NISSAN MAXIMA · model year

1990 NISSAN MAXIMA

138 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1990NISSANMAXIMA carries 138 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 3 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. 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 1990 MAXIMA is visibility:power window devices and controls with 14 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:injectors (13) and fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap (9). 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 1990 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.

138
Complaints
7
Crashes
3
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

138 filings

Crashes Reported

7 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS14
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS13
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP9
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM5
POWER TRAIN4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
SEATS3

Recent Complaints

20130222FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL SMELL BEING EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL FILLER ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 95V244000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20130222FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL SMELL BEING EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL FILLER ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 95V244000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20111121FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION WITHIN THE FUEL FILLER NECK, WHICH CAUSED A FUEL LEAK AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 95V244000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

Mileage: 135,000

20080820STRUCTURE:BODY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT EXAMINED HIS VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED. ALSO, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE RUSTED WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 185,149.

Mileage: 185,149

20080603SEAT BELTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE CLEANING THE TRUNK, THE CONTACT REMOVED THE CARPET IN ORDER TO VACUUM. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS RUSTED. HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 52V244000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

Mileage: 128,000

20050705FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

I HAVE A GAS LEAK AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 95V244000. RECALL DATE WAS 12/15/95. I TOOK MY 1990 NISSAN MAXIMA TO THE DEALER REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO OPEN RECALL ON MY VIN EVEN THOUGH I HAD A PRINT OUT OF THE RECALL FROM YOUR WEB SITE. THIS COULD PRESENT A FIRE HAZARD.

Mileage: 54,000

20050411FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

MY FUEL INJECTORS ARE TERRIBLE. CAR HAS NO ACCELERATION AND SMELLS OF GASOLINE. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT ONE INJECTOR WAS DEAD AT IDOL.*AK

20050329SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

DRIVER NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WATER CAME IN FROM THE WHEEL WELDS AND STARTED LEAKING ONTO THE REAR SEAT. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH REAR SEATS AND BOLTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK

20040715SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE LEFT DRIVER 'S SIDE SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE RUSTED. THIS CAUSE NO SUPPORT FOR THE SEAT BELTS. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE SEAT BELT NEEDED REPLACING ON THE OWNER EXPENSE. NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

20040714FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

WHILE FUELING GASOLINE IT SPLASHED BACK FROM THE FILLER NECK ONTO THE GROUND. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FILLER NECK HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

20040711FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

NISSAN MAXIMA 1990: RECALL INSPECTION WAS DONE ~1999 REGARDING POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE GASOLIE FILLER PIPE (CAMPAIGN#95V244000). SINCE THEN, SMALL LEAKS AFTER TOP OFF, AND NOW GETTING WORSE. IT POURED OUT FOR 2-3 MIN LAST TIME I FILLED THE TANK. I CALLED NISSANUSA AT GARDENA,CA FOR PERMISSION TO RESPECT AND THE LADY TWHO ANSWERED THE PHONE REFUSED TO GRANT IT. I AM A LITTLE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW; TRY MY BEST NOT TO. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO HELP ME GET PERMISSION TO HAVE A FREE INSPECTION AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THANKS FOR A REPLY. SINCERELY PAUL CHAN PKC228@COX.NET. *AK

Mileage: 180,000

20040611FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 95V244000.THE CAR WAS RECALLED 1999, BUT HAS BEEN SINCE LEAKING GAS SPORADICALLY AFTER TOP-OFF OR FILL UPS, NOW GETTING WORSE. IRONICALLY, IT WAS NOT LEAKING GAS PRIOR TO THE RECALL.*AK I CONTACTED NISSAN USA; BUT THEY REFUSED TO GRANT A SECOND RECALL DUE TO THE MILEAGE AND AGE OF THE VEHICLE. TO ME, THE CAR IS HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE.

Mileage: 190,000

20040423POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSAN MAXIMA'S MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 1989-1994. MANY MAXIMA OWNERS HAVE HAD THEIR TRANSMISSIONS FAIL AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION MORE THAN ONCE IN THEIR NISSAN MAXIMA'S.*AK

20031223FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

THE VEHICLE'S GAS FILLER TUBE CORRODED. A RECALL (95V244000) WAS ISSUED FOR THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR IT AT NO COST. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

Mileage: 130,000

20031017FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 95V244000 CONCERNING FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL DUE TO THE MODEL YEAR OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

20030812STRUCTURE

CONSUMER CONSTANTLY HAS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S ODOMETER IT HAS BROKEN FOR THE THIRD TIME.WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS GOES THREW INSPECTION THE CONSUMER HAS TO BRING A DOCUMENT STATING THE CORRECT MILEAGE ON THE CAR SO IT CAN PASS INSPECTION. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED IT TWICE NOW THEY FELL THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD. BUT NISSAN KEEPS REFUSING TO REPLACE THE ODOMETER. *MR *CB

20030716UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE ODOMETER WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES. *MR PH *JB

20030506FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL#95V244000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

20030430ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WENT TO REPLACE BULB IN ASSEMBLY. FOUND PLASTIC BRACKETS INSIDE MELTED. TRIED TO REPLACE WITH USED PART, BUT EVERY ASSEMBLY I FOUND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING A NUMBER OF TIMES RECENTLY, BUT HAD NEVER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD, SINCE ITS CLEAR ALL VEHICLES WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768334

Mileage: 122,500

20030116FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

THE FUEL AND BRAKE LINES ON MY NISSAN MAXIMA ARE CORRODED AND DUE TO THE BRAKE LINE FAILURE I HAD A LOSS OF BRAKE POWER. I WAS ABLE TO STOP AND CALL A TOW TRUCK, THANKFULLY. ALSO, THE FUEL LINES ARE CORRODED AND STARTED TO LEAK WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED MY CAR TO EXPLODE VERY EASILY. THE PLACMENT OF THESE LINES AND THE CARLESSNESS OF NISSAN MOTORS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT HERE. PEOPLE COULD DIE VERY EASILY FROM THESE CORRODED LINES.

Mileage: 90,000

Compare 1990NISSANMAXIMA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1990 NISSAN MAXIMA have?
The 1990 NISSAN MAXIMA has 138 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 3 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 NISSAN MAXIMA?
The most-complained component for the 1990 NISSAN MAXIMA is VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS with 14 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP.
Is the 1990 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.