FaultScore

1985 Nissan Maxima engine problems

13 of the 64 complaints about the 1985 Nissan Maxima are about the engine — 20% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 90,000 miles.

F

13

Complaints

1

Crashes

10

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Gasoline 6 46.2%
Exhaust System 4 30.8%
Engine 1 7.7%
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 1 7.7%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 1 7.7%

Engine & Cooling across every Nissan Maxima year

1985 13 1.4%
1986 10 1.1%
1987 21 2.3%
1988 12 1.3%
1991 10 1.1%
1992 23 2.6%
1993 12 1.3%
1994 19 2.1%
1995 23 2.6%
1996 19 2.1%
1997 14 1.6%
1999 43 4.8%
2000 84 9.4%
2001 36 4.0%
2002 49 5.5%
2003 98 10.9%
2004 124 13.8%
2005 101 11.2%
2006 71 7.9%
2007 24 2.7%
2009 22 2.4%
2010 23 2.6%
2011 14 1.6%
2012 13 1.4%
2016 20 2.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 90,000 miles ST. Louis, MO Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AS A RESULT OF ADMITTED DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTORS(ON RECALL). NISSAN REPLACED FUEL INJECTORS AT NO CHARGE, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE OTHER DAMAGED ITEMS SUCH AS, POWER STEERING, "SEVERE" SEAL DAMAGE CAUSING LARGE OIL LEAK, AND OTHER DAMAGES. I HAVE CALLED AND WRITTEN NISSAN. ALSO, NO APOLOGIES FOR MY INCONVENIENCES.

NHTSA complaint #10069981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Seattle, WA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

HAD FUEL INJECTORS SERVICE 10/2001, NOW VEHICLE DOES NOT PASS EMISSION TEST AND DEALER DENIES ANY CONNECTION. SAYS NEEDS $2100.00 PLUS REPAIR WORK.

NHTSA complaint #741525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vallejo, CA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WAS NOTIFIED OF A RECALL DUE TO ENGINE FIRES BY A FRIEND WHO WORKED AT NISSAN. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE REPAIR TO BE DONE AND WAS PUT ON A WAITING LIST. WAS NEVER CONTACTED BACK. WHEN I TRY TO START MY CAR ONE DAY, THE ENGINE BLEW UP LIFTING THE FRONT END OF MY CAR OFF THE GROUND AND MY CARS FRONT END (ENGINE) WAS ON FIRE. I SENT ALL THE INFORMATION TO NISSAN AND THEY GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THEY WANTED RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES AND TUNE UPS, WHICH I DID NOT HAVE. IT WAS BECOMING TO MUCH OF A HASSLE AND I STOPPED PURSUING IT. PREVIOUSLY I SENT THEM ALL THE INFORMATION REGARDING MY CAR AND ALL REPORTS REGARDING THE INCIDENT. I EVEN HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALER TO EXAMINE THE CAR AS THEY HAD INSTRUCTED. I STILL WAS NEVER REIMBURSED FOR MY CAR.

NHTSA complaint #736352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Millington, TN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

MR. SWINSON HAS LOOKED AT (15) NISSAN MAXIMA'S BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 1985 THROUGH 1988 AND FOUND THAT THEY ALL HAD BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLDS ON EITHER THE LEFT SIDE OR FRONT SIDE .

NHTSA complaint #810825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Northridge, CA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE FIRE CAUSE BY POSSIBLE FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR.

NHTSA complaint #546848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Calexico, CA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #507276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Veijo Massion, CA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A SMOG CHECK, STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES BECAUSE OF THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, RECALL 951006000.*AK

NHTSA complaint #804527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Catlettsburg, KY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

PURCHASED CAR USED, HAD ONE MONTH, CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE , MANUFACTURER MADE AND OFFER OF 750.00 ON CAR . PLEASE DESCRIBE .

NHTSA complaint #802810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Neppune, NJ Crash Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

TOOK MAXIMA IN FOR REPAIR AND NISSAN ASKED FOR PAPER WORK, MR. GRAHAM SENT IT IN AND NISSAN CONTINUES TO ASK FOR MORE WHICH GRAHAM DOES NOT HAVE (95I-006).

NHTSA complaint #986143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grand Terr, CA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #504163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tampa, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WOULD TAKE 6 TO 8 WEEKS TO DO A RECALL FOR EXHAUST/CRANKCASE EMISSION 95I00600. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #982607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Medford, OR Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA complaint #975577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Long Beach, CA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

DRIVEN VEHICLE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE TWICE FROM THE ENGINE. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

NHTSA complaint #966541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1985 Nissan Maxima problems

← Full 1985 Nissan Maxima report