1992 Nissan Maxima: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 110 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (18% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 110 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1992 nissan maxima. The contact stated that while refueling, fuel spewed from the filler neck. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 95v244000 (fuel system, gasoline). The failure mileage was not available. The VIN was not available.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jun 2011
“Tl*the contact owns a 1992 nissan maxima. The contact stated that while adding gasoline to the fuel tank he smelled fuel and noticed it leaking from underneath the fuel tank. The dealer was informed about the failure and stated that the vent holes in the fuel tank were cracked. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 188419. The current mileage was 188700.”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Sep 2010
“Tl*the contact owns a 1992 nissan maxima. The contact stated that there is a fuel leak on the pipe that connects to the gas tank due to corrosion. The manufacturer stated that there was a recall regarding this failure. The contact went to the dealer; however, there was only one person there who could perform the repair. Nissan has the necessary part and the contact can repair it himself, but they refuse to sell him the part. The failure has been ongoing for two months. The recall number was unknown. The failure mileage was 92,480.”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Jun 2008
Show 7 more owner reports
“My daughter over-corrected and rolled the car 4 times, which she was ejected on the first roll, because the driver side seatbelt failed to hold her in. She has marks on her neck showing where the seatbelt burned her before failing to hold her inside the car. She has over 200 stitches in her body, luckily no broken bones or internal injuries. It appears the driver side door came open also, possibly the exit point, she doesn't know where she was ejected from. *tr”Owner report · Latches/Locks/Linkages · May 2008
“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. *tr”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Sep 2007
“1992 nissan maxima with corrosion on rear wheel housing area. Consumer states that this corrosion caused the failure the left rear seatbelt retractor. *kb the consumer stated the problem may have resulted of a recall that was performed. Recall 95v244000. According to the recall, there had been some instances when it appeared that the repaired areas had not been properly sealed permitting mud and salt to be retained and thus producing corrosion. The consumer stated he had the recall repair completed in dec 2002. The consumer stated over four years following the repair, he found significant corrosion damaged. The ignition coils were replaced. *jb”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Apr 2007
“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. *ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jun 2006
“When idling/ driving a strong gas smell fills the car. It is almost unbearable. I have a toddler and this problem worries me greatly.*ak”Owner report · Fuel System, Other · Sep 2003
“My 1992 maxima is leaking fuel near the filler tube. The dealer says the fuel filler tube is corroded and the entire assembly needs replacement. Research shows that the maxima years 89-94 have a recall for the corrosion of the fuel filler tube, but only for certain states (nc is not included). Nissan refuses to pay because they say my VIN is not in their database for the recall, but this is a serious safety issue and I do not see how the registered state of the car affects the recall status. The car has been driven with weather similar to the states listed on the recall.*ak”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Jul 2003
“While traveling on a side street and without prior warning, the vehicle caught on the fire underneath the hood. *ak the fuel system leaked. The vehicle totaled. (the fire mobile prop outside) the problem occurred in the engine gear and the wheel area. (short circuit) *scc *jb”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2003
When filing, owners marked a crash in 15 of these complaints and injuries in 18 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
IN SOME UNDERBODY IMPACTS THE AIRBAG SENSOR ACTIVATES AND SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE AIRBAG, LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG TO INFLATE.
Remedy: A TUNNEL SENSOR OF DIFFERENT DESIGN WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A MIXTURE OF MUD AND SALT TO GET TRAPPED BETWEEN THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND WHEEL HOUSING. THE TRAPPED MUD AND SALT CAN RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND THE WHEEL HOUSING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN DEPENDING UPON THE EXTENT OF THE CORROSION.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1992 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Maxima by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1992 Nissan Maxima reliable?
NHTSA has 110 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 1992 Nissan Maxima. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (18% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1992 Nissan Maxima problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 139,000 miles or less.
Does the 1992 Nissan Maxima have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting:headlights. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.