This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Car had just been shut off from running to store I ran inside my house real quick came back out to leave again but car didn't start. Battery light came on and I noticed white smoke coming from under hood. Smelled like electrical parts were burning so I opened hood to notice fire coming from alternator. I used my shirt to put out and during inspection of damage found the fire burned wire harnesses and part of valve cover assembly where oil cap is located. This is an original oem part and the car only has 118,000 original miles. Found that a recall was done on the years prior for same issue but dealer stated they would not do nothing due to no recall. Alternator S don't just catch fire...
The contact owns a 1999 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic for diagnostic testing, who stated the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.
Started the car. Heard a strange noise while driving out of the driveway about 10 mph, then smelled something burning, stopped the car and saw smoke coming out from the engine. Turned the car off, opened the hood and saw that the alternator was on fire. After researching the internet, found several cases where the 1999 Maxima has an issue with the alternator catching on fire, in some cases causing the vehicle to burn. Also found out that Nissan had a recall on the 1998 Maxima for alternator fires. Called Nissan about the problem. A Nissan rep called back and called it a "thermal incident." I explained that a fire is not a "thermal incident" but is a fire (this is like describing a shotgun wound as acute lead poisoning). The Nissan rep said that due to the age and mileage of the vehicle, anything could happen. I explained that I understand that components do fail over time, but that a fire is unacceptable and this event could have caused a house to burn down or a car accident. The Nissan rep said that the life of a Nissan is 100,000 miles and basically said that anything could happen after that. I asked her if that was Nissan's position and she assured me that she spoke for Nissan. I explained that I had several cars with over 100,000 miles and that I had replaced components, but none of the vehicles caused a fire. Search the internet for Maxima alternator fire--there are several instances for years before and including 1999. This seems to indicate that this is a problem with the Maxima and that they should be recalled. Car fires are unacceptable.
I bought a Nissan Maxima 1999 for my daughter only to find out that she got in her car one morning after just having her vehicle at a mechanic for a check up/service. They told her the car was fine. She then proceeded down the road to the freeway, stopped for gas and the car would not start. Panicked by the 'area' of town she was in I had a tow truck from aaa dispatched to meet her as soon as possible. The vehicle was towed back to the mechanic and we were told that the key to the vehicle had become deprogrammed. I proceeded to call the dealership and they refused to help me unless I had the vehicle towed to them. A scam alert to ensure that you must use a dealership at high cost. My fear is that should my daughter be headed through the Arizona desert in 120 heat and this same situation would have come up without the ability to contact someone, her (or anyone else's) life could have been in danger. I find this key malfunctioning to be a sever safety hazard and that more people should know that they could endanger their lives if the key malfunctions and they are not near a dealership. I believe a safety recall on this vehicle should be considered. I have another Nissan FX45 that I do not want to drive for fear that the key could malfunction in a similar manner leaving me stranded as well.
- Cave Creek, AZ, USA
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I had check ignition light on while my 1999 Nissan Maxima was under warranty and for years after that. You get tired of going back to the dealer and the problem is never solved. The problem turns out tdo be the ignition coils; all replaced at a cost of about $800. The receipt is in the car and I can produce my exact cost of repair if a recall would be issued. It is obvious that this is a huge problem and should be addressed. My light has not come on since replacing all the coils. Hopefully my complaint will be the one that begins an action by you.
The ignition coils are defective. The coils will, after a brief time, begin to misfire again even after being replaced. Many people have blogged with this same problem.
The coils on my Nissan Maxima 1999 can never get fixed. This a "Nissan part" problem that needs to be investigated. I have the car for almost 6 years and the coils have been a problem ever since I first got the car. The do not want to take responsibly on this and the problem seems not being resolved by anybody. Please look on the internet and you will see that there are thousands of people being ripped off by the Nissan dealers. I will give you a website and you will see that I am not telling you jokes. www.carsurvey.org/reviews/Nissan/Maxima/R64073/. again, there is no solve to this problem, even if we change the coils ten times, the problem will still remind. Please, you are the government and this needs to be investigated. I hope this helps to get more people and finally make them pay for this part ignition coils are a defective parts on Nissan Maximas 1999!!!!!!
1999 Nissan Maxima - runs rough and loses power. Has less power when pulling away from stop sign into intersection. Has been happening for over 1 year. Ignition coil problems need to replace all 6 coils, have replaced egr valve, O2 sensors and plugs to no avail.
While driving my car, it started to miss, sputter, run bad, vibrate and almost turn off. The check engine light came on and after having the codes read (P1320) and researching dtc P1320 and/or spark knock (detonation) due to ignition coil (s). I find out that this is a very common problem with several years of Maximas. I also found out that there are newer coils with a gray dot, that is to be used to replace the older defective ones. Not only are the bad ones recommended for replacement, but all 6 are recommended for replacement. Why is this? I believe is was because of a known defect in the parts. I have already replaced several of these coils and it don't take long before the check engine light is back on, and the car is once again misfiring and getting bad gas mileage because of code P1320, another bad coil. Nissan should recall these cars and fix this continuously ongoing problem. This misfiring on interstates and busy roads at high speeds can be very dangerous, because it slows the car down all of a sudden and could result in a rear end crash. This misfiring also results in fuel not being burned in the cylinder and is wasted.
I have a 1999 Nissan Maxima, 5-spd, with 142K miles. Generally the car is a treat to drive and I have had no significant problems to date with its operation. However, upon traveling westward, from va along I-70 in oh, the car simply cut out from its current speed and stopped accelerating and began to hesitate and buck. It was as though the ignition coils briefly stopped working or the fuel filter suddenly became clogged with paraffin. Since my wife and I were traveling at freeway speeds, this was a bit disconcerting. I immediately moved the vehicle over to the far right lane and depressed the gas pedal for more fuel. That action worked briefly, but then the car bucked repeatedly again. We were able to manage the remaining 80 miles toward home thereafter. I feel that either the ignition coils are malfunctioning w/O warning, or that some other mechanism of fuel feed system is failing also w/O warning. The car does not knock or ping, maybe the gasoline or fuel injectors are fouling (however, I use 87 ron grade gasoline, and often add octane boosters, I also clean the fuel injectors by running chevron'stechron about every 3500 miles). This may signify a severe problem lurking; I hope you consider issuing a recall for the 1999 Maxima.
: the contact stated the air bag light illuminated intermittently. The dealership determined the entire air bag system needed to be replaced. Updated 5/30/2006 - the brakes made noise in the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle pulled to the right. The check engine light illuminated. The tcs light illuminated. The A/C didn't seem cold enough to the consumer.
I have a 99 Nissan Maxima and the service engine light came on this week. The local garage did a diagnostic test and found codes for knock sensor and ignition signal. The local garage was puzzled because they've never seen a knock sensor fail before. Called 2 local Nissan dealers and both say it's ignition coils (and the knock sensor was ok) and unless the diagnostic says which one went bad I'd have to replace them all for $600 to $800 because my car is out of warranty. It looks like this is a common problem and wonder what it would take for a recall?
The computer chip keeps failing. This would cause everything - electric locks, power windows and the wipers - not to work properly. Have taken to a mechanic and was informed of possible electrical problems. Manufacturer indicates there isn't any problems for them.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- San Antonio, TX, USA