1999 Nissan Maxima Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe ignition coil failures that set the check engine light, cause misfires, rough idle and intermittent loss of power, frequently leading to replacement of all six coils. Other recurring themes are air bag warning lights and modules replaced without deployment, radiator support rust that a Nissan technician and owners describe as serious, and occasional no-start conditions traced to a deprogrammed key or immobilizer. Reported mileages vary widely, from about 20,000 to over 180,000 miles.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Ignition coil failure and misfire

   • 69 complaints (42%)
   • median 72,939 mi at 7.4 yrs old (48 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 20 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2015

   Owners describe the car running rough, shaking at idle, misfiring, hesitating or bucking, sometimes losing power on the highway, with the check engine light on and fault code P1320 stored. Many say the dealer could not identify which coil was failing and recommended replacing all six, with quoted costs commonly between about $500 and $1,400. Some report repeat failures after new coils were installed, and several mention coils marked with a gray dot as the updated replacement part. Reported across a wide mileage range, from around 20,000 to over 180,000 miles, with many complaints between roughly 30,000 and 90,000 miles; some owners note rough running is worse on cold mornings.

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the coils were replaced and whether the updated version was used, and have the car scanned for stored codes such as P1320 before purchase. A cold-start and highway test drive can reveal rough running or hesitation.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10206610, filed 2007-10, 118,000 miles

   “I have 1999 Nissan Maxima and it started giving problem with the ignition coil when it had only 50000 miles and the mechanics were not able to find which coil was having the problem, and finally asked me to change all the six coils for around $1000.00. They also told me this is seen in many Maxima's and infinity i30.”

   NHTSA complaint #10187856, filed 2007-04, 50,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light and module replacement

   • 17 complaints (10%)
   • median 88,423 mi at 5.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2016

   Owners report the air bag light coming on or blinking, with dealers diagnosing an open circuit or failed module and recommending replacement of a driver, passenger or side air bag module. Some describe the repair being done under warranty and later failing again, and a few report that an air bag did not deploy in a collision. Others say the remaining air bags would not work until the failed one was repaired at their own expense. Reported from roughly 36,000 to 100,000 miles, often years after purchase; several owners describe the light returning years or tens of thousands of miles after an earlier repair.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that the air bag light comes on with the ignition and goes out, and ask whether any air bag module has been replaced and whether the system was scanned for codes. Service bulletins describe safe handling and inspection procedures for the restraint system.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was in a front impact accident going approximately 15-30 MPH. The person I rear ended was stationary and his air bag deployed. My airbag did not deploy. The damage to my car was extensive causing the hood to fold into an inverted v smashing in the radiator etc. I was very concerned that my airbag did not deploy. I was not injured in the accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #10158188, filed 2006-05, 100,000 miles

   “Two sucessive air bag disconnect failures on a 1999 Nissan Maxima. On 3/29/03 at 36,834 miles the air bag light came on and I went to the dealer for a diagnosis, the told me the bag circuitry was open and the bag would not deploy. They replaced the drivers side air bag module under warranty. On april 20th 2004 at 50,300 miles the air bag light came on again and I went back to the dealer. This time they told me the passenger side air bag circuitry was open and the right side module would have to be replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10067730, filed 2004-04, 50,300 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   No-start from deprogrammed key or immobilizer

   • 11 complaints (7%)
   • median 123,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2010

   Owners describe the car cranking but not starting, or the key not turning the ignition switch, with the security indicator lit or the engine turning over without catching. In several cases the dealer or mechanic found the key had become deprogrammed and needed to be recoded, and one owner reports being stranded after a routine service visit. Reported between roughly 119,000 and 200,000 miles, mostly on cars used regularly for many years.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask how many keys come with the car and whether they all start it, and confirm the security light behaves normally at startup. Service bulletins describe key authentication and replacement procedures for vehicles that will not start.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10185666, filed 2007-03, 132,300 miles

   “I bought a Nissan Maxima 1999 for my daughter only to find out that she got in her car one morning after just having her vehicle at a mechanic for a check up/service. They told her the car was fine. She then proceeded down the road to the freeway, stopped for gas and the car would not start. Panicked by the 'area' of town she was in I had a tow truck from aaa dispatched to meet her as soon as possible. The vehicle was towed back to the mechanic and we were told that the key to the vehicle had become deprogrammed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10330901, filed 2010-05, 200,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, the ignition coil history matters most: ask for records of coil replacement and scan for stored codes, and have the underside checked for radiator support rust before buying. Air bag warning lights and key or immobilizer problems are less frequent but worth verifying on a test drive and a cold start.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.