FaultScore

1992 Nissan Maxima engine problems

23 of the 140 complaints about the 1992 Nissan Maxima are about the engine — 16% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 87,000 miles.

D

23

Complaints

2

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 9 39.1%
Gasoline 9 39.1%
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 2 8.7%
Exhaust System 1 4.3%
Emission Control 1 4.3%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 1 4.3%

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 87,000 miles Mableton, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE SHUTS OF INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING FOR BRIEF MOMENTS (5-10 SEC.) SOMETIMES IN ISOLATED SINGLE EVENTS, SOMETIMES IN CLUSTERS. ENGINE COMPLETELY LOSES POWER THEN RETURNS. DASHBOARD AND RADIO CONTINUE TO WORK AS IF IT IS NOT ELECTRICAL. FEELS LIKE A FUEL DELIVERY PROBLEM. IT'S VERY SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY OR WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC! NO CODES SHOW ON COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS. REPLACED FUEL FILTER AND COMPUTER. WHILE SEARCHING THE NET I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A RECURRENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. NO KNOWN FIXES.

NHTSA complaint #10214126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 800 miles Cottonwood, AZ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL* - THE CONTACT SPENT OVER $3000.00 ON THE 1992 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE VEHICLE HAD A VARIETY OF FAILURES FOR THE PAST YEAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED ,BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED PROPERLY. ON 1/2/07 THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, AND THAT HE NEEDED TO GET A TOW TRUCK AND COME BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP PUT A NEW ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE, AND IT FELT AS IF THE ENGINE HAS BEEN IN THE CAR OVER 10 YEARS NOW.

NHTSA complaint #10177599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 154,182 miles EL Cajon, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAD BOUGHT A CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP IN SAN DIEGO AND IT WAS DEFECTIVE FROM DAY ONE. THE DEALERSHIP SELLS ALL CARS AS IS SO I TOOK IT BACK TO HIM THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE HIM REPAIR IT. WE WENT BACK AND FORTH FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR AND HE ALWAYS SAID HE NEVER FOUND A PROBLEM WITH IT BUT YET, HE SEEMED TO ALWAYS BE DOING SOME KIND OF REPAIR. FINALLY, THE ENGINE BLEW AND I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO HIM. HE HAD IT FOR ONE MONTH AND SAID HE CAN'T FIX IT. HE SAID HE WOULD SELL ME ANOTHER ONE AND TAKE $1000 OFF THE OTHER ONE IF I COME UP WITH $700 TO PUT DOWN ON ANOTHER. I DID, HE SAID THIS CAR HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR'S RPM'S KEEP ON GOING UP TO ABOUT 5000-6000 UNTIL IT FINALLY KICKS INTO GEAR. NOW HE SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS ONE TOO. WHAT CAN I DO?

NHTSA complaint #10168750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

OLD Saybrook, CT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

I HAVE TALKED TO 100S OF MAXIMA OWNERS ON MAXIMA.ORG AND MOST OF THE WITH A 92-92 MAXIMA SE WITH THE VE30DE ENGINE HAVE HAD OR ARE HAVEING A VTC FAILURE WHICH NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT. THIS FIX FOR MOST OF US IS OVER $1000 AND IT EVENTUAL WILL FAIL AGAIN LIKE MINE ARE AGAIN!

NHTSA complaint #757417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Northport, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

IT CAUSES A LOUD RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE, AND A MECHANIC REFUSED TO SERVICE THE CAR BECAUSE HE SAID THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO "BLOW UP!" THERE IS A TSB ON THIS PROBLEM, AND IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN TO ALL 1992 MAXIMAS.

NHTSA complaint #742832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mahopac, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE FAILED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #782388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Painted Post, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

LIFTER NOISE AT TIMES ON IDLE IS VERY LOUD.

NHTSA complaint #722602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Hyde Park, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE MAKES NOISE, EITHER PULLIES FOR TIMING BELT OR VALVE. YH

NHTSA complaint #701221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Morgan Hill, CA

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

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE SERVICE. MECHANIC HAD NOTICED PROBLEM WITH MANIFOLD. INDICATED STUDS ON ENGINE MONIFOLD WERE CRACKED & DEFECTIVE. THIS COULD CAUSE A LEAKING PROBLEM LATER. THEY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #852619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

D'iberville, MS

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

AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO MIDAS FOR REPAIR THEY FOUND OUT THE PIPE WAS NOT WORKING, AND AT SAME TIME WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE. BUT CONSUMER DECIDED TO TAKE VEHICLE TO ORIGINAL DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #852246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Benicia, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CAM SHAFT SPROCKET FAILED CAUSING EXCESSIVE NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. MJS

NHTSA complaint #547901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

OKC, OK

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHEN I WENT TO HAVE MY VTC SPRINGS REPLACED THE MAN THAT WORKED AT THE DEALERSHIP I HAD THE WORK DONE AT, HE SAID IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WHICH MAID ME MAD BECAUSE OF THE FACT OF I PAID $1000.00 TO HAVE A PART FIXED WHICH I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR IF IT WAS A COMMON THING. I AM ASERVICE MANAGER IN A SHOP AND HAVE SEVERAL MAXIMAS COME IN WITH THAT PROBLEM. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO HAVE THAT PART RECALLED ANDHAVE MY MONEY RETURNED. IF PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED, IT WILL BREAK TIMING CHAIN AND BEND VALVES. MY OTHER COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE WINDOW REGULATOR. I WILL TELL YOU I KNOW OF TONS OF PEOPLE THAT HAS HAD THAT BREAK ON THEM. IT IS A PLASTIC PIECE LIKE A PULLY FOR THE WINDOW THAT BREAKS AND THE WINDOW WILL DROP AT ANY TIME. ONE OF MY ASSOC. WINDOW HAS BROKE WHEN IT FELL. THAT PART COST $110 TO REPLACE, THE BAD THING ABOUT IT ANOTHER PLASTIC PIECE. THAT IS ONE PART THAT MUST REALLY BE RECALLED WITH HOW MANY TIMES IT HAPPENS.

NHTSA complaint #708189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nashville, TN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE CAMSHAFT BRACKET WHICH HOLDS TIMING CHAIN IN PLACE FAILED, CAUSING TIMING CHAIN TO FALL OUT. MAY CAUSE DAMAGES TO T VEHICLE, AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NISSAN HAS MADE AN IMPROVED BRACKETS AFTER 1994. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #834998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD Crash

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

BRAKES PULL TO ONE SIDE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. ENGINE IS NOISY AND ROUGH. CRANKSHAFT WAS DESTROYED WHILE DRIVING ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. ENGINE MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE. HEAT FROM AC WOULD COOL DOWN AFTER 15 MINUTES. ROUGH IDLE. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIGOROUSLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND DURING BRAKING. TWO BOLTS FROM EXHAUST MANIFOLD BROKE WHILE DRIVING. OLD ENGINE HESITATED AND THE REPLACEMENT DOES THE SAME. SOMETIMES THERE IS A SLOW ACCELERATION. AUTOMATIC AC CIRCULTION CUT OF AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES. REAR POWER WINDOW FAILS TO OPERATE ATLEAST TWICE. POWER LOCK FAILS TO OPERATE ATLEAST ONCE A MONTH. FUEL PUMP AND FILTER WERE BACKED UP BY SAND. FRONT END SUSPENSION IS EXTREMELY WEAK

NHTSA complaint #701150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD Crash

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

BRAKES PULL TO ONE SIDE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. ENGINE IS NOISY AND ROUGH. CRANKSHAFT WAS DESTROYED WHILE DRIVING ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. ENGINE MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE. HEAT FROM AC WOULD COOL DOWN AFTER 15 MINUTES. ROUGH IDLE. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIGOROUSLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND DURING BRAKING. TWO BOLTS FROM EXHAUST MANIFOLD BROKE WHILE DRIVING. OLD ENGINE HESITATED AND THE REPLACEMENT DOES THE SAME. SOMETIMES THERE IS A SLOW ACCELERATION. AUTOMATIC AC CIRCULTION CUT OF AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES. REAR POWER WINDOW FAILS TO OPERATE ATLEAST TWICE. POWER LOCK FAILS TO OPERATE ATLEAST ONCE A MONTH. FUEL PUMP AND FILTER WERE BACKED UP BY SAND. FRONT END SUSPENSION IS EXTREMELY WEAK

NHTSA complaint #701150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Camp Smith, HI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IN FOR REPAIRS,. TOOK DEALER APPROXIMATELY 4MONTHS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM AND TO FIND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. REPAIRS MADE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK.

NHTSA complaint #828575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Merrick, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VALVE TIMING SPROCKES MALFUNCTION DUE TO DESIGN FAILURE, RESULTIN GIN ENGINE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #535454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Highland Park, CO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE SOPS WHILE IN MOTION AND PARKING.

NHTSA complaint #535742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Apex, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SPRING ASSEMBLY REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #533570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LAS Cruces, NM

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

NOISY ENGINE, RESULTING FROM A VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #516508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Willingboro, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE ENGINE MAKES NOISE, TOOK TO DEALER IT WAS THE VCT SPROCKET . PLEASE DESCRIBE .

NHTSA complaint #804613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Merrick, NY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #509701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Walnut Creek, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

FRONT AND BACK EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE CRACKING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LEAK EXHAUST FUMES.

NHTSA complaint #982364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1992 Nissan Maxima problems

← Full 1992 Nissan Maxima report