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

The club for Nissan Maxima and Infiniti I30 / I35 owners, and the official home of Maxima Club of America!
mkaresh
Posts: 1038
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:45 am
Car: 2003 Mazda Protege5
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I wanted more up-to-date auto reliability information that included actual repair rates. So in late 2005 I started conducting reliability research at TrueDelta.com. TrueDelta reports absolute repair rates that make the differences between cars much clearer. Results are updated four times a year, so it's possible to track cars closely as they age.

Thanks to the help of NICO and its members, for which I am very grateful, we've been able to provide results on many Nissan and Infiniti models. But we remain short of Maxima owners.

Participants simply report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, participants receive full access to all results, not just those for the Scion tC, free of charge.

For the details, and to sign up to help out:

Car reliability research
Modified by mkaresh at 8:08 AM 3/5/2009


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Beancooker
Posts: 12129
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2006 1:45 pm
Car: Current Car: 2019 Toyota Tacoma (modded)
Past cars: Way too many to list
Location: Cottonwood, AZ.

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82k miles, and ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS WHAT-SO-EVER!!! Maxima pwns! Will enroll when I have more time.

*EDIT.... Stepson changed out the alternator at 65K.

mkaresh
Posts: 1038
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:45 am
Car: 2003 Mazda Protege5
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Thanks, I hope you will.

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AZhitman
Administrator
Posts: 71061
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 2:04 am
Car: 58 L210, 63 Bluebird RHD, 64 NL320, 65 SPL310, 66 411 RHD, 67 WRL411, 68 510 SR20, 75 280Z RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 S13, 92 SE-R, 92 Silvia Qs, 98 S14.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
Contact:

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Guys, let's get some information in this database and help Mike with his research!

Thanks!

MaximA32

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I already enrolled.

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AZhitman
Administrator
Posts: 71061
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 2:04 am
Car: 58 L210, 63 Bluebird RHD, 64 NL320, 65 SPL310, 66 411 RHD, 67 WRL411, 68 510 SR20, 75 280Z RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 S13, 92 SE-R, 92 Silvia Qs, 98 S14.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
Contact:

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Guys, I know we have more Maxima owners than this!!!

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maxhopper
Posts: 5867
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2003 10:43 am
Car: 02 Maxima SE 6spd
Location: Kentucky

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The link posted above returns as not valid.

I have a 97 Maxima that I have owned for over 3 and 1/2 years (approximately from 120k miles to the present 167k miles) and the only things I have done other that rutine maintenance (brakes, battery, wipers, oil changes, trans fluid, coolant) have been to replace the axles due to CV boots being torn...and that was a cost preventative measure as the reman axles with a lifetime warranty are just about $20-25 more than an OEM Nissan CV boot kit.

mkaresh
Posts: 1038
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:45 am
Car: 2003 Mazda Protege5
Contact:

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Works for me right now. I wonder if the server was momentarily down. It doesn't happen often (that I know of), but it does happen.

mkaresh
Posts: 1038
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:45 am
Car: 2003 Mazda Protege5
Contact:

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Up to 96 owners, but spread thinly over the model years.

generation2000
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Dec 10, 2006 11:39 am

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1996 i30 116k...no major problems so far soo good...fluid changes, wipers, etc basic stuff. torn cv boot. new flex pipe. knock sensor. evap valve. that has been about it.

IvoryJ30t
Posts: 3077
Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2003 1:36 pm
Car: 95 Maxima GLE, 95 Maxima GXE

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we have two 4th gen maximas, if that says anything...

95 pebble beige gxe- 106k

95 black emerald gle- 195k

the gxe is pristine.

the gle has been with me for 2 months. it was abused, and is currently being rehabbed while daily driven.

since aquired at 69k, the only no-start was a bad starter on the gxe, that i fixed a few hours later. so 6 hours down out of 3 years is pretty good.

the gle recently had the #5 injector fail. it failed closed, and i drove the car to and from work [6 miles] for two days until the weekend, when i had time to fix it.

cost me $50 for a rebuilt injector [oem core] and a few hours of r&r for the upper intake manifold.
Modified by IvoryJ30t at 7:32 PM 1/12/2007

mkaresh
Posts: 1038
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:45 am
Car: 2003 Mazda Protege5
Contact:

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Up to 115 owners. Model years halfway or more to the minimum: 1998, 2000, and 2004. A few others 40% of the way.

I haven't yet decided how old a car I'll collect data on. It'll depend on how far back I can go and still get valid results.

02maxSE
Posts: 24
Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2006 7:49 pm
Car: 2002 MaximaSE

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i had a 97' se for three years. the only problems i ran across was replacing the cv boots(torn) and a valve cover gasket started to leak oil. other then that she ran up to 236k miles when she got totaled by a dodge ram! now i have 02' 90k no problems yet( knock on wood.)

wrdominicas
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2007 12:43 pm
Car: nissan maxima 1999 gle

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I own a 1999 maxima just bought it and the only thing that went wrong is the coils which the dealer replaced for me for free.. beside that car is running strong. but now i am starting to notice the right rear break caliper is sticking and making a loud humming noise at low speed should i be consern or should i have it checked out /???

phildee
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2007 8:15 am
Car: 2000 Nissan Maxima GXE - 5 speed manual

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I have a 2000 GXE w/ 5-speed stick - under 51,000 mi.I'm in the process of searching for a non-Nissan new vehicle. Plenty of reports about the longevity of Maximas, but they aren't mine! Erratic idle, faulty injectors and harness, engine cut-offs in slow speed turns, noisy heater blower motor, and now a faulty Mass air flow sensor suggests a $580 fix. Quality of tech expertiseat my dealership is suspect. Nearest other dealer is 40 mi., and not sure the service would improve.

Reliable? Not in my experience, with so few miles!

Shouldda Got a Buick!


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NissanDriver84
Posts: 36
Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:46 am
Car: 1997 Nissan Maxima
Location: VA

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I'm enrolled....2k3 I35 38k problems: Had to replace alternator & batt 6/2007

Arcenal352
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2007 5:37 pm
Car: 1991 Nissan Maxima SE

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I have a 1991 Nissan Maxima SE (5 Speed) with 204K miles. I got it when it had 159K about a year ago. So far, I've has to replace the flex pipe and the catalytic converter due to exhaust leaks. Other than that, routine maintenance has kept it in top notch shape.

I did undergo a strange saga that included me hitting something on the road and cracking my front driver side rim. The wheel then fell off the car while I was travelling at around 70MpH. To prove how strong this car is, the only damage it suffered were a bent fender, a smashed fog light, a bent strut tower, and a ripped cv boot, which were all a breeze to replace.

Amstel
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2007 12:02 pm
Car: 1998 I30T

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I have a 1998 I30T. Until I purchased this vehicle 7yrs ago I had only owned German cars up till that point (with the exception of a Range Rover)

I had always heard that Japanese cars were reliable and "never broke."

I have put 85k on this car. I have done nothing other than brakes and tires. I just recently did Cat back exhaust. This car has been phenominal.

While I work in Finance I do work in the Auto Industry (wholesale) on the side. Thus I am afforded the opportunity to drive almost any luxury car you can think of. I also see the problems and headaches people have with them.

At the end of the day I get back in the Infiniti (which is essentially a Maxima - same engine and body) and I'm happy.

For what it's worth I hope someone reads this and it sways them into buying a Nissan or Infiniti.

One other thing I forgot to mention is that Infiniti was great on the warranty (that was left on it) and recalls.


Spectatohead
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2006 8:35 pm
Car: '97 Maxima SE 5-speed.

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I just enrolled. I don't come to the forum very often. I have a '97 Maxima SE - 5spd. I have owned it since Feb 2000 when it had 41,000 miles on it. Currently the odo is at 199,070. I had to have the transmission rebuilt at 136,000 or so and the air conditioning evaporator coil replaced in the summer of '05. Other than that just routine maintenance. I'm on my third clutch and second set of brake pads. Everything still works and it is way more comfortable than my wife's 2007 Outback Limited. Not to mention the fact that it gets better gas mileage than the Subaru, albeit, on premium. If the Subaru ends up being half as reliable as the Maxima it'll be a good car for her and in a couple years I can get my G37.

carnal_c30
Posts: 428
Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2003 10:15 am
Car: 2001 QX4 4WD
2002 QX4 4WD
1999 Q45 VIP life
1996 I30 5spd
1998 I30 Auto
1997 Maxima 5spd Supercharged
1995 240SX S14.5
1995 240SX S14
1994 Hardbody KC V6 5spd 4WD
1972 BMW 2002
1972 BMW E9

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i just enrolled

I entered in my cars1995 240sx (245k miles) owned it for 4 years and changed waterpump,thermostat,radiator, hoses

1997 Maxima (78k miles) owned it for 7 years and havent had a single problem

1996 Maxima (73k miles) 1 year axle boots, knock sensor, maf sensor cleaned

1998 Infiniti I30t (135k miles) owned for 1 year changed axle boots

1999 Infiniti Q45 (101k miles) owned for 2 months changed coil packs, knock sensors, o2 sensor...

mkaresh
Posts: 1038
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:45 am
Car: 2003 Mazda Protege5
Contact:

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Thanks, guys.

Just a couple of clarifications:

1. It's only possible to participate in the main reliability survey with cars you currently own, since this survey collects data going forward.

2. You can report repair histories for cars you no longer own, using a different on-site survey, but that survey is currently only set up for cars back to the 2002 model year. I'll be adding older years in the future, but probably won't go back many more.

Larry578
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:26 pm
Car: 2002 Maxima SE six speed

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Purchase a new 98 Maxima GXE 5 speed. Sold with with 200k for 4900.Replaced one oxygen sensor and the CV Axles. the Started was making noise when I sold it. Other than that nothing. You must use 93 Octane always.I purchased a 2002 SE one onwer with 28k to replace the 98. I had a Lexus ES 250 prior to the 98. The Nissan is just so much better.

Larry

wrdominicas
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2007 12:43 pm
Car: nissan maxima 1999 gle

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hi I read your treat and i have a 99 maxima gle love it. its got 110k milea and it feels brand new got a great deal 3500 dollars with trade in. first thing i did was to change the ignition coils because i did my reaserch lol:) car runs new .. nissan maxima for ever baby lol

jdonline
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2007 8:13 am

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My brother has a Maxima with 98K on it and I seriously doubt he's had many problems with in the years past. I believe he's only had to do routine maintenance other than once he had a little trouble with his engine. But he was able to get that fixed fairly easily.

Engine LocatorMobile, Alabama

chriskapinos
Posts: 184
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2007 12:44 pm
Car: 83 datsun 200sx, 88 200sx ka24e

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maxima = indestructable.

Thorzdad
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:42 am
Car: 2001 Nissan Maxima SE
Contact:

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I'll be registering my 2k1 Maxima SE with over 250,000 miles shortly.

mkaresh
Posts: 1038
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:45 am
Car: 2003 Mazda Protege5
Contact:

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I need to think about how to handle cars with ultra-low and ultra-high odometer readings.

How does someone put that many miles on a car? About 40,000 per year?

Tmreth
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:00 am
Car: 1998 Nissan Maxima GLE

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We own a 1998 Maxima GLE that had 3 miles on the odometer when we drove it off the lot. It now has almost 153,000 miles on it. My husband is legally blind and doesn't drive, so this is our only vehicle and is used for everything. We've had a few problems over the last 9 years, but most of them have not been what I consider major. Expensive, but not major.

They are:

2 weeks - the Bose Radio system went out. Replaced under factory warranty.

59,000 - Transmission replaced under factory warranty

84,000 - December 03 - replaced steering rack/cv boot

97,000 - August 04 - replaced Evaporator in ac

June 06 - Replaced radiator. Blew up while driving in 6 lanes of heavy traffic. Quite an experience!

138,000 - December 06 - Replaced Valve Cover Gaskets and oil pressure switch/sending unit - sensor on right passenger airbag

152,000 - September 07 - Replaced ac compressor and electric fan motor.

Other than that, just general maintenance, tires and minor stuff.

It's a great car and I hope we continue to get good service out of it.

I hope this gives you the information you needed.

T'Mreth
Modified by Tmreth at 11:26 AM 9/21/2007

mkaresh
Posts: 1038
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:45 am
Car: 2003 Mazda Protege5
Contact:

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Thanks for posting this info, it will help others. For my analysis, though, only data entered through the regular surveys can be included. The details are here:

Vehicle reliability research

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tightwork
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2007 3:54 pm
Car: 2006 Maxima

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'06 Se... So far so good, Vibration in the steering wheel is driving me crazy, and when going down hill the car seems to drop itself into a lower gear by itself


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