Complaints
117
Crashes
15
Fires
6
Injuries
10
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1996 Nissan Maxima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#110 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Avg mileage:135,000 mi
Crash-related:9
#28 complaints
Automatic Transmission
#37 complaints
Airbags
Avg mileage:75,000 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1996 Nissan Maxima.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 10 | 9 | — | 135,000 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 7 | 2 | — | 75,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical | 1 | — | — | — |
Air Bags:Frontal
10
complaints
Crashes
9
Fires
—
Avg Miles
135,000
Automatic Transmission
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
75,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1996 Nissan Maxima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Nissan Maxima Years
1996 Nissan Maxima — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1996 Nissan Maxima reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1996 Nissan Maxima has 117 NHTSA complaints, 15 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Air Bags:Frontal with 10 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1996 Nissan Maxima?
Top reported problems: Air Bags:Frontal (10 complaints, avg 135,000 mi); Automatic Transmission (8 complaints); Airbags (7 complaints, avg 75,000 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1996 Nissan Maxima?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 110,294 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1996 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA complaints for the 1996 Nissan Maxima include 15 crash-related reports, 6 fire reports, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1996 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1996 Nissan Maxima as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1996 Nissan Maxima?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Maxima reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1996 Nissan Maxima
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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