Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 1998 Nissan Maxima, assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its VIN to decode that exact car, its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment, alongside these records.
Open a VIN recordRecalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Nissan Maxima year.
22 mpg average · 15–28 range · EPA says 21
Over 5 years this costs $3,750 more in fuel than an average new vehicle.
NHTSA frontal crash test
Rated configuration: 1998 Nissan Maxima 4-DR.
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for this make, model and year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car. A dealer can confirm from the VIN.
Issue: K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
Campaign 08E050000
Issue: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Campaign 06E049000
Issue: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Campaign 09E025000
Issue: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Campaign 09E012000
Issue: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Campaign 06E026000
Issue: 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.
Risk: 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.
Remedy: 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 WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
Campaign 02V171000
The parts named most often across 118 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this make, model and year.
8 crashes · 8 injured
8 fires
1 crash
1 crash
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so read this as where to look rather than as a defect rate.
1 complaint-reported fatality on this model.
The contact owns a 1998 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while attempting to lift the vehicle onto a jack, the rocker panels started to cave in due to severe corrosion and rusting. The cause of the corrosion was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
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 VEHICLE BY VIN NUMBER. ALL PERTINENT DOCUMENTATION WAS PROVIDED BY FAX AND PHONE TO THE NISSAN SAFETY COMPLAINT UNIT. AS INSTRUCTED BY THE INVESTIGATING AGENT, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND REIMBURSEMENT. IT HAS BEEN FIVE WEEKS (SINCE DECEMBER 23, 2014) OF DELAY AND BROKEN PROMISES, AND I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT. (THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND BEGAN TO SMOKE; AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE GARAGE, THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE AS AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO START THE VEHICLE.) PLEASE PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT OF REPAIR COSTS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED THE PRESENCE OF FIRE COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
I JUST PURCHASED A 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA, WENT TO CHANGE OUT THE FRONT BUMPER SKIN AND FENDERS AND AS I TOOK OFF THE BUMPER SKIN THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT IS RUSTED BEYOND BELIEF AND ONLY ONE OF THE BOLTS ON THE CROSS MEMBER HOLDING UP THE WHOLE ENGINE/TRANS AND THAT ONE IS RUSTED TOO. THERE IS A BIG HOLE WHERE THE RUST IS AND ITS AFFECTING THE PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY AS WELL AS HANDLING OF THIS CAR. I'M ACTUALLY SURPRISED THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION HAVEN'T FALLEN OUT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR ALREADY. THIS IS A PAIN TO FIX AND EXPENSIVE, I ALSO HAVE DONE LOTS OF RESEARCH ON THIS AND A WHOLE LOT OF THEM HAVE SAME ISSUE. WHAT CAN/ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS? *JS
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT NISSAN MAXIMA'S RUSTING AND DETERIORATING RADIATOR SUPPORT (LOWER TIE BAR) THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE MID 90'S THREW TODAY'S CARS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND IT SHOULD EXTEND TO ALL CARS STILL BEING DRIVEN TODAY. I HAVE PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO MY 98 NOT KNOWING OF THIS DEFECT. THE YEAR OF THE CAR HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS PROBLEM, SINCE IT IS CONTINUING ON BRAND NEW CARS WITH AS LITTLE AS 50,000 MILES ON THEM. AS A TAX PAYING, CAR BUYER. I BELIEVE IF THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO FIX THESE ISSUES. THEN YOU NEED TO FORCE THEM TO DO THE RIGHT THING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE AIR CONDITIONER BUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE A/C CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.
I FAILED STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE MY ENGINE CORE SUPPORT IS ROTTED. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON HERE WHO HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS HAPPENING IN THIS MODEL CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH AND TRAVELED OVER A PATCH OF ICE. THE VEHICLE THEN SPUN AROUND AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT CRASHED HEAD FIRST INTO AN UNKNOWN OBJECT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED KNEE AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE WERE PRESENT ON SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE SERVICED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR NISSAN AT 96648 MILES, THERE WAS REMARKABLY LITTLE RUST UNDERNEATH. THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT ON 10-12-12 AND WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT AFTER FINDING THAT THE CORE SUPPORT FOR THE MOTOR IS RUSTED AND ROTTED OUT. FURTHER RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED IN THIS MODEL OF CAR FOR MANY YEARS. IF WE HAD KNOWN THAT THIS CAR WAS SO UNSAFE WE WOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. TOYOTA HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THEIR PICKUP TRUCKS AND THEY WERE BUYING BACK THE TRUCKS FOR LARGE SUMS OF MONEY. WHY ISN'T NISSAN DOING / BEING FORCED TO DO THE SAME? WE EXPECTED ANOTHER 50,000 MILES OUT OF THIS CAR AND NOW IT IS WORTHLESS. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THERE HAS TO BE A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. A MAJOR STRUCTURAL COMPONENT SHOULD BE THE LAST THING TO CORRODE. *TR
ENGINE CORE SUPPORT ROTTED RUSTED AND SPLIT IN HALF. ENGINE AND RADIATOR COULD FALL OUT AND CAUSE CRASH. THIS IS A NYS VEHICLE. *TR
I HAVE A 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE ALL SIX COILS, MAF MASS AIRFLOW, ALL SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, ALL THREE O2 SENSORS IT STALLS, RUNS ROUGH, AND CUTS OFF. NOW IT WILL NOT START. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND NOONE SEEMS TO WANT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES THE CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING INCLUDING ME. SEEMS LIKE NISSAN NEEDS A RECALL ON THESE PARTS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE CAR TO SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. *TR
1998 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH RUSTED AND FRACTURED FRONT RADIATOR/ENGINE MOTOR MOUNT SUPPORT STRUT. THE ENGINE IS NOW UNSTABLE AND INCREASING RATTLING FROM BENEATH THE HOOD, ESPECIALLY ON BUMPY ROADS. THE CAR DOES NOT APPEAR SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED RELATIVELY RECENTLY AND THIS ISSUE WAS NOT APPARENT ON INSPECTION AT TIME OF PURCHASE. *TR
Showing 12 of 118 complaints.