MYRModel Year Report

1998 Nissan Maxima

● Typical for this model
1998 Nissan Maxima
RENDERED 2026-08-02T12:06:05.817Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Nissan Maxima Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1998 highlighted. 1982: 4 complaints 1982 1983: 5 complaints 1984: 30 complaints 1985: 54 complaints 1986: 60 complaints 1987: 176 complaints 1988: 60 complaints 1988 1989: 62 complaints 1990: 106 complaints 1991: 76 complaints 1992: 110 complaints 1993: 78 complaints 1994: 89 complaints 1994 1995: 152 complaints 1996: 96 complaints 1997: 102 complaints 1998: 113 complaints 1998 1999: 165 complaints 2000: 360 complaints 2000 2001: 172 complaints 2002: 205 complaints 2003: 206 complaints 2004: 1425 complaints 2005: 948 complaints 2006: 576 complaints 2006 2007: 129 complaints 2008: 78 complaints 2009: 339 complaints 2010: 275 complaints 2011: 106 complaints 2012: 107 complaints 2012 2013: 62 complaints 2014: 95 complaints 2015: 1 complaints 2016: 142 complaints 2017: 102 complaints 2018: 36 complaints 2018 2019: 18 complaints 2020: 21 complaints 2021: 3 complaints 2022: 5 complaints 2023: 1 complaints 2023
1998: 113 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19824
19835
198430
198554
198660
1987176
198860
198962
1990106
199176
1992110
199378
199489
1995152
199696
1997102
1998113
1999165
2000360
2001172
2002205
2003206
20041425
2005948
2006576
2007129
200878
2009339
2010275
2011106
2012107
201362
201495
20151
2016142
2017102
201836
201918
202021
20213
20225
20231

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%

10% of complaints: electrical system — 11 distinct reports on file.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

NHTSA ODI report, 20141105

1998 NISSAN MAXIMA , VIN # [XXX] . I CHECK THE RECALL VIN # ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT WAS NOT IN THE RANGE OF #'S. BUT MY ALTERNATOR STARTED ON FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I STARTED IT UP THAT NIGHT. IT DID EVERYTHING THE RECALL STATED IT WOULD.

NHTSA ODI report, 20040307

AIR BAGS 10%

10% of complaints: air bags — 11 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH AND TRAVELED OVER A PATCH OF ICE. THE VEHICLE THEN SPUN AROUND AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20130117

LETTER ON BEHALF OF ANTHONY A ABELE CONCERNING NON DEPLOYMENT OF FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS DURING A CRASH INVOLVING 1998, NISSAN MAXIMA. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20030401

MAJOR FRONTAL ACCIDENT -- NO AIRBAGS (DRIVER OR PASSENGER) DEPLOYED !!!!

NHTSA ODI report, 19990503

AIR BAGS 7%

7% of complaints: air bags — 8 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

WAS TRAVELING 40MPH & HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION. AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, NEITHER ONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19990728

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6%

6% of complaints: electrical system — 7 distinct reports on file.

TIRES 5%

5% of complaints: tires — 6 distinct reports on file.

CRASH

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 20020729 — electrical system

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, ONE OF THE DIODES USED IN THE ALTERNATOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED WHEN BUILT. THIS CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE DIODE AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH COULD MELT T

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 29, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY

Campaign 02V171000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060403 — exterior lighting

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 S

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.

Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060701 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE N

Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Campaign 06E049000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20081217 — exterior lighting

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH

Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

Campaign 08E050000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1998 Nissan Maxima — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (11 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (11 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (8 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 02V171000 (electrical system) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E049000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 08E050000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1984 ▲ 2018 ▲ 1985

WORST YEARS

■ 2004 ■ 2005 ■ 2006

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1998 Nissan Maxima reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1998 Nissan Maxima is rated "typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1998 Nissan Maxima?

The most-reported component is electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator, accounting for 10% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1998 Nissan Maxima have?

6 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.