1994 Nissan Maxima Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1994 Maxima most often describe fuel-system complaints, especially gasoline odors and leaks around the fuel filler neck and under-hood fuel lines, along with aging cooling parts and repeated power-window regulator failures. Complaints span a wide mileage range and many describe issues tied to corrosion, cold-start conditions or simply vehicle age rather than sudden failures.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Power window regulator failure

   • 14 complaints (16%)
   • typically at 5.2 yrs old
   • filed 1997–2001

   Complaints describe windows that drop into the door or stop going up because the plastic regulator mechanism or roller breaks, sometimes on several windows of the same car. Owners say dealers described it as a known problem for this model year and quoted replacement of the whole motor assembly rather than a small part. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 12,000 miles upward, on cars of varying age.

   What to check: Raise and lower each window and listen for grinding or uneven travel; ask whether any regulators or motors have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Plastic parts on window regular failed causing window to fall inside door, car has a strong fuel smell when ideling especially in cooler months,bumped console gear shift while driving and pushed car out of gear (2), car sometimes hesitates when put in gear or lunges when put in gear, truck latch catches and must be manually reset to work.”

   NHTSA complaint #724362, filed 2000-06

   “Three of four original equipment window regulators have failed in the car. The dealer indicated that it was a known problem with the model year. The dealer indicated that the high pressure fuel line was not a very good design as well. They indicated that the heat from the motor caused the rubber to break down, and that's why strong fuel odors could be detected when using the defrost on cold mornings.”

   NHTSA complaint #734669, filed 2000-10
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel filler neck corrosion and leaks

   • 16 complaints (18%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 11.7 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2013

   Owners describe gasoline leaking or pooling under the rear of the car after a full fill-up, with the filler tube and adjacent wheel housing showing heavy corrosion. Some report a strong gas smell in the cabin during cold starts or when using defrost, and describe dirt and road salt collecting around the filler area. Complaints also describe dealers charging for labor on recall-related work, or declining repairs. Reported mostly on older, higher-mileage cars (around 100,000 miles and up), often in areas with road salt and in cold weather.

   Recall 95V244000

   What to check: Inspect the fuel filler tube and surrounding wheel housing for rust, and check for gas smell or wet spots after filling the tank; ask whether recall 95V244000 work was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Since I purchased vehicle back in 2007, this vehicle leaks gasoline when full tank is fueled. It creates a large puddle of fuel in the rear under the fuel neck fill pipe. It takes about 20 miles of driving for the leak to stop. I had never been made aware of this being a common problem by any service center I have taken it to. My household is safety conscious when it comes to the use of any flammable items that could pose a risk of fire when these leaks occur. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10496684, filed 2013-02, 134,000 miles

   “My Maxima has a plastic shroud around the fuel filler neck, presumably to protect it from road debris, rocks, etc, blasting the filler neck. Unfortunately, the shroud traps fine dirt and moisture. This includes winter road salt. When I removed the shroud, massive amounts of fine sand & dirt fell to the ground. When I cleaned out what was stuck up inside the rear quarter panel area, I swept up 3 full dustpans. It was close to 10lbs of crap. The filler neck was badly rusted. The rear quarter panel was rusted badly. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10263816, filed 2009-04, 100,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Gasoline odor and fuel line/injector leaks

   • 15 complaints (17%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 10.7 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2010

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell at startup, sometimes lasting 20-30 minutes, and worse in cooler weather; some report leaks at the rubber fuel line near the injector rail or failed injectors. Complaints mention dealers performing smoke tests and replacing hoses or injectors without fully resolving the odor. Typically on higher-mileage cars (about 90,000-100,000 miles and up), most noticeable on cold starts and in cool weather.

   What to check: Start the car from cold and check for a fuel smell under the hood and around the injector rail; look for damp or cracked rubber fuel hoses.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1994 Nissan Maxima has a strong odor of gasoline when started in the mornings. Usually, but not always, odor goes away after 20-30 minutes of driving. This is a random problem, and appears to be worse in cooler weather but has occurred in warm weather. Strength of the odor varies day by day. The car has been checked for faulty fuel injectors, the hosing has been checked, the fuel filter changed. There are no clean spots indicating gas leakage on an old dirtier engine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10043845, filed 2003-10, 100,000 miles

   “Dt: for the past year smelled gas. Been took to dealer for this problem several times. Done repairs to hoses,exhaust, etc. Later discovered this was an issue with the fuel injection. System. When air conditioner was on high the smell was evident. Also, this was present in the morning when the car was started for the first 5 minutes. Took to service dealer, and found no leaks, but did perform smoke test and numerous inspections, but was unable to locate this problem. Also, is was present when is defrost was turned on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10122494, filed 2005-05, 90,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission slipping or harsh shifting

   • 5 complaints (6%)
   • median 129,000 mi at 10.4 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2005

   Complaints describe the automatic transmission slipping, holding first gear to high rpm, vibrating during uphill driving, or failing to engage reverse, with dealers recommending full replacement. Some owners note the repair cost quoted was substantial and that service bulletins on transmission symptoms were not mentioned. Mostly reported above 50,000 miles, with several complaints on cars around 52,000-129,000 miles.

   What to check: Test drive from cold, checking for delayed engagement, slipping under load or vibration on a hill climb, and ask about transmission service history or rebuilds.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My transmission went out in 2003 I got it rebuilt it went out again in 2004 every person I know own a 1991-1994 Nissan Maxima has these problems and I dont think its right.so there should be a recall on the cars transmission.”

   NHTSA complaint #10125937, filed 2005-06, 129,000 miles

   “When I shifted the transmission to d the car didn't move. So I brought the car down to Nissan services, they diagnosed the problem and told me that the transmission is slipping and need to replace it right away. They said it would cost $4000 to replace it. So can you help me find out if the car is still under warranty? Otherwise, can you give us some advice where we should get it fix for a cheaper price? Thank you very much.”

   NHTSA complaint #720709, filed 2000-03

Buying note. Inspect the fuel filler neck and under-hood fuel lines for corrosion and odor first, then check window operation and transmission behavior on a cold test drive. Given the age of these cars, service records and a careful pre-purchase inspection matter more than any single item.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 50 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.