1998 Nissan Maxima Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1998 Nissan Maxima.

19971999
Complaints
133
Crashes
14
Fires
13
Injuries
9
Fatalities
1
Recalls
0

Worst 1998 Nissan Maxima Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#111 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:111,754 mi
Crash-related:3
#211 complaints

Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator

Avg mileage:118,555 mi
Fires:8
#38 complaints

Air Bags:Frontal

Avg mileage:127,500 mi
Crash-related:4
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Nissan Maxima.

Airbags
11
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
111,754
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
8
Avg Miles
118,555
Air Bags:Frontal
8
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
127,500
Electrical Faults
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
150,124
Tire Defects
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
78,282
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
40,500
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Side/Window
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Rack And Pinion
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Child Seat
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Nissan Maxima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Nissan Maxima Years

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1998 Nissan Maxima — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1998 Nissan Maxima reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1998 Nissan Maxima has 133 NHTSA complaints, 14 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 11 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Nissan Maxima?
Top reported problems: Airbags (11 complaints, avg 111,754 mi); Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator (11 complaints, avg 118,555 mi); Air Bags:Frontal (8 complaints, avg 127,500 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 1998 Nissan Maxima?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 109,280 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Nissan Maxima include 14 crash-related reports, 13 fire reports, 9 injuries, and 1 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 1998 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 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 1998 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 1998 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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