Complaints
123
Crashes
8
Fires
19
Injuries
9
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1997 Nissan Maxima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#127 complaints
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Avg mileage:91,917 mi
Fires:8
#25 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Crash-related:2
#35 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:79,667 mi
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Nissan Maxima.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 27 | — | 8 | 91,917 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 5 | — | 2 | 79,667 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 5 | — | 4 | 88,500 mi | |
| Airbags | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 | — | — | — |
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
27
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
8
Avg Miles
91,917
Air Bags:Frontal
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
79,667
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
88,500
Airbags
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Rack And Pinion
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Nissan Maxima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Nissan Maxima Years
1997 Nissan Maxima — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 Nissan Maxima reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1997 Nissan Maxima has 123 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator with 27 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Nissan Maxima?
Top reported problems: Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator (27 complaints, avg 91,917 mi); Air Bags:Frontal (5 complaints); Electrical Faults (5 complaints, avg 79,667 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 1997 Nissan Maxima?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 89,800 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Nissan Maxima include 8 crash-related reports, 19 fire reports, 9 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 1997 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1997 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 1997 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 1997 Nissan Maxima
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
Check Any VIN — $4.99