1991 Nissan Maxima Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe seats and seat belts that come apart, fuel leaks and gas smells, and power window regulators that fail. Many reports come in at high mileage, and several describe parts that gave way gradually — a seatback that collapsed, a belt that stopped locking — rather than a single sudden event.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel leaks, gas smell and corroded filler neck

   • 10 complaints (13%)
   • median 173,921 mi at 13.7 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2011

   Owners describe a gasoline smell inside or around the car and leaks traced to the fuel filler tube, fuel tank, injectors or lines. Several reports describe rust and corrosion of the tank and filler pipe; one noted the tank straps had fractured from corrosion. Some owners were told their vehicle was not covered by the fuel filler tube recall, and one said the dealer declined to redo earlier recall work on a leaking filler tube. Mostly reported on high-mileage cars, from about 180,000 miles upward; several complaints do not state mileage.

   Recall 95V244000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 95V244000 was performed and whether the filler tube was replaced; check the filler neck, tank straps and lines for rust, and look for fuel staining or a gas smell after filling.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Power steering hose split...replaced part...currently experiencing very loud noise and burnt smell coming from power steering pump...when fluid in pump is replaced, the color of the fluid becomes black in no time; also experiencing strong gas fumes inside car esp. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10078923, filed 2004-06, 134,097 miles

   “Dealer performed recall campaign no. 95v244000. A few years later the gas filler tube is still leaking gas. I took the vehicle back to the dealer and they said they could not fix it because they do not warranty prior recall work. Can the dealer refuse to fix it a second time ? Shouldn't they fix it to prevent the problem from occurring again. Thank you .”

   NHTSA complaint #10219010, filed 2008-02
2. 2
   Seats

   Driver seatback frame collapses

   • 8 complaints (11%)
   • typically at 7.1 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Owners describe the driver's seatback suddenly falling backward while driving, sometimes letting the driver slide into the rear seat area. In some reports the metal hinge or lower seatback frame was found sheared or split; one owner said the frame tore loose and scratched their back. A dealer reportedly attributed the failure to metal fatigue. Reported across a wide mileage range, often during ordinary driving at low to moderate speeds.

   What to check: Sit in the driver's seat and push back firmly against the seatback to check for play; inspect the hinge and lower frame for cracks or previous repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving at approximately 25 MPH not far from home, the back rest portion of the seat collapsed into the back seat area. I was able to maintain control of the car although I almost went off the road due to the suddeness and surprise of it happening. After driving the car back home (with great difficulty) and investigating the seatback support structure, I found the metal frame was sheared in two at the lower left portion of the seatback. …”

   NHTSA complaint #703653, filed 1999-02

   “Crash. While backing out of parking spot in driveway. Engine went full throttle 30 feet across driveway and struck a tree. Both feet on brakes trying to stop car. Drivers seat broke. Car is not repairable. Exact same accidents as oci claim #'s 483257 and 889677.”

   NHTSA complaint #10078278, filed 2004-06
3. 3
   Seat belts

   Seat belts won't lock or come apart

   • 9 complaints (12%)
   • median 134,097 mi at 13.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2014

   Complaints describe shoulder belts that no longer lock on sudden stops, seat belt warning lights and chimes that cycle on and off, and webbing or buckle assemblies that separated. One owner reported the rear belt assembly was corroded; another said the belt fell apart while fitting a child seat. According to one complaint, the dealer confirmed the belt was not working. Reported from roughly 100,000 to over 350,000 miles; several complaints do not state mileage.

   What to check: Pull each belt out fully and snap it back to confirm it retracts and locks with a sharp tug; look for fraying, corrosion or brittle plastic at the buckles and anchors.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Upon placing my daughters carseat in the middle of my backseat the seatbelt fell completely apart. Therefore that makes me think something is faulty with it. If it came apart that easily from me trying to buckle in the carseat what would happen if someone hit me. My daughter could have been seriously injured or worse killed if this had happen in a collision. I f my car did this how many others will it happen to and will any children have to die before anything is done. …”

   NHTSA complaint #750269, filed 2001-08

   “Shoulder belt does not lock, anymore, on those very sudden stops or with sneezes, like it used to, and the red seatbelt light on dash stays on. Dealer confirmed that it is not working. Says Nissan isn't responsible for seatbelts to work in older cars.”

   NHTSA complaint #10210446, filed 2007-12, 100,000 miles
4. 4
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Power window regulators fail, glass slips or falls

   • 6 complaints (8%)
   • median 134,097 mi at 13.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2004

   Owners report windows that slide down on their own when driving over bumps, or glass that drops out of the track entirely. The regulator mechanism was the usual culprit, and several owners had multiple windows replaced, in some cases repeatedly. Another owner reported the driver's window would not go down at all. Complaints span the 1990s and 2011; mileage is often not stated.

   What to check: Cycle every window up and down several times and listen for grinding or slipping; ask whether any regulators have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving about 40mph when rear passenger's side window fell out without warning. Took to dealer for replacement. Problem reappeared again. Took it back to dealer & all windows replaced due to the fall out of the others. Seems the window regulator control unit tract in window breaks each time.”

   NHTSA complaint #825097, filed 1998-07

   “The power window mechanism (the regulator) has failed on (3) windows. The regulators have been replaced in the rear windows. Passenger's side rear in october of 96/driver's side rear in july of 97. The passenger's front window is now broken.”

   NHTSA complaint #817055, filed 1997-10

Buying note. On a car of this age, seat and seat belt condition is worth checking as carefully as the drivetrain, since those parts are hard to source and central to safety. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the seat frames, belts, fuel filler area and window regulators will tell you more than service records alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 40 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.