10 of the 138 complaints about the 1990 Nissan Maxima are about the lighting — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 146,000 miles.
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
I SMELL BURNED WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE. I ISOLATED TO THE REAR CENTER BRAKE LAMP WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. BECAUSE THE SOCKETS WERE THE METAL CAN IN THE LAMP SOCKET MOVES OR SEPARATES FROM THE PLASTIC SOCKET HOUSING. IT IS VERY CLOSE TO THE RECALL 96V253004.
NHTSA complaint #10000361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
THE LOCAL DEALER SHOP PERSONNEL HAVE HEARD AND SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS. MR
NHTSA complaint #767841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP ON A REGULAR BASIS WHEN THE BRAKE PAD IS APPLIED. THE CONNECTORS THAT TOUCH THE LIGHT BULBS ARE VERY SENSITIVE. THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT CAUSES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BULB AND CONNETOR TO FAIL. I HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WITH NUMEROUS MAXIMAS ON THE ROAD. THIS PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THE REAR LIGHTS AS WELL (NOT ONLY WHEN BRAKING). THE REAR 3RD BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS CORRODED AND DOES NOT PERMIT THE BULB TO BE INSTALLED. THIS PROBLEM EXISTED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 92,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. ATTEMPS TO HAVE IT REPAIRED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC ARE IN VEIN BECAUSE THE PROBLEM REOCCURS WITHIN A COUPLE DAYS AFTER BEING 'REPAIRED'. SEEMS AS IF ONLY HALF OF THE TOAL CONNECTORS ARE IN EVERYDAY WORKING CONDITION. THE OTHER HALF TURN ON AND ON SPORADICALLY. THIS MAKES IT SEEM AS IF I HAVE SOME 'TAIL LIGHTS OUT'. THIS IN TURN GIVES POLICE OFFICERS A REASON TO CONTINUALLY PULL ME OVER AND LET ME KNOW ABOUT THE LIGHTING SITUATION. IN ADDITION, THE NON-WORKING CONNECTORS GIVE THE CAR A POOR APPEARANCE. LASTLY, THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE REAR LIGHTING MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. NLM
NHTSA complaint #767583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP ON A REGULAR BASIS WHEN THE BRAKE PAD IS APPLIED. THE CONNECTORS THAT TOUCH THE LIGHT BULBS ARE VERY SENSITIVE. THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT CAUSES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BULB AND CONNETOR TO FAIL. I HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WITH NUMEROUS MAXIMAS ON THE ROAD. THIS PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THE REAR LIGHTS AS WELL (NOT ONLY WHEN BRAKING). THE REAR 3RD BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS CORRODED AND DOES NOT PERMIT THE BULB TO BE INSTALLED. THIS PROBLEM EXISTED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 92,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. ATTEMPS TO HAVE IT REPAIRED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC ARE IN VEIN BECAUSE THE PROBLEM REOCCURS WITHIN A COUPLE DAYS AFTER BEING 'REPAIRED'. SEEMS AS IF ONLY HALF OF THE TOAL CONNECTORS ARE IN EVERYDAY WORKING CONDITION. THE OTHER HALF TURN ON AND ON SPORADICALLY. THIS MAKES IT SEEM AS IF I HAVE SOME 'TAIL LIGHTS OUT'. THIS IN TURN GIVES POLICE OFFICERS A REASON TO CONTINUALLY PULL ME OVER AND LET ME KNOW ABOUT THE LIGHTING SITUATION. IN ADDITION, THE NON-WORKING CONNECTORS GIVE THE CAR A POOR APPEARANCE. LASTLY, THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE REAR LIGHTING MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. NLM
NHTSA complaint #767583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
LAMP BULBS IN HIGH CENTER AUXILLARY STOP MELT SOCKETS, THEN CASING, CAUSING FIRE HAZARD ON REAR PACKAGE SHELF.
NHTSA complaint #761708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
WE NOTICED THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT (HIGH MOUNTED STOP LIGHT) WAS BURNED OUT ON THIS VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE HEAT FROM THE 2 LAMPS INSIDE THE UNIT HAD MELTED THE HOUSING HOLDING THE BULBS AS WELL AS THE RED LENS. THE MELTING WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO DEFORM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE UNIT. I ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE A REPLACEMENT UNIT AT AN AUTO WRECKING YARD, AND FOUND THAT THE ONLY UNIT AVAILABLE OUT OF ALL OF THE COMPATIBLE CARS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS MY CAR. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS EVIDENCE OF A WIDESPREAD FAILURE OF THIS NECESSARY SAFETY ITEM AND POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #720639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
BACK LIGHT BULB HAD MELTED PLASTIC OF LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND BULB WAS LAYING SIDEWAYS IN HOUSING.
NHTSA complaint #526522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
HEAT GENERATED BY HIGH MOUNTED BRAKE LAMP BULB MELTED THE AREA AROUND THE LIGHT BULB ALONG WITH THE RED LENS.
NHTSA complaint #511943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, 3RD BRAKE LIGHT USED EXTENSIVELY, HOUSING STARTED SMOKING, CAUSED BY PLASTIC HOUSING MELTING ON LIGHT BULBS, LOCAL SERVICE SATION DISENGAGED POWER, COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #801803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULB IS SO HOT THAT IT MELTED THE PLASTIC COVER AND COULD CAUSE A PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #984118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.