NISSAN MAXIMA · model year

1989 NISSAN MAXIMA

78 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989NISSANMAXIMA carries 78 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 2 fires, 10 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 MAXIMA is electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash with 6 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap (6) and visibility:power window devices and controls (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1989 MAXIMA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

78
Complaints
8
Crashes
2
Fires
10
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

78 filings

Crashes Reported

8 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP6
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY3
SEAT BELTS3
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER3
STRUCTURE:BODY3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR2
STEERING2
POWER TRAIN2

Recent Complaints

20110801STRUCTURE:BODY

YESTERDAY JULY 18 2011, PASSPORT NISSAN INDICATED TO ME THAT NISSAN IS WILLING TO GIVE ME A $1200, ( TWELVE HUNDRED) FOR THE MAXIMA 1989 THAT YOU HAVE INSPECTED. NISSAN WANTS MY CAR FOR THAT AMOUNT, I MADE A COUNTER OFFER TO HIM. AT ANY RATE I DECIDED ,THAT NISSAN SHOULD JUST FIX MY CAR. THANK YOU, TO: RBITTINGER <RBITTINGER@PASSPORTNISSAN.COM> SENT: FRI, JUN 24, 2011 10:53 AM SUBJECT: MAXIMA 89 MORNING, FOR YOUR INFORMATION I AM FORWARDING THE FOLLOWING LINKS REGARDING MY MAXIMA 89, SEE YOU TUESDAY THE 28 OF JUNE. THANKS, SUMMARY HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/CARS/PROBLEMS/RECALLS/RECALLSUMMARY.CFM?RCL_CAMPAIGN_ID=95V244000&PROD_ID=11205&MODULETYPE=VEHICLE&MAKE=NISSAN&MODEL=MAXIMA&VEH_MODEL_YEAR=1989&SEARCHTYPE=DRILLDOWN RECALL BULLETIN HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/DOCSERVLET/ARTEMIS/PUBLIC/RECALLS/1995/V/RCMN-95V244-6337.PDF RON SEE PAGES 7 AND 8 ON THIS PDF FILE IT CALLS FOR WHEEL HOUSING AND TRUNK REPAIR HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/DOCSE

20060309FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS CORROSION BETWEEN FUEL FILLER TUBE AND LEFT REAR FENDER AND WHEEL HOUSING. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL 95V244000, REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK: FILLER PIPE AND CAP. THIS VEHICLE IN INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL; HOWEVER THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM UNTIL OTHER REPAIRS ARE MADE. THE REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED BEFORE THE RECALL WILL BE PREFORMED ARE AS FOLLOWS. THE LEFT REAR FENDER AND BOTTOM TRUNK PAN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS ALERTED AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.

Mileage: 193,000

20060309STRUCTURE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS CORROSION BETWEEN FUEL FILLER TUBE AND LEFT REAR FENDER AND WHEEL HOUSING. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL 95V244000, REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK: FILLER PIPE AND CAP. THIS VEHICLE IN INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL; HOWEVER THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM UNTIL OTHER REPAIRS ARE MADE. THE REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED BEFORE THE RECALL WILL BE PREFORMED ARE AS FOLLOWS. THE LEFT REAR FENDER AND BOTTOM TRUNK PAN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS ALERTED AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.

Mileage: 193,000

20050311FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

RECALL CAMPAIGN #95V244000 ; CUSTOMER STATES R5002, CORROSION RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THE FUEL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *BF *SC *JB

20050310POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

WHILE TURNING THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE ACCELERATING 35MPH, THE CLANKING NOISE ESCALATED LOUDER. THE DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE POWER TRAIN AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACEMENT DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

20050118FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING CORROSION FROM THE FILLER PIPE AND GAS TANK. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS GIVEN A FILE NUMBER. TWO WEEKS HAVE GONE BY AND THE OWNER IS UNABLE TO CONTACT ANYONE FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHO CAN ASSIST IN GETTING THIS DEFECT REPAIRED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Mileage: 120,000

20040903STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

CONSUMER COULD MOVE THE SHIFTER ON ITS OWN OUT OF PARK WITHOUT APPLYING FORCE. ALSO, STEERING COLUMN FAILED TO LOCK. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK

20040903POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER COULD MOVE THE SHIFTER ON ITS OWN OUT OF PARK WITHOUT APPLYING FORCE. ALSO, STEERING COLUMN FAILED TO LOCK. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK

20040823CrashFatalVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE BACKING OUT VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED ON IMPACT. AN AMBULANCE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, AND AN ACCIDENT REPORT WAS ISSUED. *AK

20040618ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW FROM JACK BIGGER NISSAN. APPROXIMATELY 5 YEARS AFTER THE PURCHASE, IN OUR HOT SUMMERS, I NOTICED THE DIGITAL DASHBOARD (ONE OF THE FEATURES THAT ATTRACTED MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF TO THIS PARTICULAR CAR) STARTED SHOWING HORIZONTAL "STREAKS" ACROSS THE LIGHT PANEL & THE READINGS WOULD FLICKER IN AND OUT. AS THE YEARS PASSED, THE PROBLEM GREW WORSE, TO THE POINT WHERE THE LIGHTS WOULD ACTUALLY GO OUT COMPLETELY! WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED, APPROXIMATELY 1994, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS PURCHASED FROM AND WAS INFORMED THAT, YES, THEY HAD DISCONTINUED USING THESE DIGITAL LIGHTS JUST FOR THAT REASON! UPON INQUIRY TO REPAIR, I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT WOULD COST ROUGHLY (AT THAT TIME) $1200 - $1400 TO INSTALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS REQUIRED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM!!! I HAD THEM SOMETIMES. I AM STILL DRIVING THE CAR AFTER 15 YRS., I NEVER HAVE ANY OF MY DASH LIGHTS - NOT SPEED, OIL, GAS, MILEAGE, CHECK ENGINE, CRUISE CONTROL OR TEMPER

20031106VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

FRONT DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Mileage: 172,300

20031015FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK CONSUMER NOTICED THAT GAS TANK WAS LEAKING FUEL.*AK

20030429UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1989 NISSAN MAXIMA *PH *JB ******DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS****770824.

20030324FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

MY 89 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS TWO RECALLS, 95V24400 AND 95I006000. NISSAN IS REFUSING TO AUTHORIZE INSPECTION DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE RECALLS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR COMPUTER BECAUSE THEY ARE OLD. MY COMPLAINT # WITH NISSAN IS # 4078816 DERWIN GONZALES IS THE CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVE AT 1-800-647-7261. MY CAR IS AT DARCAR NISSAN DEALER FOR THIS RECALL AND LAURA THE REPRESENTATIVE THERE-301-309-3950 REFUSES TO DO THE RECALL WORK. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!! *JB

Mileage: 121,590

20021215FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

SUBSTANTIAL RUST AND CORROSION DUE TO FUEL FILLER RUSTING WHICH WAS A RECALL. EXHAUST FUMES LEAKING INTO CABIN OF CAR. RISK OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. DROPPED OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL REPAIR, TOOK PICTURES OF MY CAR SENT PICTURES TO NISSAN FOR REPAIRS NOTHING DONE. I PICKED MY CAR UP AND GOT A CALL FROM DEALERSHIP TO DROP CAR OFF AGAIN. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT PROGRESS WAS AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO TAKE PICTURES AND SEND TO NISSAN, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS DONE A MONTH AGO WHEN IT WAS DROPPED OFF THE FIRST TIME. FUEL FILLER IS SO RUSTED THAT IT FLAKES AWAY WHEN TOUCHED WHICH IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD.

20021203FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

SINCE PURCHASING CAR. THERE HAS BEEN A STRONG SMELL OF GAS BOTH OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE CAR. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALER AFTER FINDING OUT ABOUT THE FUEL FILLER RECALL. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR, WE COULD STILL SMELL THE GAS, BUT ONLY IN THE FRONT AND SOMETIMES INSIDE THE CABIN. WE CALLED NISSAN AND THEY TOLD US THEY FIXED THE CAR, AND TO BRING IT IN TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT, WITH AN ADDITIONAL COST TO US. BEING THAT THE DEALERSHIP PRICES ARE HIGH, WE TOOK OUR CAR TO TWO SEPERATE MECHANICS, BOTH OF WHOM TOLD US THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE LEAKING AND THAT THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN IN 1995 FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM WHICH IS VERY, VERY HARD TO FIND TO LOOK UP ON THE INTERNET. ALSO, NISSAN DID NOT TELL US OF THIS PROBLEM. DT

20021203FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

SINCE PURCHASING CAR. THERE HAS BEEN A STRONG SMELL OF GAS BOTH OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE CAR. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALER AFTER FINDING OUT ABOUT THE FUEL FILLER RECALL. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR, WE COULD STILL SMELL THE GAS, BUT ONLY IN THE FRONT AND SOMETIMES INSIDE THE CABIN. WE CALLED NISSAN AND THEY TOLD US THEY FIXED THE CAR, AND TO BRING IT IN TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT, WITH AN ADDITIONAL COST TO US. BEING THAT THE DEALERSHIP PRICES ARE HIGH, WE TOOK OUR CAR TO TWO SEPERATE MECHANICS, BOTH OF WHOM TOLD US THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE LEAKING AND THAT THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN IN 1995 FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM WHICH IS VERY, VERY HARD TO FIND TO LOOK UP ON THE INTERNET. ALSO, NISSAN DID NOT TELL US OF THIS PROBLEM. DT

20021016FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

SINCE MY CAR IS SO OLD AM I ABLE TO STILL HAVE THIS MANUFACTURER'S RECALL ON THE FUELTANK REPAIRED AT NO COST? MR

20021010FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE FUEL TANK HAD CRACK CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT AND THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO REFILL MORE THAN OFTEN. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

20020827SEAT BELTS

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SEATBELT WILL NOT COME OUT OF RETRACTOR. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT WHEEL HOUSING WAS CORRODED. CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL 99V244000 FOR SAME PROBLEM.THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDEDIN RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Compare 1989NISSANMAXIMA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 NISSAN MAXIMA have?
The 1989 NISSAN MAXIMA has 78 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 2 fires, 10 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 NISSAN MAXIMA?
The most-complained component for the 1989 NISSAN MAXIMA is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP and VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS.
Is the 1989 NISSAN MAXIMA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.