FaultScore

1987 Nissan Maxima electrical problems

23 of the 194 complaints about the 1987 Nissan Maxima are about the electrical system — 12% of everything reported for this model year.

F

23

Complaints

0

Crashes

16

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Front Underhood 13 56.5%
Wiring 3 13.0%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 3 13.0%
Ignition 1 4.3%
Interior/Under Dash 1 4.3%
Switch 1 4.3%
Electrical System 1 4.3%

Electrical System across every Nissan Maxima year

1986 12 1.5%
1987 23 2.8%
1993 11 1.3%
1995 22 2.7%
1997 41 5.0%
1998 24 2.9%
1999 87 10.6%
2000 177 21.5%
2001 28 3.4%
2002 25 3.0%
2003 17 2.1%
2004 58 7.1%
2005 39 4.7%
2006 26 3.2%
2009 79 9.6%
2010 79 9.6%
2011 12 1.5%
2012 20 2.4%
2016 31 3.8%
2017 11 1.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Coronado, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1987 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO VEHICLE FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, ONE OF THE PASSENGERS STARTED TO SMELL BURNING WIRE. SOON AFTER HIS WIFE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET TO A SAFE SPOT AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE HE WAS INFORMED THE INJECTORS DID NOT WANT TO SHUT DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR AN INJECTOR PROBLEM AND THE RECALL HAD NEVER BEEN PERFORMED.

NHTSA complaint #10486801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cottage Grove, WI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

HAD COME UPON A STOP LIGHT, STARTED TO TAKE OFF & SMELLED FUEL. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OVER & LIFTED HOOD. NOTICED FLAMES & PUT OUT FIRE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC CHECKED VIN & NOTICED A RECALL AFFECTING THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER REFUSED RECALL REPAIRS DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS. *AK

NHTSA complaint #863632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sacramento, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

HAVE OCAISIONALLY FOUND PARKING LIGHTS ON FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. SOMETIMES BATTERY IS DEAD. CAN TURN OFF BY ROTATING SW HARD TO "OFF". ONLY HAPPENS IN SPRING (?) 2 YRS. RUNNING NOW. RUBBER BAND HOLDING SW IN "OFF" WORKS MOST DAYS.

NHTSA complaint #707726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Virginia Beach, VA 1 killed

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

I HAVE REPLACE NUMEROUS PARTS IN SHORTS PERIODS OF TIME

NHTSA complaint #702448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Virginia Beach, VA 1 killed

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

I HAVE REPLACE NUMEROUS PARTS IN SHORTS PERIODS OF TIME

NHTSA complaint #702448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

MT. IDA, AR Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

AFTER DRIVING CAR FOR ABOUT HALF MILE AND PARKED, CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. POPPED HOOD AND THERE WERE FLAMES.

NHTSA complaint #828525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND SMELLED SMOKE AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE .

NHTSA complaint #803566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Honolulu, HI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

UPON PARKING, MOMENTS LATER, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM RIGHT SIDE OF HOOD, THEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #801923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Voorheef, NJ Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. PLEASE GIVE MORE INFORMATION DESCRIBING THE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #801366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

DROVE CAR BACK/FORTH TO WORK, STOPPED AT GAS STATION, WENT TO PAY, STARTED SMOKING, HAD HELP TO MOVE CAR WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE, FIRE DEPT PUT OUT FLAMES.

NHTSA complaint #986594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Reno, NV Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERHOOD, FIRE SEEMED TO BE MOSTLY IN RIGHT SIDE AREA OF ENGINE, ENTIRE ENGINE TOTALED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 95I006 PRIOR TO INCIDENT, DOES NOT SPECIFY IF RECALL REPAIR HAD BEEN COMPLETED OR NOT. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #986316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooklyn, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO ALTERNATOR FAILURE, CAUSING FUEL ODOR TO EMANATE FROM ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #502045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hawthorne, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE CAUGHTON FIRE CAUSED BY THE IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #983570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooklyn, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #501931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Irving, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, UNKNOWN SOURCE OF FIRE. TT

NHTSA complaint #979198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carson, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA complaint #975476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boston, MA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAD TO JUMP OUT OF A MOVING VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION FAILED. TT

NHTSA complaint #975388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hampton, VA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

PARKED VEHICLE; RESTARTED, SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERHOOD, OPENED HOOD; FIRE BROKE OUT. TT

NHTSA complaint #973573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Angeles, CA Fire 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE DRIVING AND IT CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA complaint #970547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Henderson, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

EXPERINCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS;KEEPS BURNING OUT ALTERNATORS, HEAD LAMPS, BATTERIES; CONTROL PANEL LIGHTS COMES ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON;SMELL OF WIRE BURNING

NHTSA complaint #969730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Irvine, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING, RDESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. TT

NHTSA complaint #963577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallas, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, EA94-018 ACTIVE. TT

NHTSA complaint #960817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clearwater, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, DRIVING VEHICLE FOR A PERIOD 0F 10 MIN. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. TT

NHTSA complaint #958437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1987 Nissan Maxima problems

← Full 1987 Nissan Maxima report