FaultScore

1996 Nissan Maxima transmission problems

13 of the 117 complaints about the 1996 Nissan Maxima are about the transmission — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 48,000 miles.

A

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 8 61.5%
Gear Position Indication (Prndl) 1 7.7%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 1 7.7%
Clutch Assembly 1 7.7%
Seal 1 7.7%
Differential Unit 1 7.7%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Nissan Maxima year

1990 11 0.5%
1991 11 0.5%
1995 12 0.5%
1996 13 0.5%
2000 22 0.9%
2002 14 0.6%
2004 942 39.6%
2005 782 32.9%
2006 397 16.7%
2007 16 0.7%
2009 11 0.5%
2010 15 0.6%
2011 22 0.9%
2012 18 0.8%
2013 24 1.0%
2014 21 0.9%
2016 33 1.4%
2017 12 0.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Chicago, IL

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON EVEN AFTER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS DONE. THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AFTER THE 1ST YEAR I BOUGHT IT. IN THE 5 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, THE STARTER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED, TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED, STRUTS WERE REPLACED, A NEW MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE WAS REPLACED, AND THIS YEAR, 2 OIL LEAKS DEVELOPED, 1 INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS WAS A DEFECT OF NISSAN, NOT ANYTHING THAT I DID OR DIDN'T DO. IT COST OVER $700 TO FIX THE LEAKS. THE LEAKS BLEW OUT THE SENSORS, AND THE CAR DIDN'T PASS THE EMISSIONS. I SPENT ANOTHER $850 IN GETTING NEW SENSORS. ONCE THE SENSORS WERE REPLACED, THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE FUEL INJECTOR AND HE HAD TO REPLACE THAT. THERE IS STILL A SHORT IN THE CAR SOMEWHERE AS ONE OF THE BACK LIGHTS TURNS OFF AND ON WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT, AS DOES THE LIGHT FOR THE RADIO CONSOLE (WHICH ITS THE ORIGINAL RADIO THAT CAME WITH THE CAR, SO IT'S NOT LIKE SOMEONE MESSED AROUND WITH IT.) AFTER REPLACING THE SENSORS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE 2ND EMISSIONS TEST, WHICH IT REJECTED THE CAR BECAUSE IT WASN'T READY YET. THE MECHANIC SPENT 7 (YES, SEVEN) DAYS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR, ONLY TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD. AFTER 1 DAY OF DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. NOW THE CAR FEELS UNSAFE WHEN I'M DRIVING IT, AS WHEN THE CAR HITS 20 MPH AND 40 MPH, THE CAR JERKS TO THE RIGHT AND I HAVE TO CONCENTRATE ON MAKING SURE I DON'T HIT ANYONE. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT IS EITHER. THE FAN IS STARTING TO SOUND LOUD WHEN THE AIR/HEAT IS ON OR WHEN THE CAR IS IDLE (STOPPED AT A LIGHT) AND THE AIR ONLY GETS COLD WHEN ITS COOL OUTSIDE, NOT WHEN IT'S HOT. I SPENT $22,000 BUYING THIS CAR, AND ABOUT ANOTHER $5000 IN REPAIRS TO DATE AND ITS NOT YET 10 YRS. OLD.

NHTSA complaint #10093485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,000 miles Raleigh, NC

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL

1996 NISSAN MAXIMA, LOW MILEAGE (50,000) FAILED NC STATE INSPECTION DUE TO FAILURE OF BOTH CV JOINT BOOTS. IF THE BOOTS ARE NOT REPLACED, THE AXLES WILL FAIL - CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER OR SUDDEN LOCKUP ON 1 OR BOTH FRONT WHEELS.

NHTSA complaint #10056867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Avon, CT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO SOON AT LOWER SPEEDS WHEN THE OVERDRIVE BUTTON IS ON. IF OVERDRIVES IS OFF THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS. I HAVE CHANGED THE FLUID BUT THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED.

NHTSA complaint #10003330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Patchogue, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ON GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING, USUALLY IT OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP POSTION OR ACCELERATING FROM A LOW SPEED. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK DEALER REPLACED FRONT TIMING COVERS, GASKETS, INTAKE MANIFOLD COLLECTOR, COIL PACKS, PLUGS, AND PERFORMED THROTTLE CHAMBER SERVICE, NOW VEHICLE HAS AN OIL LEAK. TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. STARTER MOTOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #883027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE CONSUMER HAD TO FORCE IT. PART HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY DEALER, CONSUMER WAS TOLD NISSAN COMPANY ADVISED DEALER NOT TO REPLACE THIS COMPONENT AGAIN, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. ALSO ON DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WATER WAS LEAKING INTO VEHICLE, ENOUGH TO SOAK CARPET. DEALER SAID THAT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE VEHICLE. *AK THE MILDEW SMELL AFTER RAIN AND CAR WASH.

NHTSA complaint #878152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salem, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THERE IS A DECREASE IN ACCELERATION. VEHICLE IS SLOW AND SLUGGISH. ALSO THERE IS A PROBLEM WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THERE IS A MICO COMPUTER CHIP THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #863691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Silver Spring, MD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ON, AND THE GEAR STICKS FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #839444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bolingbrook, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

INTERLOCK CABLE BETWEEN IGNITION SWITCH AND SHIFTER BROKE MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR THE KEY TO BE TAKE OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD DOWN THE DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA complaint #543810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO GO OUT OF PARK. GEAR STICKS, AND THE DRIVER HAS TO REALLY STRUGGLE TO GET THE GEAR OUT OF THIS POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE THIRD TIME THE DEALER FINALLY REPLACED THE BUSHING LOCK IN THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL IS GOING ON.

NHTSA complaint #823450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ashland, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION IS DELAYED WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #533111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION REPLACED DUE TO STALLING UPON SHIFTING INTO SECOND AND THIRD GEARS.

NHTSA complaint #520719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NEW TRANSMISSION RELEASED FLUIDS AND SMOKED, REPLACED DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION.

NHTSA complaint #520719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lakewood, CA

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

AIR IN CLUTCH LINES.

NHTSA complaint #602986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Nissan Maxima problems

← Full 1996 Nissan Maxima report