1990 Nissan Maxima Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 9%of 106 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1990 Nissan Maxima, 9% of the 106 complaints for this model year.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The window problem I have seems to be with a lot of this car model. Each time I had a window fixed, it cost me $220.00. It seems to me that this is a defect that Nissan should be paying for. Other than this problem my other with the transmisson just started and I do have 100,000 miles on the car. I would expect some things to go wrong. The window problem started about 5 years ago. Also when I took my car in to have the first window repaired I asked about my radio antenna not going up and down anymore. It seems that this is the same kind of problem I had with my windows. …”
NHTSA complaint #734853, filed 2000-10“Automatic transmission is not able to shift into reverse. Apparently this is a very common problem with Nissan Maxima's manufactured between 1989-1994. Many Maxima owners have had their transmissions fail and have had to replace the transmission more than once in their Nissan Maxima's.”
NHTSA complaint #10067727, filed 2004-04“Electronic windows; windows will either lower on its own or not at all. System worked on (5) times with temporary results. Tt vehicle also experiences problems with the shifter.”
NHTSA complaint #975379, filed 1995-11Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 | 14% |
| 2019 | 3 | 17% |
| 2018 | 1 | 3% |
| 2017 | 11 | 10% |
| 2016 | 33 | 23% |
| 2014 | 22 | 23% |
| 2013 | 24 | 39% |
| 2012 | 18 | 17% |
| 2011 | 22 | 21% |
| 2010 | 15 | 5% |
| 2009 | 11 | 3% |
| 2008 | 8 | 10% |
| 2007 | 16 | 12% |
| 2006 | 393 | 68% |
| 2005 | 777 | 82% |
| 2004 | 934 | 66% |
| 2003 | 7 | 3% |
| 2002 | 14 | 7% |
| 2001 | 8 | 5% |
| 2000 | 22 | 6% |
| 1999 | 8 | 5% |
| 1998 | 6 | 5% |
| 1997 | 4 | 4% |
| 1996 | 12 | 13% |
| 1995 | 12 | 8% |
| 1994 | 9 | 10% |
| 1993 | 6 | 8% |
| 1992 | 5 | 5% |
| 1991 | 9 | 12% |
| 1990 | 10 | 9% |
| 1989 | 9 | 15% |
| 1988 | 1 | 2% |
| 1987 | 5 | 3% |
| 1986 | 1 | 2% |
| 1985 | 2 | 4% |
Other parts of the 1990 Nissan Maxima
36 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
20 complaintsExterior lighting
8 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaintsSeats
6 complaintsEquipment
3 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
3 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1990 Nissan Maxima
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology