FaultScore

1998 Nissan Maxima brake problems

13 of the 133 complaints about the 1998 Nissan Maxima are about the braking system — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 24,000 miles.

A

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 5 38.5%
Foundation Components 2 15.4%
Drum 2 15.4%
Disc 1 7.7%
Conventional 1 7.7%
Rotor 1 7.7%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1 7.7%

Brakes across every Nissan Maxima year

1993 12 3.7%
1998 13 4.0%
2000 36 11.0%
2001 23 7.1%
2002 23 7.1%
2004 74 22.7%
2005 28 8.6%
2006 61 18.7%
2007 25 7.7%
2016 21 6.4%
2017 10 3.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 7,500 miles Charlotte, NC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

BRAKES FAILED TO HOLD AND SMOKE CAME FROM REAR BRAKES. AT APPROX 7500 MILES, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE GRINDING AND SQEALING BRAKE SOUNDS.THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. CARS WAS TAKEN BACK ON TWO MORE OCCASIONS TO REPORT BRAKE SOUNDS. DEALERSHIP COULD REPRODUCE SOUNDS DURING TEST DRIVE AND SAID THE BRAKES WERE FINE. THE LAST INCIDENT WITH THE LOCK UP AND SMOKE, VEHICLE WITH APPROX.44,000 MILES WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING BRAKE RELINE AND REAR BRAKE CABLES AT A COST OF $400 PLUS. THE PROBLEM OF TOO MUCH BRAKE PEDAL WAS SAID TO BE THE NORM. BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WAS NEVER THIS MUCH WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED.

NHTSA complaint #10060006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,500 miles Middletown, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

I WAS DRIVING ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD AND APPLIED MY BRAKES. I GOT NOTHING BUT INSTANT AND COMPLETE ABS, AND AFTER QUICKLY RELEASING AND REAPPLYING THE BRAKES, STILL HAD NOTHING BUT ABS. PH

NHTSA complaint #10005471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Proctorville, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND HIGHER, AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE FRONT WHEELS LOCK UP AND BRAKES DON'T HOLD. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON 3 OCCASIONS, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. MR

NHTSA complaint #8024167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dacula, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM

WHEN RELEASING PEDAL AFTER BRAKING THERE IS A GRINDING AND HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED REAR BRAKE CABLES AND TURNED REAR ROTORS.*AK

NHTSA complaint #8008671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Atlanta, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM

PER DEALERSHIP, REAR BRAKE CABLE DOES NOT RELEASE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #742537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Birmingham, AL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

I HAD ABS PROBLEM ON 05-04-00,07-17-00 AND TWO OTHER TIME IN 1999&2000.

NHTSA complaint #730370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Birmingham, AL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

I HAD ABS PROBLEM ON 05-04-00,07-17-00 AND TWO OTHER TIME IN 1999&2000.

NHTSA complaint #730370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED BRAKES GRIND. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #864212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED BRAKES GRIND. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #864212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vallejo, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #722380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hicksville, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING SOUND IN THE BRAKES. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT RELEASING PROPERLY AT 9000MILES, AND AT 26000 MILES THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #861059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hicksville, NY

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING SOUND IN THE BRAKES. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT RELEASING PROPERLY AT 9000MILES, AND AT 26000 MILES THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #861059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cerritos, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

SQUEAKY BRAKES.

NHTSA complaint #609117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Nissan Maxima problems

← Full 1998 Nissan Maxima report