1999 Nissan Maxima problems

AIR BAGS

POSSIBLE "TAKATA RECALL." THESE PARTICULAR MAKE, MODELS AND YEAR, VEHICLES HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WHERE THE AIRBAGS HAVE NOT DEPLOYED AFTER HAVE HIGH SPEED ACCIDENTS. I AM VERY SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY AN AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER AND TWO OTHER SEPARATE AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SHOPS THAT THE AIR BAGS MUST BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF OVER $500.00, TO INSURE THEIR INTEGRITY AND THAT THEY WILL PROPERLY DEPLOY IN THE UNFORTUNATE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. RIGHT NOW I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO THE FACT THE FAILED AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED! I HAVE SEEN THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY CARS OF THIS SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR THAT HAVE COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME NATURE, EXHIBITING THE SAME AIRBAG FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ANOMALIES AND WORST OF ALL, MANY OF THEM NOT DEPLOYING AFTER HIGH SPEED ACCIDENTS WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE! PLEASE INCLUDE THESE VEHICLES IN THE TAKATA RECALLS, AS IT HAS SHOWN TO HAVE AN SIGNIFICANT MANUFACTURES DEFECT, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY CLAIM SOME LIVES IF NOT ADDRESSED ASAP; PLEASE DO NOT LET ME OR SOMEONE ELSE LOSE THEIR LIFE DUE TO THIS ISSUE NOT BEING ADDRESSED APPROPRIATELY AND IMMEDIATELY! I TRUST THAT THIS INFORMATION WILL LAND ON THE DESK OF SOMEONE WHO WILL ESTABLISH THE FACTS I HAVE PRESENTED HERE TODAY AND TAKE THE PUBLIC'S SAFETY TO HEART AND DON'T LEAVE THIS ISSUE UP TO WHATEVER FATE MAY COME OF IT! THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY VOICE, IT REPRESENTS MANY OTHERS WHO STILL DRIVE THIS SAME VEHICLE; EVEN THOUGH THE NUMBERS OF US ARE MUCH LESS AT THIS TIME THAN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST MANUFACTURED; WE STILL DESERVE THE SAME CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO ALL OF THE NEWER VEHICLES ARE RECEIVING ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT NUMBERS OF THOSE VEHICLES AND DRIVERS ARE MUCH GREATER! SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10897416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10808012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT GOING UP HILL. WHEN I REACHED THE TOP OF THE HILL AND LET OFF THE PETAL, THE CAR CONTINUED TO PICK UP SPEED. THE BRAKE PETAL WAS STIFF AND UNRESPONSIVE. THERE WAS NOTHING UNDER THE PETAL. AS I WAS QUICKLY APPROACHING ANOTHER RED LIGHT WITH STOPPED TRAFFIC. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ROUNDED THE YIELD INTO A DESERTED PARKING LOT DOING ABOUT 80MPH. THE CAR SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND REMOVE THE KEYS. THE CAR CONTINUED TO TRAVEL WHEN TURNED OFF WITH THE BRAKE UNRESPONSIVE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I CLICKED IT OVER AND THE CAR CONTINUED ITS BEHAVIOR. I QUICKLY TURNED THE CAR OFF. REMOVED THE KEY AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. I INFORMED HIM OF THE PROBLEM AND ASKED HIM NOT TO START THE CAR. WHEN MY MECHANIC RECEIVED THE CAR HE INFORMED ME THAT THE STUD THAT HOLDS THE HARNESS AWAY FROM THE THROTTLE COMPONENTS HAD BROKEN OFF AND LODGED DOWN IN THERE HOLDING THE ACCELERATOR IN AN OPEN POSITION. BECAUSE THE CAR BELIEVED THE ACCELERATOR WAS BEING DEPRESSED, RENDERED THE BRAKE INACTIVE. I WAS TERRIFIED AND DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE. I THOUGHT ABOUT SELLING, ' THE CAR THAT ALMOST KILLED ME ', BUT WE OWN 2 OF THEM. MY 1999 AND MY HUSBAND'S 2000. I HAVE THE LUXURY EDITION AND IT HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD CAR. JUST FEEL I HAVE BEEN TAINTED BY THE EXPERIENCE EVEN AFTER MY MECHANIC REMOVED THE OTHER STUD AND CALLED IT A FREAK ACCIDENT. OBVIOUSLY I'M STILL THINKING ABOUT IT. AND YES I DID LOOK AT OUR 2000 MAXIMA TO SEE IF IT MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THOSE COMPONENTS ARE NOT IN THE SAME POSITION. JUST MINE.

NHTSA complaint #10749601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT GOING UP HILL. WHEN I REACHED THE TOP OF THE HILL AND LET OFF THE PETAL, THE CAR CONTINUED TO PICK UP SPEED. THE BRAKE PETAL WAS STIFF AND UNRESPONSIVE. THERE WAS NOTHING UNDER THE PETAL. AS I WAS QUICKLY APPROACHING ANOTHER RED LIGHT WITH STOPPED TRAFFIC. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ROUNDED THE YIELD INTO A DESERTED PARKING LOT DOING ABOUT 80MPH. THE CAR SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND REMOVE THE KEYS. THE CAR CONTINUED TO TRAVEL WHEN TURNED OFF WITH THE BRAKE UNRESPONSIVE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I CLICKED IT OVER AND THE CAR CONTINUED ITS BEHAVIOR. I QUICKLY TURNED THE CAR OFF. REMOVED THE KEY AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. I INFORMED HIM OF THE PROBLEM AND ASKED HIM NOT TO START THE CAR. WHEN MY MECHANIC RECEIVED THE CAR HE INFORMED ME THAT THE STUD THAT HOLDS THE HARNESS AWAY FROM THE THROTTLE COMPONENTS HAD BROKEN OFF AND LODGED DOWN IN THERE HOLDING THE ACCELERATOR IN AN OPEN POSITION. BECAUSE THE CAR BELIEVED THE ACCELERATOR WAS BEING DEPRESSED, RENDERED THE BRAKE INACTIVE. I WAS TERRIFIED AND DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE. I THOUGHT ABOUT SELLING, ' THE CAR THAT ALMOST KILLED ME ', BUT WE OWN 2 OF THEM. MY 1999 AND MY HUSBAND'S 2000. I HAVE THE LUXURY EDITION AND IT HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD CAR. JUST FEEL I HAVE BEEN TAINTED BY THE EXPERIENCE EVEN AFTER MY MECHANIC REMOVED THE OTHER STUD AND CALLED IT A FREAK ACCIDENT. OBVIOUSLY I'M STILL THINKING ABOUT IT. AND YES I DID LOOK AT OUR 2000 MAXIMA TO SEE IF IT MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THOSE COMPONENTS ARE NOT IN THE SAME POSITION. JUST MINE.

NHTSA complaint #10749601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT GOING UP HILL. WHEN I REACHED THE TOP OF THE HILL AND LET OFF THE PETAL, THE CAR CONTINUED TO PICK UP SPEED. THE BRAKE PETAL WAS STIFF AND UNRESPONSIVE. THERE WAS NOTHING UNDER THE PETAL. AS I WAS QUICKLY APPROACHING ANOTHER RED LIGHT WITH STOPPED TRAFFIC. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ROUNDED THE YIELD INTO A DESERTED PARKING LOT DOING ABOUT 80MPH. THE CAR SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND REMOVE THE KEYS. THE CAR CONTINUED TO TRAVEL WHEN TURNED OFF WITH THE BRAKE UNRESPONSIVE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I CLICKED IT OVER AND THE CAR CONTINUED ITS BEHAVIOR. I QUICKLY TURNED THE CAR OFF. REMOVED THE KEY AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. I INFORMED HIM OF THE PROBLEM AND ASKED HIM NOT TO START THE CAR. WHEN MY MECHANIC RECEIVED THE CAR HE INFORMED ME THAT THE STUD THAT HOLDS THE HARNESS AWAY FROM THE THROTTLE COMPONENTS HAD BROKEN OFF AND LODGED DOWN IN THERE HOLDING THE ACCELERATOR IN AN OPEN POSITION. BECAUSE THE CAR BELIEVED THE ACCELERATOR WAS BEING DEPRESSED, RENDERED THE BRAKE INACTIVE. I WAS TERRIFIED AND DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE. I THOUGHT ABOUT SELLING, ' THE CAR THAT ALMOST KILLED ME ', BUT WE OWN 2 OF THEM. MY 1999 AND MY HUSBAND'S 2000. I HAVE THE LUXURY EDITION AND IT HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD CAR. JUST FEEL I HAVE BEEN TAINTED BY THE EXPERIENCE EVEN AFTER MY MECHANIC REMOVED THE OTHER STUD AND CALLED IT A FREAK ACCIDENT. OBVIOUSLY I'M STILL THINKING ABOUT IT. AND YES I DID LOOK AT OUR 2000 MAXIMA TO SEE IF IT MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THOSE COMPONENTS ARE NOT IN THE SAME POSITION. JUST MINE.

NHTSA complaint #10749601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, THE KNOCK SENSOR AND THE COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE KNOCK SENSOR, SOLENOID CONTROL AND THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. MA 08/13/15 UPDATED 10/25/2017

NHTSA complaint #10725747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10618617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10618617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

EXCESSIVE RUSTING TO THE RADIATOR SUPPORT COMPONENT. WHILE REGULAR OIL CHANGE TIME, A MECHANICS NOTICED THE EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF A BODY PART THAT SUPPORTS THE RADIATOR. THIS IS VITAL PART THAT SUPPORTS THE RADIATOR. IT COULD BE DANGEROUS IF RADIATOR DROPS WHILE DRIVING ON ANY HIGHWAY AT STATED SPEED. NISSAN MAXIMA HAS MULTIPLE RUSTING ISSUE WITH BODY FOR THIS GENERATION OF CAR. PROBLEM WITH RADIATOR SUPPORT IS ONE OF THE DANGEROUS SINCE IT CAN KILL OR HURT MANY IF RADIATOR FALLS DUE TO RUSTED SUPPORT.

NHTSA complaint #10536718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AFTER FILLING GAS TO THE FULL TANK, CAR WAS PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE. SOON GARAGE SMELLED LIKE A GAS SPILL/LEAK. LOOKED AROUND AND UNDER THE CAR FOR LEAKAGE. NO VISIBLE SIGN OF LEAK. HAD TO MOVE THE CAR OUTSIDE THE GARAGE TO AVOID FILLING THE GARAGE WITH GASOLINE SMELL AND FUMES AND AVOID ANY POSSIBLE HAZARDS TO HOUSE AND HUMAN. NEXT DAY, TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. MECHANICS CHECKED IT OUT AND MENTIONED THAT GAS FILLER PIPE (METAL PIPE BETWEEN GAS FILLING HOLE TO GAS TANK) IS RUSTED AND HAS HOLES FROM WHERE THE GAS LIQUID ESCAPED AND SMELLED. IF I HAD LEFT THE CAR IN GARAGE FOR OVERNIGHT, WHICH COULD HAVE FILLED UP GARAGE WITH GASOLINE FUMES AND COULD HAVE CREATED HAZARDS CONDITION. ALSO, HAVING HOLE IN THE FILLER PIPELINE IS ALSO A POTENTIAL HAZARDS SINCE GAS SPILLING CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAN ALSO CREATE FIRE HAZARDS SITUATION IF THERE IS ANY SPARK NEAR BY. SPILLING WOULD NOT BE VISIBLE UNLESS HOLE GETS BIGGER AND MASS AMOUNT OF GAS RUSHES OUT. IN ANY CASE, GAS LEAK IS DANGEROUS TO ENVIRONMENT AND HUMANS. NISSAN SHOULD PROVIDE THE FIX AT NO CHARGE TO CUSTOMERS.

NHTSA complaint #10536710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RETRACTOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA complaint #10504721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

GARAGE-KEPT SINCE NEW 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS DEVELOPED SEVERE RUST/BODY ROT IN THE "RADIATOR SUPPORT MEMBER" WHICH ALSO ATTACHES FRONT ENGINE MOUNT POINTS. THIS DAMAGE WAS CAUGHT DURING AN OIL CHANGE WHEN THE PROTECTIVE PLASTIC SHIELD WAS REMOVED - WHICH EXPOSED THE DEGREE OF DANGER. INATTENTIVE OWNERS COULD MISS THIS ENTIRELY AND THE ENGINE COULD LITERALLY RIP FROM THE CAR OVER SEVERE BUMPS! BE SURE TO CHECK UNDER YOUR RADIATOR!

NHTSA complaint #10470048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL MOMENTARILY BEFORE STALLING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT TWO OXYGEN SENSORS FAILED. THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTERS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT EITHER THE ENGINE WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL OR THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. UPON EXAMINING THE VEHICLE FURTHER, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT A LOT OF WATER WAS BEING STORED WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENTS DUE TO A CLOGGED HOSE. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE HOSE AND DRAINED THE WATER FROM THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE HAD NOT RECURRED SINCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10425579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I AM A NISSAN TECHNICIAN, AND I HAVE BECOME CONCERNED WITH THE AMOUNT OF FOURTH GENERATION (1995-1999) MAXIMAS I HAVE SEEN WITH SUBSTANTIAL RADIATOR SUPPORT RUST. THIS OF COURSE CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE CROSSMEMBER, WHICH ATTACHES TO THE SUPPORT TO FORM THE LOWER ENGINE CRADLE. IN MANY INSTANCES, THE RUST GETS SO BAD THE CROSSMEMBER DROPS AND CAUSES A VERY REAL DANGER FOR DRIVERS, AND OTHERS -- IF THE CROSSMEMBER WERE TO GET CAUGHT ON THE EDGE OF A NASTY POTHOLE AS THE CAR GOES OVER, AN ACCIDENT IS GUARANTEED. THE EASY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO BRING THESE CARS BACK, AND JUST SECTION IN A PIECE OF GOOD STEEL, TAP IT, AND BOLT THE CROSSMEMBER BACK UP, AND UNDERCOAT THE REPAIRED AREA. THIS ISSUE CAN BE RECTIFIED, AND MANY CARS CAN BE SAVED FROM THE SCRAP HEAP, FOR THIS PROBLEM IS ENOUGH TO RENDER AN OTHERWISE TROUBLE-FREE CAR UNFIT FOR THE ROAD. I HOPE THIS ISSUE IS CONSIDERED, AND ACTED UPON BY NHTSA & NISSAN, SINCE IT OCCURS ONLY IN CONDITIONS OF HIGH SALT\CALCIUM WINTER ROADS. I AM NOT AWARE OF THIS ISSUE OCCURRING OUTSIDE OF WHAT IS TERMED THE RUST BELT - SO ITS NOT AS IF AN EXORBITANT NUMBER OF CARS WOULD REQUIRE REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10413208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

LURCHING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. BRAKING DID NOT SLOW THE CAR! TERRIFYING! USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SLOW ENOUGH TO PULL OVER AND TAKE NEXT EXIT. COULD NOT STOP AT STOP SIGN OF EXIT RAMP. PULLED INTO GAS STATION AND CHANGED AUTO TRANSMISSION GEAR. STOPPED WITH A VIOLENT LURCH AND THUD. TURNED ENGINE OFF. AAA WAS ABLE TO START CAR AND LOAD ONTO TOW RAMP. TAKEN TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND "NO CODES." DRIVING AND INSPECTION DID NOT FIND CAUSE. WHEN BROUGHT IT IN, SAID IT WOULD COST $98.00 TO CHECK IT OVER. AFTER NISSAN ENGINEER FROM NATIONAL DID INVESTIGATION, WOULD NOT RETURN OUR CALLS.. DEALER SAID CAUSE NOT FOUND- !CAR FINE TO DRIVE." CAR WAS THERE A WEEK. NO CHARGE. NO EXPLANATION. WHEN ASKED FOR TRADE-IN VALUE, GOT VERY LOW QUOTE. FELT LIKE A COVER-UP.

NHTSA complaint #10402012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION COILS FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THE DEALER INSPECTED BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. A DIFFERENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THREE OF THE SIX ENGINE COILS FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA complaint #10382595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

NEED 6 ENGINE COILS ON 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA.

NHTSA complaint #10358152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1999 NISSAN MAXIMA. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT DISPLAYED AT APPROXIMATELY 140K MILES. COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED REPLACEMENT OF KNOCK SENSOR. REPLACED BY INDEPENDENT NISSAN MECHANIC. LIGHT REAPPEARED 1 WEEK LATER. MECHANIC CHECKED ELECTRICAL HARNESS AND FOUND IT TO BE OKAY. DUE TO KNOWN ISSUES WITH MAXIMA IGNITION COILS ALL 6 WERE REPLACED BY SAME INDEPENDENT NISSAN MECHANIC. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AWAY FROM MECHANIC. DIAGNOSTICS WAS VAGUE, GENERAL MESSAGE. TOOK VEHICLE TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP. DEALER INDICATED THAT USING AFTER MARKET COILS WAS THE PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT PROMISE THAT USING OFFICIAL NISSAN PARTS WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED NISSAN NATIONAL OFFICE, BUT THE CORPORATE OFFICE REFUSES TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM. THE CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH INTERFERENCE WITH THE COILS BUT NISSAN WOULD NOT REPLACE THE COILS. REPLACING PARTS AND DIAGNOSTICS FROM 3 MECHANICS IN ADDITION TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP COST OVER $2000.00. AT PRESENT, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON WITH THE VAGUE CODE AND NISSAN HAS NO IDEA OF HOW TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10346947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

1999 NISSAN MAXIMA, IGNITION COIL FAILURE AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON. CAR LOOSES PICKUP, ROUGH IDLING AND KNOCKING.

NHTSA complaint #10339796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1999 NISSAN MAXIMA, IGNITION COIL FAILURE AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON. CAR LOOSES PICKUP, ROUGH IDLING AND KNOCKING.

NHTSA complaint #10339796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I BOUGHT A NISSAN MAXIMA 1999 FOR MY DAUGHTER ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT SHE GOT IN HER CAR ONE MORNING AFTER JUST HAVING HER VEHICLE AT A MECHANIC FOR A CHECK UP/SERVICE. THEY TOLD HER THE CAR WAS FINE. SHE THEN PROCEEDED DOWN THE ROAD TO THE FREEWAY, STOPPED FOR GAS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. PANICKED BY THE 'AREA' OF TOWN SHE WAS IN I HAD A TOW TRUCK FROM AAA DISPATCHED TO MEET HER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE KEY TO THE VEHICLE HAD BECOME DEPROGRAMMED. I PROCEEDED TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSED TO HELP ME UNLESS I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEM. A SCAM ALERT TO ENSURE THAT YOU MUST USE A DEALERSHIP AT HIGH COST. MY FEAR IS THAT SHOULD MY DAUGHTER BE HEADED THROUGH THE ARIZONA DESERT IN 120 HEAT AND THIS SAME SITUATION WOULD HAVE COME UP WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO CONTACT SOMEONE, HER (OR ANYONE ELSE'S) LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN IN DANGER. I FIND THIS KEY MALFUNCTIONING TO BE A SEVER SAFETY HAZARD AND THAT MORE PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT THEY COULD ENDANGER THEIR LIVES IF THE KEY MALFUNCTIONS AND THEY ARE NOT NEAR A DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. I HAVE ANOTHER NISSAN FX45 THAT I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE FOR FEAR THAT THE KEY COULD MALFUNCTION IN A SIMILAR MANNER LEAVING ME STRANDED AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10330901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.