RoadVitals

1998 Nissan Maxima Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
11
Latest Apr 3, 2008
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.
10%
of 113 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 service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Nissan Maxima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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 brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed Apr 3, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS STAY ON CONTINUALLY, WHEN SHE TURNS ON THE HEADLIGHTS THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT TURNS ON AND STAYS ON, WHICH MADE HER VEHICLE APPEAR AS THOUGH IT WAS STOPPING. DURING DAY LIGHT HOURS WHEN SHE PRESSES THE BRAKE THE SIDE LIGHTS TURN ON AND THE RADIO LIGHT DIMS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,000, AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10223283
Incident
Nov 15, 2007
Mileage
130,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 28, 2004

BRAKES FAILED TO HOLD AND SMOKE CAME FROM REAR BRAKES. AT APPROX 7500 MILES, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE GRINDING AND SQEALING BRAKE SOUNDS.THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. CARS WAS TAKEN BACK ON TWO MORE OCCASIONS TO REPORT BRAKE SOUNDS. DEALERSHIP COULD REPRODUCE SOUNDS DURING TEST DRIVE AND SAID THE BRAKES WERE FINE. THE LAST INCIDENT WITH THE LOCK UP AND SMOKE, VEHICLE WITH APPROX.44,000 MILES WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING BRAKE RELINE AND REAR BRAKE CABLES AT A COST OF $400 PLUS. THE PROBLEM OF TOO MUCH BRAKE PEDAL WAS SAID TO BE THE NORM. BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WAS NEVER THIS MUCH WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10060006
Incident
Jan 1, 2004
Mileage
7,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 7, 2003

I WAS DRIVING ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD AND APPLIED MY BRAKES. I GOT NOTHING BUT INSTANT AND COMPLETE ABS, AND AFTER QUICKLY RELEASING AND REAPPLYING THE BRAKES, STILL HAD NOTHING BUT ABS. PH

NHTSA ID
10005471
Incident
Feb 7, 2003
Mileage
40,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 11, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND HIGHER, AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE FRONT WHEELS LOCK UP AND BRAKES DON'T HOLD. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON 3 OCCASIONS, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. MR

NHTSA ID
8024167
Brakes
Filed Apr 26, 2002

WHEN RELEASING PEDAL AFTER BRAKING THERE IS A GRINDING AND HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED REAR BRAKE CABLES AND TURNED REAR ROTORS.*AK *JG

NHTSA ID
8008671
Incident
Mar 10, 2002
Brakes
Filed Mar 16, 2001

PER DEALERSHIP, REAR BRAKE CABLE DOES NOT RELEASE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
742537
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
Brakes
Filed Sep 6, 2000

I HAD ABS PROBLEM ON 05-04-00,07-17-00 AND TWO OTHER TIME IN 1999&2000. *AK

NHTSA ID
730370
Incident
Aug 20, 1999
Brakes
Filed Jun 26, 2000

WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED BRAKES GRIND. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
864212
Brakes
Filed May 7, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
722380
Brakes
Filed Apr 27, 2000

CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING SOUND IN THE BRAKES. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT RELEASING PROPERLY AT 9000MILES, AND AT 26000 MILES THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE.

NHTSA ID
861059
Incident
Dec 8, 1998
Brakes
Filed Sep 8, 1999

SQUEAKY BRAKES.

NHTSA ID
609117

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 .