1987 Nissan Maxima Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 1987 Maxima report engine-bay fires most often, and many complaints tie the fires to fuel leaking around the injectors or the pressurized line from the tank. A large share of the sample concerns recall 95I006000 for the fuel injection system: some owners say the work was never done, some that parts were unavailable, and some that the problem returned after repairs. Because the fires have usually already happened by the time a complaint is filed, owners describe towing and inspection after the fact, at high mileage.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Engine-compartment fire traced to fuel injectors

   • 77 complaints (44%)
   • median 178,276 mi at 17.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 72 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2012

   Owners describe smoke or a fuel smell from under the hood while driving or shortly after parking, followed by visible flames in the engine area. Several complaints tie the fire to leaking fuel injectors, and in some cases the fire followed fuel injection recall work. Dealers are described as inspecting after the fire, sometimes pointing to the recall campaign, and in several cases the requested recall repair was not completed because of missing parts or expired coverage. Reported across a wide mileage range, usually while driving or within minutes of parking.

   What to check: Have a mechanic inspect the fuel injectors and the rubber fuel lines at the injectors for leaks or cracking, and ask whether any fuel-injection recall work was completed and documented.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Recall 95i00600, 15 minutes after starting vehicle consumer could see flames coming from engine near fuel injectors. Consumer was 2nd owner of vehicle, and manufacturer sent a letter showing that it was done. Problem has reoccurred, and consumer was looking forward to manufacturer to at least sent someone or give dealer authorization to inspect vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #882097, filed 2001-03

   “When vehicle was parked on a fire department parking lot. Because vehicle smoked, they popped up the hood and engine was on fire. After fire was put out the firemen said that fire was started on the fuel injector because it was leaking and the fuel injector had been cleaned twice since by dealer.”

   NHTSA complaint #826338, filed 1998-08
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Recall 95I006000 not completed or ineffective

   • 30 complaints (17%)
   • typically at 10.5 yrs old
   • 17 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2012

   Many owners report that the fuel injection campaign was never performed, that the dealer lacked parts, or that the dealer charged for the work or declined it after warranty expiration. Other owners say the repair was done and the problem returned later. Some complaints describe the vehicle catching fire after the campaign work or while it was still pending. Reported in complaints filed mostly in the mid to late 1990s, on vehicles already well into their service life.

   What to check: Ask for written proof the fuel-injection campaign was completed and which parts were replaced; if paperwork is missing, have the injectors and lines inspected before driving regularly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was given a recall notice at the time of purchase 6-10-99. I took the car to don davis Nissan two times. Both times they told me they didn't have the parts in stock to repair the defect. They told me to return later. I called them two more times and both times they told me they were too busy and the shop was too full at the time I called. About six months from the time of purchase the rubber fuel lines on the fuel injector hoses caught fire and burned the injectors, injector wires, and other wires on top of the engine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #709070, filed 1999-07

   “I kept smelling gas then I knew the injectors had been replaced because I had a starter replaced and tom peacock Nissan ran a check to insure the recall had been performed it was already done so I was convinced the problem was resolved, so about a year later I'm smelling gas me and my father looked under the hood and saw that fuel was leaking from an injector so I called tom peacock Nissan.considering they supposedly fixed the problem concerning injectors failing resulting in fires they said it had already been replaced and their best advice …”

   NHTSA complaint #721872, filed 2000-04
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell or leak with strong vapors

   • 44 complaints (25%)
   • median 166,638 mi at 17.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 30 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Owners report a gasoline smell inside or around the car, in some cases for months, sometimes without any leak being found. One owner describes the pressurized line from the tank failing under the rear passenger seat, letting vapors into the cabin and raw fuel flow under the seat. A few complaints note the smell being worse in cold weather. Reported at high mileage, in one case around 155,000 miles; sometimes noted in cold weather.

   What to check: Smell the cabin and around the rear seat and fuel tank area after the car sits, and inspect the fuel line and tank connections for seepage or cracked hose.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Re: 1987 Nissan maxim I own 3 of these vehicles. In 2 of them, the pressurized fuel line coming out of the gas tank has failed, allowing strong fuel vapors to enter the passenger compartment. This line is directly under the rear passenger seat and raw fuel also is able to flow under the seat.”

   NHTSA complaint #10045344, filed 2003-11, 155,000 miles

   “Upon parking smelled fuel, then found fuel leaking, had towed to dealer, after taking off wrecker vehicle caught fire, #3 fuel injector was leaking. Tt”

   NHTSA complaint #959062, filed 1995-01
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden acceleration or sticking accelerator

   • 6 complaints (3%)
   • typically at 10.2 yrs old
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2001

   Owners describe the accelerator sticking or the car surging on its own, in some cases while shifting into reverse or pulling away, sending the car across a lot or into obstacles. One complaint notes the pedal stuck without warning. The complaints do not indicate what the dealers found or did. Described in complaints filed in the mid to late 1990s; ages and mileages vary.

   What to check: With the engine off, work the accelerator pedal and check the linkage and cable for binding, stiffness, or a sticky return; have it lubricated or replaced if it does not move freely.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Upon starting engine, the motor revved very high then the vehicle went backwards at a high rate of speed smashing into another auto. The vehicle then went forward at a high rate of speed going over a cement curb.”

   NHTSA complaint #521919, filed 1997-07

   “Released emergency brake and shifted gear selector into reverse. Vehicle suddenly surged rearward, across the street, up (7) stairs and into a wooden pillar of a house before stopping.”

   NHTSA complaint #804163, filed 1996-10
5. 5
   Seat belts

   Seat belt retractor and track failures

   • 8 complaints (5%)
   • median 150,000 mi at 16.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Owners report the automatic seat belt jamming or the shoulder belt and retractor quitting, and one owner describes the belt track and metal piece breaking in a frontal collision so the shoulder belt did not hold. Another owner reports oil soaking the driver-side belt and ruining clothing, with the dealer unable to find the source. Complaints do not describe a consistent repair. Reported on cars of varying age and mileage, typically above 150,000 miles where mileage is given.

   What to check: Pull each belt out fully and let it retract slowly, and check that the shoulder anchor and track move and lock as intended; look for oil or fraying on the webbing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer was riding in the passenger's seat when another vehicle cut in front of vehicle and was hit head-on, causing the metal part and the track of the safety belt to break, not holding the shoulder part in place. The consumer hit his head, and their was no support.”

   NHTSA complaint #829160, filed 1998-10

   “Seat belt on the driver side has oil on it. Consumer said that oil was coming from the seat belts and are ruining her clothes. Consumer took vehicle to the dealership, and the mechanic has no idea from were the oil was leaking.”

   NHTSA complaint #865681, filed 2000-07

Buying note. This model year shows a pattern of fuel-system and engine-bay fire complaints, so proof of completed recall and injector work matters more than cosmetics; have the fuel lines and injectors inspected, and check the accelerator linkage and seat belts before regular use.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 58 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.