM INSPECTED BECAUSE THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. ON 092609 I HAD THE FUEL SYSTEM INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, HE DISCOVERED THAT FUMES AND POSSIBLY GAS WERE ESCAPING FROM THE FUEL FILLER NECK AND TUBE BECAUSE OF CORROSION WITHIN THE WHEEL BASE. I HAVE TRIED TO LOCATE REPLACEMENT PARTS FROM 3 SALVAGED VEHICLES AND EACH WERE ALSO CORRODED. NEW PARTS HAVE BEEN HARD TO LOCATED AND REMAIN UNCERTAIN AS TO WHETHER THEY WILL FIT. *TR

WHILE SHIFTING GEARS THE VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

IN THE BEGINNING I NOTICED IT TOOK ME A COUPLE TIMES TO START VEHICLE AND IT WOULD LOOSE POWER AT CERTAIN STOPS OR WHEN I SLOWED DOWN OR CAME TO A STOP. AND AS TIME I FELT IT JERK AND PULL AT TIMES WHEN I WAS NOT DRIVING TOO FAST THIS CONTINUED AND THEN IT WAS ONE DAY THAT IT DOES NOT WANT TO START UP, NEW STARTER, NEW BATTERY, TUNE UP AND IT JUST WONT START. I AM JUST WAITING TO SEE IF THEY FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *TR

1997 NISSAN MAXIMA SE - CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING EITHER UNWANTED ACCELERATION OR UNWANTED DECELERATION. HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WITH DIFFERENT DRIVERS TO THE POINT WE NO LONGER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE IN THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE. *TR

IT ALL STARTED WITH THE NOISES FROM THE EXHAUST. SO I FIXED THE FLEX PIPE AND NO MORE NOISE, THE MECHANIC SAID IT'S A COMMON MAXIMA PROBLEM. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SO I FIXED THE O2 SENSOR AND THE KNOCK SENSOR, THE MECHANIC SAID IT'S A COMMON MAXIMA PROBLEM. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE INSPECTION STATION A FEW DAYS LATER AND THE LIGHT CAME ON. THE KNOCK SENSOR CODE CAME ON, THE O2 SENSOR, THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR, THERE WAS AN EGR MALFUNCTION, A SERIAL A/T LINK COMMUNICATION MALFUNCTION AND POSSIBLY OTHER CODES I CANNOT RECALL RIGHT NOW. THE MECHANIC SAID IT'S ALL COMMON MAXIMA PROBLEMS. I'VE SPENT SO FAR AT LEAST $800 AND THE CAR IS STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY, AND I CANNOT PASS INSPECTION. *TR

CLICKING NOISE FROM MY 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA 5 - SPEED ODOMETER. SHIFTING PROBLEMS, NO CRUISE CONTROL AND NO MPH READING OR ODOMETER READING AFTER CLICKING STOPPED. SHIFTING COMPLETELY FAILED AFTER ABOUT A MONTH. MECHANIC THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM SAID THAT THE ODOMETER BOX LOCATED NEAR THE GEARS FELL APART AND THE PIECES OF THE ODOMETER COMPONENTS FELL INTO MY GEARS DAMAGING THEM AND ULTIMATELY PREVENTING THE USE OF MY VEHICLE. MECHANIC ALSO TOLD ME IT WAS NOTHING I HAD DONE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS FAILURE.*AK

AIR CONDITIONER--COMPRESSOR.

A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED. YH

FAILURES WITH TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES. FIRST FAILURES WERE CRACKS ON OUTSIDE OF TIRES NEXT TO RIM AFTER APPROX. 29K MILES. GOODYEAR GAVE SOME CREDIT AND NEW SET OF EAGLES (SAME SIZE AND MODEL) INSTALLED IN JUNE '99.. IN OCT. 2001DURING ROUTINE ROTATION AND BALANCE SEVERE CRACKS NEXT TO RIM ON INSIDE OF REPLACEMENT TIRES WAS OBSERVED BY TECHNICIAN. THESE TIRES HAD APPROX. 38K MILES ON THEM. CAR IS CAREFULLY MAINTAINED AND TIRES ARE ALWAYS ROTATED AND BALANCED EVERY 6K MILES.*AK (TIRESIZE: 215 55 H16)

TRAVELING 60 MPH AT 12:45 PM ON I-95 NB IN MA, 2 MILES SOUTH OF EXIT 8. CLEAR WEATHER, TEMPERATURE IN MID 60'S, SMOOTH ASPHALT PAVEMENT. SUDDEN LOUD ROARING NOISE. I THOUGHT AT FIRST IT WAS SOME SORT OF ENGINE FAILURE, BLUE SMOKE COMING OUT OF REAR OF CAR. NEXT WERE VIBRATIONS AND SHORT LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I REGAINED CONTROL AND PULLED OFF TO RIGHT SHOULDER. BOTH SIDEWALLS WERE DISINTEGRATED ALL THE WAY AROUND, WITH ONLY A FEW CORDS AND BELTS HOLDING THE TOP PART OF THE SIDEWALLS AND TREAD CAP TO THE INNER PART OF THE SIDEWALLS ON THE RIM. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT PRIOR TO THIS THAT WOULD INDICATE ANY SORT OF DAMAGE TO THE TIRE THAT FAILED. I IMMEDIATELY REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER AND BRAND OF TIRES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE ON THE TIRES, IN THE CONDITION THE TIRES WERE IN.*AK (DOT NUMBER: M6B2LNER TIRESIZE: P215/55R16)

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED INTO SHARP PIECES INSTEAD OF ROUND PEBBLES. *JB PH *JB

WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON 11/98, I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN I HEARD A NOISE LIKE ICE OR WATER FALLING ON THE ROOF OF MY CAR, WHEN I LOOKED IN FRONT OF MY CAR I SAW MY WINDSHIELD CRACK JUST BELOW MY LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER. THE CRACK STARTED FROM BENEATH MY LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER AND PROCEEDED UP ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND RAN ALL ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD ACROSS TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERHSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOOK A PEN AND FOLLOWED THE CRACK UP THE WINDSHIELD AND LIFTED THE WIPER AND HE SAID THAT IT LOOKS LIKE A PEEBLE HIT MY CAR. THE HOLE WAS THE SIZE OF THE TIP OF A PEN. I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS NOT NEAR ANY TRUCKS OR CLOSE ENOUGH FOR A CAR TO DO THIS. SO HE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT MYSELF. I STILL FEEL THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD, SOMEHOW MAYBE EFFECTED BY THE COLD WEATHER AS WELL. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT EXTEND;SEEMS LOCKED. *AK

VEHICLE HEADLAMPS AND TAILLIGHT IF IN THE DIRECT SUN THEY FOG IN ABOUT 2-3 YEARS, VISIBILITY DROPS MORE THAN 50% IT CERTAINLY EFFECTS SAFETY AND NO LONG MEET STRICT DOT REQUIREMENTS. THE GLASS TYPE WAS PERFECTLY SUITABLE BEFORE. IF YOU NOTICE THERE IS NOW A BIG BUSINESS POLISHING LENSES. PLS START A CLASS ACTION AGAINST THE MFGS. ASK ANYONE. CHECK ANY VEHICLE OVER 5 YEARS OLD AND YOU SEE. *TR

THE DIFFERENTIAL SPLINE GEAR SCORED FROM THE AXLE IS DISENGAGING FROM THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR COST OF TRANSMISSION AND RENTAL CAR SERVICE. *SLC