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.
Garage-kept since new 1999 Nissan Maxima has developed severe rust/body rot in the "radiator support member" which also attaches front engine mount points. This damage was caught during an oil change when the protective plastic shield was removed - which exposed the degree of danger. Inattentive owners could miss this entirely and the engine could literally rip from the car over severe bumps! be sure to check under your radiator!
The contact owns a 1999 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph the vehicle stalled. Upon restart, the vehicle operated as normal momentarily before stalling again. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that two oxygen sensors failed. The fuel pump and filters were replaced, but the failure continued. The mechanic examined the vehicle again and informed the contact that either the engine was not getting enough fuel or the computer system was faulty. Upon examining the vehicle further, the mechanic noticed that a lot of water was being stored within the engine compartments due to a clogged hose. The mechanic repaired the hose and drained the water from the engine. The failure had not recurred since. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 182,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 1999 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the ignition coils failed on the vehicle. The failure caused the check engine light to illuminate and the vehicle to lose power. The dealer inspected but could not find anything wrong. A different mechanic stated that three of the six engine coils failed. The failure mileage was 143,500 and the current mileage was 160,000.
1999 Nissan Maxima. Service engine soon light displayed at approximately 140K miles. Computer diagnostics indicated replacement of knock sensor. Replaced by independent Nissan mechanic. Light reappeared 1 week later. Mechanic checked electrical harness and found it to be okay. Due to known issues with Maxima ignition coils all 6 were replaced by same independent Nissan mechanic. Service engine light came on while driving away from mechanic. Diagnostics was vague, general message. Took vehicle to Nissan dealership. Dealer indicated that using after market coils was the problem but could not promise that using official Nissan parts would resolve the problem. Contacted Nissan national office, but the corporate office refuses to take ownership of the problem. The customer representative indicated there was a known issue with interference with the coils but Nissan would not replace the coils. Replacing parts and diagnostics from 3 mechanics in addition to the Nissan dealership cost over $2000. At present, the service engine light remains on with the vague code and Nissan has no idea of how to resolve the problem.
- Colorado Springs, CO, USA
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I purchased a 1999 Nissan Maxima gle 4 door and the "service engine soon" light has been on. I took the car to a local auto parts store and had a "cold pull" performed and was informed that the spark plug on cylinder 5 was "triggering" the knock sensor resulting in the "service engine soon" light to be on. I went on the internet for more info about the knock sensor and the spark plugs for this car and seen more comments from other owners with the same issue for the same car. Comments stating that they have replaced the spark plugs and the coils and it was only a temporary fix for the recurring issue. This is the first car I have owned and the previous owner of the car ensured that the maintenance of the car was up-to-date. For this car to be ten years old it is in excellent condition, (kbb value $4500), aside from the spark plug and knock sensor issue. Will there be a recall to service the thousands of 1999 Nissan Maxima's with this issue? I can't afford to pay anywhere from $800 - $1,000 to have all of the coils replaced as well as the spark plugs, only for it to be a temporary resolution to the recurring issue. I am on a fixed income (ss) and after paying for medical expenses, car insurance, living costs, I cannot afford to pay for a temporary resolution. Please recall the 1999 Nissan Maxima's, this is a common issue with this year and model car.
My 1999 Nissan Maxima will display service engine soon light and cannot be reset. I have replaced the ignition coils and spark plugs plus the air temp sensor. This code P1320 is always on and there seems to be many other Nissan owners with this problem.
I have a 1999 Nissan Maxima with the check engine light on. Took it to the dealer and they told me that all 3 O2 sensors were bad, and they could be replaced for approximately $700. A week later check engine light is back on, and now they are telling me that it is the #3 cylinder misfiring, and they recommend replacing all 6 ignition coils for approximately $1200. I understand that there have been many complaints about the ignition coils, and really do not have the money to pay them again for something that I feel should be replaced by them anyway.
Check engine kept coming on. Machines kept telling us it was cylinder 2 misfire. We replaced fuel filter, sparkplugs, sparkplug coil with no results. Went to dealer, they put car on machine. They had trouble finding problem. They had to search by hand, with no results. They told me it was an elec. Problem that was intermittent. Light went out without fixing anything. Has not come back again yet.
My 1999 Nissan Maxima SE had one coil replaced in 2003. This year I replaced the alternator as well. My airbag light flashes constantly and my clock goes in and out of service. My service engine soon light came on and the car runs very rough. When idling it sounds like a choking piece of crap and on the hills the light flashes. I was told I had a bad coil again and took it for a diagnostic that said multiple misfire and replace all six coils. I have read complaint after complaint about coils. When I bought my Maxima new I thought I was buying a car that was reliable but I am hearing that coil replacement is the rule not the exception. I also have rear brake noise....since year three of owning the car. I have replaced two sets of brake pads as well.
I have a potentially deadly problem with my 133,000-mile, 1999 Nissan Maxima. It might be related to the crank sensor on newer Maxima, a steering column lock, a faulty ignition switch, faulty clutch depression switch, and the anti-theft kill switch, perhaps even a random ground. The problem was conceivably catastrophic. Upon entering my car using the remote, occasionally the car won't respond, and must be unlocked manually. In these instances, neither the dome lights nor the headlights shine. When the ignition key is rotated to the start position, as the clutch is being depressed, sometimes the gauge lights appear and then quickly fade and disappear; the car just doesn't crank. A faint, diminishing telltale buzzing sound can be heard. What's worse, this can happen spontaneously while driving, in which case the car's steering wheel locks and the brakes become inoperable. I have had this happen on three occasions, twice while driving in a mall parking lot (February and March ''07) and the other time (just last week) while turning into my neighbor's driveway, to take out her oak tree. The ignition crank sensor must slip into an inoperable mode during driving or while attempting to start the car, or the anti-theft switch somehow interferes with starting, operation or driving. Maybe the master ignition coil is failing (but that doesn't explain the headlight and dome light problems). The clutch switch may not engage when its pedal is being depressed. Sometimes, I can restart the car after an incident in which it was parked for a while. My battery is brand new, and there don't seem to be any shorts as far as I can tell. But nothing electrically works (not even the radio) when I have to unlock the car manually. I am very concerned about driving the car beyond my neighborhood. I might have to become a hermit, or worse, a college professor. Any ideas? the car is in excellent shape otherwise and has all service records.
I have a 1999 Nissan Maxima and have had the check engine light on. Checked the code and came back with cylinder 1 misfire. Dealer wanted $1,000 to "try and fix the problem". I don't have that kind of money. As I was getting on the freeway lost most power out of the car and couldn't speed up to avoid an accident. Fortunately nobody was hurt however if the dealer would have fixed their faulty part I am 100% positive there would not have been an accident.
While driving engine light illuminated. Once it came on it stayed on. They replaced the crank sensor twice. However, consumer received a tsb regarding ignitiion coil. The service bullietin had already been out 11 months prior.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Imperial, PA, USA