Nissan Maxima 1995–1999 problems by year and mileage
4th generation (A32)
NHTSA data through 18 October 2026628 complaints, 187 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 1995 Nissan Maxima
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 152
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 1995
- Airbag system25 reports
- Engine and its cooling system22 reports
- Seats20 reports
The 1996 Nissan Maxima
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 96
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 1996
- Engine and its cooling system17 reports
- Airbag system16 reports
- Transmission and driveline12 reports
The 1997 Nissan Maxima
Close- Median failure report
- 86,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 102
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 1997
- Electrical system39 reports
- Engine and its cooling system12 reports
- Airbag system10 reports
Recall areas Electrical system — alternator/generator/regulator
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 1998 Nissan Maxima
Close- Median failure report
- 110,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 113
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 1998
- Airbag system24 reports
- Electrical system24 reports
- Hydraulic brake circuit10 reports
Recall areas Electrical system — alternator/generator/regulator
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 1999 Nissan Maxima
Close- Median failure report
- 79,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 165
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 1999
- Electrical system83 reports · median 70,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system38 reports
- Airbag system18 reports
Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. Latest: the 1998; earliest: the 1999, and the 1998 is 1 year older (part of the gap is age). 2 of these years carry fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and show no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 1995–1999 Nissan Maxima reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 90,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 155,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 187
- Recalls
- 1
Most reported
- Electrical system27.5% of complaints · median 92,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system15.0% of complaints · median 92,000 mi
- Airbag system14.8% of complaints · median 86,000 mi
Owners filed 628 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995–1999 Nissan Maxima; the electrical system leads with 27.5% of them, and half of the 187 that record an odometer reading came by 90,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.
No single peak: the middle half runs 60,000 to 129,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 1995–1999 Nissan Maxima last?
On the 1995–1999 Nissan Maxima, half of the 187 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 90,000 miles and 90% by 155,000 miles (why that is not a lifespan).
22 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 3 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Maxima reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Nissan Maxima 1995–1999 · 187 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
20,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 38 complaints
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 3 complaints (1.6%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 41,000
- 25%
- 60,000
- Median
- 90,000
- 75%
- 129,000
- 90%
- 155,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–20,000 | 4 | 2.1% |
| 20,000–40,000 | 11 | 5.9% |
| 40,000–60,000 | 27 | 14.4% |
| 60,000–80,000 | 38 | 20.3% |
| 80,000–100,000 | 25 | 13.4% |
| 100,000–120,000 | 24 | 12.8% |
| 120,000–140,000 | 24 | 12.8% |
| 140,000–160,000 | 19 | 10.2% |
| 160,000–180,000 | 6 | 3.2% |
| 180,000–200,000 | 6 | 3.2% |
| 200,000+ | 3 | 1.6% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
Common Maxima problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Nissan Maxima 1995–1999
When each system fails
Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)
- Airbag system93 reportsmedian 86,000middle half 65,000–110,000
- Engine and its cooling system94 reportsmedian 92,000middle half 55,000–125,000
- Electrical system173 reportsmedian 92,000middle half 60,000–127,000
- Body structure38 reportsmedian 137,000middle half 95,000–160,000
- Your odometer, once entered below
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 173 | 27.5% | 92,000 | 60,000–127,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 94 | 15.0% | 92,000 | 55,000–125,000 |
| Airbag system | 93 | 14.8% | 86,000 | 65,000–110,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 42 | 6.7% | — | — |
| Body structure | 38 | 6.1% | 137,000 | 95,000–160,000 |
| Suspension | 36 | 5.7% | — | — |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 34 | 5.4% | — | — |
| Steering | 27 | 4.3% | — | — |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 26 | 4.1% | — | — |
| Tyres | 25 | 4.0% | — | — |
Known problems with the 1995–1999 Maxima
Emissions / Exhaust 1995–1999
Pre-catalyst substrate breakdown on the exhaust manifold; ceramic debris can be drawn back into the cylinders through the EGR path causing scoring and oil consumption.
Engine
Valve cover and front crank seal oil leaks, and distributor/ignition failure causing no-start and rough running.
Before you buy a 1995–1999 Maxima: the 3-minute check
Generated from 187 mileage-tagged complaints, 1 recall campaign, 2 documented problem areas.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 1 campaign cover this generation.
- Check emissions / exhaust on 1995–1999 cars. What each looks like: Known problems.
- Check engine.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car.
Maxima problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer, or read the table.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi22% below | At 90k mi49% below | At 120k mi69% below | At 150k mi88% below | At 200k mi98% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 60,000–127,000 | in window | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 55,000–125,000 | in window | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Airbag system | 65,000–110,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Body structure | 95,000–160,000 | later | later | in window | in window | earlier |
Figure 3 · Nissan Maxima 1995–1999 · 187 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Steps at bin edges (how to read it)
- 60,000 mi — 22% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 69% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 98% of reports below
- Median (the 50% line)
- Your odometer, once entered
Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
1995–1999 Nissan Maxima recalls (1)
NHTSA records 1 recall campaign covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).
Jun 2002 · 1997–1998 · Electrical SystemIf the combustible gas emitted by the melting plastic does not disperse due to air flow through the engine…
The defect. 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.
What can happen. 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 free fix. Dealers will replace the alternator. Owner notification began july 29, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
Out of 628 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:
- Crashes
- 57 (9.1%)
- Fires
- 41
- Injury reports
- 33
- Fatality reports
- 1
Maxima problems by model year
The 1999 drew the most complaints of this generation, 165, most of them about the electrical system, and the 1996 the fewest, 96. A typical year drew about 113.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 152 | 12 | under 30 reports | Airbag system (25) | 0 |
| 1996 | 96 | 15 | under 30 reports | Engine and its cooling system (17) | 0 |
| 1997 | 102 | 30 | 86,000 | Electrical system (39) | 1 |
| 1998 | 113 | 41 | 110,000 | Airbag system (24) | 1 |
| 1999 | 165 | 89 | 79,000 | Electrical system (83) | 0 |
What Maxima owners reported
the contact owns a 1999 Nissan Maxima. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact smelled an electrical burning odor and various warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle shut off completely and was pulled over to the side of the road as smoke appeared from the engine compartment. The…
1999 · 96,000 miles · Electrical system
I was accelerating from a red light going up hill. When i reached the top of the hill and let off the petal, the car continued to pick up speed. The brake petal was stiff and unresponsive. There was nothing under the petal. As i was quickly approaching another red light with stopped traffic. I put the car in neutral…
1999 · 147,000 miles · Fuel and propulsion system
the contact owns a 1999 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the crank shaft position sensor, the knock sensor and the coils needed to be…
1999 · 130,000 miles · Engine
I wish to receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket cost of repair and installation of new parts for the vehicles alternator having caught on fire. On or about november 24, 2014, my request was submitted to Nissan of north per Nissan manufacturers recall instructions. The recall issued in 2001 was still open on the…
1998 · 155,000 miles · Engine
Built from 187 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built
Other Maxima generations
- Maxima 2000–2003 623 reports with mileage, most about the electrical system
- Maxima 2004–2008 2,679 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
- Maxima 2009–2014 778 reports with mileage, most about the steering
- Maxima 2016–2023 155 reports with mileage, most about problems owners could not categorise