Check a vehicle VIN check Latest recalls Latest complaints Common problems Rankings Compare vehicles Recall roundups All makes Guides Share your experience
Theme

Engine & cooling

1992 Nissan Maxima Engine problems

Owners have filed 21 complaints about the 1992 Nissan Maxima's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 19% of all its complaints, most recently on January 7, 2008. They describe 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Engine & cooling

Engine shuts of intermittently and without warning for brief moments (5-10 sec.) Sometimes in isolated single events, sometimes in clusters. Engine completely loses power then returns. Dashboard and radio continue to work as if it is not electrical. Feels like a fuel delivery problem. It's very scary when it happens on the freeway or when pulling into traffic! No codes show on computer diagnostics. Replaced fuel filter and computer. While searching the net I have found this to be a recurrent problem with this model. No known fixes. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10214126
Engine & cooling

Tl* - the contact spent over $3000.00 On the 1992 nissan maxima. The vehicle had a variety of failures for the past year. The contact took the car to be repaired ,but it has not been repaired properly. On 1/2/07 the repair shop said that the vehicle could not be repaired, and that he needed to get a tow truck and come back to the repair shop to pick up the vehicle. The repair shop put a new engine in the vehicle, and it felt as if the engine has been in the car over 10 years now. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10177599
Engine & cooling

I had bought a car from a dealership in san diego and it was defective from day one. The dealership sells all cars as is so I took it back to him the next day to have him repair it. We went back and forth for about one year and he always said he never found a problem with it but yet, he seemed to always be doing some kind of repair. Finally, the engine blew and I had it towed back to him. He had it for one month and said he can't fix it. He said he would sell me another one and take $1000 off the other one if...

Read the full complaint

I come up with $700 to put down on another. I did, he said this car had a rebuilt transmission. This car's rpm's keep on going up to about 5000-6000 until it finally kicks into gear. Now he says there is nothing wrong with this one too. What can I do? *Nm

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10168750
Engine & cooling

I have talked to 100s of maxima owners on maxima.Org and most of the with a 92-92 maxima se with the ve30de engine have had or are haveing a vtc failure which nissan knows about. This fix for most of us is over $1000 and it eventual will fail again like mine are again!

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 757417
Engine & cooling

It causes a loud rattling noise in the engine, and a mechanic refused to service the car because he said the engine was going to "blow up!" There is a tsb on this problem, and it seems to happen to all 1992 maximas.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 742832
Engine & cooling

LIFTER NOISE AT TIMES ON IDLE IS VERY LOUD. *AK

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 722602
Engine & cooling

Took vehicle to dealer for routine service. Mechanic had noticed problem with manifold. Indicated studs on engine monifold were cracked & defective. This could cause a leaking problem later. They would need to be replaced. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 852619
Engine & cooling

After taking vehicle to midas for repair they found out the pipe was not working, and at same time was making a lot of noise. But consumer decided to take vehicle to original dealer for recall repairs. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 852246
Engine & coolingVisibility & wipers

When I went to have my vtc springs replaced the man that worked at the dealership I had the work done at, he said it was a very common problem which maid me mad because of the fact of I paid $1000.00 To have a part fixed which I think they should have paid for if it was a common thing. I am aservice manager in a shop and have several maximas come in with that problem. I would really like to know what has to be done to have that part recalled andhave my money returned. If problem is not fixed, it will break timing...

Read the full complaint

chain and bend valves. My other complaint is about the window regulator. I will tell you I know of tons of people that has had that break on them. It is a plastic piece like a pully for the window that breaks and the window will drop at any time. One of my assoc. Window has broke when it fell. That part cost $110 to replace, the bad thing about it another plastic piece. That is one part that must really be recalled with how many times it happens. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · VisibilityNHTSA 708189
Engine & cooling

ENGINE FAILED. NLM

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 782388
Engine & cooling

Engine camshaft bracket which holds timing chain in place failed, causing timing chain to fall out. May cause damages to t vehicle, and cause an accident. Nissan has made an improved brackets after 1994. Please provide further information. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 834998
Engine & cooling

Engine makes noise, either pullies for timing belt or valve. Yh

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 701221
SteeringBrakesEngine & coolingVisibility & wipersEquipment & accessoriesCrash

Brakes pull to one side pads have been replaced problem still occurs. Engine is noisy and rough. Crankshaft was destroyed while driving engine had to be replaced. Engine makes a knocking noise. Heat from ac would cool down after 15 minutes. Rough idle. Steering wheel shakes vigorously at highway speeds and during braking. Two bolts from exhaust manifold broke while driving. Old engine hesitated and the replacement does the same. Sometimes there is a slow acceleration. Automatic ac circultion cut of after...

Read the full complaint

about 10 minutes. Rear power window fails to operate atleast twice. Power lock fails to operate atleast once a month. Fuel pump and filter were backed up by sand. Front end suspension is extremely weak

Filed Incident Steering · Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Visibility · EquipmentNHTSA 701150
Engine & cooling

Vehicle cut off while driving. Took in for repairs,. Took dealer approximately 4months to remedy the problem and to find that the timing chain broke. Repairs made at consumer's expense. *Ak.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 828575
Brakes

Brake malfunction. Grinding noise and poor performance, usually in wet, cool weahter. Noise seems to come from rear of vehicle.

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulicNHTSA 540734
Engine & cooling

ENGINE SOPS WHILE IN MOTION AND PARKING.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 535742
Engine & cooling

Valve timing sprockes malfunction due to design failure, resultin gin engine failure.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 535454
Engine & cooling

Variable timing control spring assembly replaced.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 533570
Engine & cooling

Noisy engine, resulting from a variable timing control repair.

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 516508
Engine & cooling

The engine makes noise, took to dealer it was the vct sprocket . Please describe . *Ak

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 804613
Engine & coolingFire

VEHICLE FIRE.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 509701
Engine & cooling

Front and back exhaust manifold bolts are cracking, causing vehicle to leak exhaust fumes. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 982364

Nissan Maxima engine complaints by year

Maxima engine problems, every year

Had a engine problem with your 1992 Maxima? Tell other owners.

Your experience goes live straight away and helps every owner and buyer who checks this vehicle. Anonymous, free, no account.

Overall, how would you rate it? *

0/4000 · Please leave out names, phone numbers and your full VIN.

By posting you confirm it's your own, honest experience and agree to the rules. Safety defect? Also report it to NHTSA - that's how recalls start.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

Owners helping owners

Know before you drive.

Every experience you share - good or bad - shows on that vehicle's page and helps the next owner and buyer. Two minutes, anonymous.

Share your experience