Nissan Maxima reliability (Please sign up if you're new)

[mkaresh]

Always looking--this study has no end date, and releases new results every three months.

Only data submitted through the survey process can be included in the analysis. So owners are encouraged to sign up.

[Tumbler]

1995 Nissan Maxima 197,000 miles and still going
I am on my second clutch, I replaced the alternator and Battery @ 190,000 (both OEM) It has fairly new suspensions ( quick struts on all 4 corners)
New pads and rotors all around (ceramics)
And put in a new rear main at 167,000
Overall I love my Maxima it get great mileage, is a very roomy 4 door for its size
It has more interior room than my sisters much larger Taurus, I have heated seats I love heated seats in the winter, a sunroof and a 5 speed.
I love my Maxima its the best daily driver I have ever owned.

[apollo2015]

Well I have just purchased a 2000 Maxima GLE. It didn't get a lot of use before so there is some humidity buildup in the fuel system. Nissan recommended simply running a couple of gas tanks through it and it should be fine.

Let's hope so!

I'll let you know what develops as it happens. So far, 103000km.

[2ndchancemax]

1999 GLE and 2000 SE Maximas, 90,000miles and 112,000 miles resp. Coils, coils, coils! I should have known this. The 2000 SE now has major issues with all electronics inside the car (windows, locks, seats, sunroof) all just stopped working! When I removed one of the battery terminals it works for a while but as soon as I insert the key in the ignition and turn everything dies. I replaced the drive belts on the SE as well as the CV joints. The front suspension also seems to be going out as well as the clutch... As a former Camry owner (130,000+ miles) The only thing Ive had to replace on my old (rebuilt due to multiple wrecks) were the light bulbs! The timing belt and plugs etc were replaced as a matter of regular maintenance. I am highly disappointed in Nissans. They tend to run better (whenever they decide to run) but I would remember to get another Toyota in the future because of reliability reasons. not bashing the Nissans but just speaking the truth depending on my experience.

[Future240]

1988 Maxima 125,638 miles, sat down for three years, gas tank replaced, ps steering replaced, needs a slight(hopefully AC fix) Lights needs to be replaced.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Nice! The late-80s Maximas look great, especially SEs with the spoiler.

[kirbaay]

i have a 96 maxima its still a fast car its my first one got it for free i added 4 10" kicker comps with a jl audio 500/1 amp and 2 48" 2 36" and 4 9" led underglow i will have to get some pictures out soon and some more stuff done to the car

[buzzsaw]

Just stumbled on to this thread. I was on because I own an 82 King cab and have just purchased (yesterday) an 05 maxima with 55K for the wife. How do I go about signing up? I probably won't have much to report for a while, at least I hope not.

[mkaresh]

You can sign up by going to the following page then clicking on one of the links to enroll:

Car reliability research

[DrAg0oN]

1995 Maxima SE (222890 + miles)

The heater/air blower is messed up a bit and I think its from the previous owner or something but it will not work on 1,2, or 3 speed only 4. The heat/air works fine, but sometimes it gets hot on max and I have to turn down the heat dial to make it conferable rather than just turning down the speed (missing that).

Mine does the same thing, my mechanic told me itz the fuse that controls the fan's speed, the fuse is most likely burnt and can be easily replaced!
I hope dat helps

[JaHuStLa88]

Have a 95maxima GXE

Problem with 1st engine fried...or so sister tells me. She forgot to check her Radiator, it was leaking and the engine over heated. Car ended at 133k Stayed garaged for about 4 years, i got a new-er engine into it off a 2k not sure the trim, was told of a GXE go figure, it had 39k on it. car was totaled from the back so engine was all good. Only problem now i have is not to sure oil leak and Power Steering leak. Seals seem to not be put on right, (bad mechanic to this day didnt pay him nothing to put it in just the engine). Tranny kicks when car is not warm. Above all car still runs great with a few daily check ups

[nismofong]

I own a 2003 Maxima i've just hit the 110,000 mile mark and all is well...the only thing i had to replace due to failure was the O2 sensor.

[96 maxima fan]

can anyone out there help? got a 96 max, have a hesitation problemwhen i give it gas or punch it it starts to do dat. now its hesitating at red lights or when i take off slow, its driving me nuts!!!!!!!!! brought it to the dealer for a diagnostic test and came back egr solinoid senser needs to be replaced! we have 3 maximas in da fam and one is sitting in da driveway doing nothing, but was doing pretty much the same thing if not worse. we love our maximas but we also invested $$$$$$$$ in to them my bro-n-law and i , we replaced maf,o2, egr valve, just went today and pick up egr(bpt) for it , tommorow going to get solinoid hopefully something good will come out of this!!if anybody has had a problem like this and has found da solution im all ears!!! maxamilion baby!

[96 maxima fan]

tell me about the egr cleaning?

[96 maxima fan]

i had that problem and what ended up happening was it lock on me on that same side and had to replace it drove home like dat wit da wheel locked da to buy a new tire. good luck!

[mkaresh]

We have updated results for the Nissan Maxima. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

1998: 138, about average, 142,800 average odometer

2000: 180, worse than average, 106,000 average odometer

2001: 132, average, 103,000 average odometer

2002: 37, better than average, 77,500 average odometer

Sample sizes were small, even very small, so these results are asterisked and only visible to members on the site. With more participants, it's likely that the reported repair rate for the 2000 would be lower. There are far fewer average miles on the 2002s in the survey, which explains some of the difference.

A big thanks to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May, August, and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

We now have a separate results page for each model that includes the results for competitors. The page for the Nissan Maxima:

Nissan Maxima reliability comparisons

[mnmaxman]

I currently own 3 Maxima's, all very reliable.
1996 SE purchased in 2005 for a college student with 165k. This car was solid as a rock when I purchased it. Great acceleration and stopped straight and true. Has been a solid car with no major repairs. It has seen low use since I have owned it and it is currently around 175k.
1998 GLE - My daily driver. I love this car! Purchased in 2004 at 65k, this car now has 157k and counting. NO major problems. Just routine maintenance.
2000 GLE - Wife's car. Purchased in 2003 at 25k and today reading 140k. This car has had more issues than the others. The A/C has been repaired 2X and the cooling fans were replaced in 2008. No other major repairs. Drivetrain is still smooth.
I am a happy Maxima owner.
Also recently owned a 1996 GXE for 6 months as a spare car. It had some rust around the wheels and the front fenders but otherwise was a solid car that had great acceleration and had no problem sitting outside and starting in -20 deg MN weather!

[motionbleu]

2001 maxima...gold...117k. its a beautiful thing

[Street1]

96' maxima own here...it's late i'll update tommorow some time..

[PapaTom]

I had a 92 that I bought off the original owner at 185k miles. Ran GREAT! A/C cold and Heater Hot. All power accessories work and the only thing I had to do was put on new tires and main seal. this guy kept the interior in better shape than 08 Maxima. I gave the 92 to my sister and she loves it. Awesome car.

[grndpounder95]

i own a 95 maxima se

other than gen. maitinence the starter and trans were changed at 153K

it still runs very good now at 156K

[mkaresh]

We have updated results for the Maxima and I30/I35 to include owner experiences through March 2009. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2002: 46, better than average

2001: 123, about average

2000: 130, about average

1998: 134, better than average

1997: 62, better than average

1996: 97, better than average

Sample sizes range from small to just a couple short of the minimum for a full result, so these are all just partial results. Largest sample sizes for the 1998, 2000, and 2001, so those are probably the most accurate.

A big thanks to AZhitman, this forum, and everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

Nissan Maxima reliability comparisons

[mike23g]

IVE OWNED A 1986 MAXIMA GLE FOR 10 YRS IT HAD 120K BEFORE I LET IT GO HOW STUPID OF ME. I CURENTLY OWN A 1997 MAXIMA WITH 154K AND SHE IS IN BETTER THAN GREAT SHAPE, NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH HER. I ALSO OWN A 2007 MAXIMA SL WITH 14K ON IT, I SPEND MORE TIME DRIVING THE 97 THAN THE 07. MAXIMA'S ARE GREAT CARS!

[Zick]

1998 Maxima SE, automatic bought new. 88k miles (our weekend car) Car is in excellent condition.
Only non- scheduled repairs was CV boots & re-pack
I am now fighting a P0400 issue, but may have figured it out. Found carbon in EGR Temp sensor tube & EGR solenoid stopped up, repair pending. Use to run 89 octane but switched to 87 five yrs ago
I do regular maintenance as suggested. Started using Amsoil or Mobil 1 & Wix oil filter, K&N air filter after warranty period. I run a bottle of RXP to clean system every 4 months. Lucas fuel additive when I remember.

The SE sport tune suspension runs & drives GREAT @ 80mph with good mpg

Previous Nissans- 1971 240Z, 1977 280Z, 1981 280ZX. None were babied and held up very well.
My wife bought a Pulsar that I hated- Body & interior held up good but had NO Power & constant emission problems.

[oolatec]

2004 Maxima SE bought new in 2003 coming up on 49,000 miles.

Other than routine maintenance:

New alternator

and a ton of TSBs.

I've been one of the lucky ones. My tranny is fine, and I don't, as of yet, have the timing chain tensioner problem.

Currently dealing with some CEL codes, but that's all due to my headers.

[mkaresh]

We have updated results for the Maxima and I30/I35 to include owner experiences through June 2009. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003: 18, very small sample size, actual repair rate likely higher but still better than average

2002: 39, better than average, small sample size

2001: 125, about average, marginal sample size, average odometer now over 100k

2000: 108, about average, marginal sample size

1998: 110, better than average, adequate sample size

1997: 104, better than average, small sample size

1996: 162, better than average, small sample size

A big thanks to AZHitman, this forum, and everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

Nissan Maxima reliability comparisons

[zerotap]

I own a 93 Altima GXE I bought at 132K. I just had the 150K service done, new battery, alternator etc. Nothing major for a car with this many miles. The engine still runs strong, just passed emitions with flying colors. Only thing I need to do now is replace some gaskets ( 3 of em for under $300.00 with parts and labor ) and find a spedometer. My front sensor did go out so I replaced that at 158K, but the spedometer is still broken, so I am looking into where to find one online I can buy for around $100. Anyone got any tips on what part # I need and what not ?

[road_warrior05]

I just got a '94 Maxima a few days ago with 161K miles. It runs really good, but I have to get a new switch for the window, and the is a "bump" noise from the front-passenger side whenever I hit a bump or I'm goin slow.

[sureshot37743]

i have a 1996 maxima gle 5 spd. it has over 354,000 miles on it. i got it from a friend that needed a house payment for $600.00. man what a deal on a great car. only thing i've done to it is added a cold air intake kit and a performance module. i drive it everyday. and it does not live easy. it takes the punishment and begs for more. it has an insatiable hunger for hondas though. not one of them is safe in this town. hehehe.

[4th4Lyfe]

99 SE 5 speed. Nothing wrongexcept knock sensor. 112k miles