1997 Nissan Maxima Problems, complaints & recalls

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.

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

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

The lower radiator support for the 1995-1999 nissan maxima. The lower radiator support supports the radiator, condenser, and the engine support beam. The lower radiator support starts to rust from the inside of the beam and eventually rusts all the way out causing the radiator and the condenser to hang lower and the engine to hang with limited support. Without the lower radiator support, the engine support beam hits off the ground during normal driving. *Tr

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

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

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

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...

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

My 1997 maxima has had the check engine light periodically come on for the last 4 years. The obd code is for the speed sensor (p0500), I have the speedometer drop to zero occasionally and believe there is an issue with the circuit. I have changed the sensor four times and the problem always returns. Testing the sensor shows it is functioning normally. To get my car inspected, I reset the code and it eventually returns to normal and I can pass the emission test. This year, I have incomplete codes for egr and...

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...

I own a 1997 nissan maxima gle. In the last 4 months I have replaced the alternator twice, the starter and the battery twice. Something is defective with the charging system. The battery light and brake light keep coming on repeatedly especially when the car travels more than 10-20 miles. I have had the car stall out with a dead battery 5 times and each time I have had to have a jump start or change the battery once. Something is draining the system. *Tr

Gasoline leaking from vehicle at filler pile when tank was > 75% full. *Tr

1997 Nissan pathfinder se rear suspension control arms needed to be a recall issued as this was a huge safety issue. Near fatal scare while on the freeway recently @ high rate of speed 65 mph when the car began to sway violently left to right. I almost lost control, but managed to grip steering wheel and softly pull vehicle over away from speeding traffic. The vehicle is now garaged until mechanic can replace upper and lower control suspension arms. I have gotten 2 mechanical estimates both totaling over $800.00. This should have been recalled and could have caused a terrible accident including personal bodily injury or even death!!*Ak

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 nissan maxima. The vehicle shuts off while driving and fails to restart in a timely fashion. The failure occurs without warning. The dealer was contacted and replaced the alternator, starter, and sensors. However, the failure persists. The current mileage is 134,000 and failure mileage was 75,000.

Tl*- in may 2004 the contact received a 1997 nissan pathfinder as a gift, it had an odometer reading of 90000 at the time. The vehicle began to wobble while traveling at 65 to 70 mph soon after it was purchased. The vehicle was taken to a nissan dealership, where all of the struts were replaced, but this did not resolve the issue. The vehicle continued to wobble any time there was a small obstruction on the road. The contact continued to drive the vehicle with this problem without taking it to any other...

They told me when I was purchasing the 1997 nissan maxima that it has been through there inspection. As soon as I was driving the car home and was at a stop the engine turn off. It took me two times to start the engine again to start up. The next day I called the dealer and spoke to him about the car took it in to get it repaired. The next day the car is still having problems. While driving and coming to a stop engine just turns off. It took me five times to play around with the ignition to get it started...

Dt*: the contact stated while driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled however it would restart. This had occurred since the vehicle was purchased. It was taken to a dealer who could not determine the cause of the problem. There have been several repairs to the vehicle including the replacement of three oxygen sensors, the alternator and starter. There was a recall #02v171000 pertaining to the electrical system. The vehicle was not included in the recall due to the vin. Updated 12/15/06. *Jb

My wife backed the car out of the garage and noticed a burning smell. She turned off the engine and got me. When I opened the hood there was smoke and a burning smell. The alternator had started to burn as well as the wiring harness. This issue was covered by nhtsa campaign id 02v171000, but nissan says my vin was not among those affected and my car is not covered by the recall. *Jb

Driving slowly in pathfinder 4x4 '97 hit pot hole. Spot welds on frame to inner fender broke loose. One foot long seam split 3 inches wide viewed from the left front strut. Cost $1,500 to weld and brace. Professional said pathfinders notorious for this weakness. Steering column jammed from failure which could have caused head-on fatality into oncoming vehicle. Serious safety concern for a m/v purported to be an atv! My experience in accidents stems from boston police officer's accident reports for over a...

1997 Maxima se. I pulled into my garage and could smell something burning. I lifted the hood of the car and saw smoke coming from the alternator. It drained the battery. As I replaced the battery, the alternator caught fire. *Nm

Car stalls without warning. It may run fine for several weeks, then suddenly stall. This has caused near-accidents, as engine suddenly fails to respond in situations where acceleration is required; passing, merging, crossing intersections. Dealer diagnosed as short in egi harness. Breakage inside the harness appears to be a frequently occuring problem in this vehicle, based on other reports on web discussion boards. Also, manufacturer has issued technical service bulletin, so they are aware that this...

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

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