NISSAN MAXIMA · model year

1994 NISSAN MAXIMA

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

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994NISSANMAXIMA carries 128 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, 9 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 1994 MAXIMA is visibility:power window devices and controls with 13 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (9) and power train:automatic transmission (8). 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 1994 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.

128
Complaints
7
Crashes
3
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

128 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 CONTROLS13
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE9
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION8
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP4
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS3

Recent Complaints

20130207FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

SINCE I PURCHASED VEHICLE BACK IN 2007, THIS VEHICLE LEAKS GASOLINE WHEN FULL TANK IS FUELED. IT CREATES A LARGE PUDDLE OF FUEL IN THE REAR UNDER THE FUEL NECK FILL PIPE. IT TAKES ABOUT 20 MILES OF DRIVING FOR THE LEAK TO STOP. I HAD NEVER BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS BEING A COMMON PROBLEM BY ANY SERVICE CENTER I HAVE TAKEN IT TO. MY HOUSEHOLD IS SAFETY CONSCIOUS WHEN IT COMES TO THE USE OF ANY FLAMMABLE ITEMS THAT COULD POSE A RISK OF FIRE WHEN THESE LEAKS OCCUR. I ALWAYS TRY NOT TO FILL THE TANK COMPLETELY BUT I ADMIT SOMETIMES I SIMPLY FORGET, ONLY REALIZING IT AFTER THE FUEL STATION GASOLINE HOSE STOPS ON ITS OWN. MY CONCERN HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT WHILE DRIVING AND IS LEAKING, SOMEONE MAY THROW OUT THEIR WINDOW A CIGARETTE OR I MAY GO OVER SOMETHING THAT COULD TRIGGER A SPARK, CAUSING A FIRE/EXPLOSION. *TR

Mileage: 134,000

20100623FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

VEHICLE: 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA (VIN# [XXX]) EVERY TIME I PUMP IN A FULL TANK OF FUEL AT THE GAS STATION, THE FUEL BEGINS TO LEAK AND CREATES A PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND WHEEL HOUSING IS SIGNIFICANTLY CORRODED THAT HAS RESULTED IN A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, IT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. ALSO, THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS MOUNTED TO THE WHEEL AND THE MOUNTING COULD FAIL IN A VEHICLE CRASH. I DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 95V244000, WHICH WAS A RECALL ON THE 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE TANK: TANK ASSEMBLY: FILLER PIPE AND CAP. A MIXTURE OF MUD AND SALT GOT TRAPPED BETWEEN THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND WHEEL HOUSING THAT RESULTED IN CORROSION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND WHEEL HOUSING. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGED-KEPT AND ONLY HAS 140,000 MILES FOR A 16-YEAR-OLD VEHICLE. ON 6/18/2010, I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO ROSENTHAL NISSAN DEALER IN VIENNA, VA FOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT, BUT AFTER CALLING NISSAN NO

20100623FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

VEHICLE: 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA (VIN# [XXX]) EVERY TIME I PUMP IN A FULL TANK OF FUEL AT THE GAS STATION, THE FUEL BEGINS TO LEAK AND CREATES A PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND WHEEL HOUSING IS SIGNIFICANTLY CORRODED THAT HAS RESULTED IN A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, IT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. ALSO, THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS MOUNTED TO THE WHEEL AND THE MOUNTING COULD FAIL IN A VEHICLE CRASH. I DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 95V244000, WHICH WAS A RECALL ON THE 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE TANK: TANK ASSEMBLY: FILLER PIPE AND CAP. A MIXTURE OF MUD AND SALT GOT TRAPPED BETWEEN THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND WHEEL HOUSING THAT RESULTED IN CORROSION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND WHEEL HOUSING. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGED-KEPT AND ONLY HAS 140,000 MILES FOR A 16-YEAR-OLD VEHICLE. ON 6/18/2010, I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO ROSENTHAL NISSAN DEALER IN VIENNA, VA FOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT, BUT AFTER CALLING NISSAN NO

20090401SEAT BELTS

MY MAXIMA HAS A PLASTIC SHROUD AROUND THE FUEL FILLER NECK, PRESUMABLY TO PROTECT IT FROM ROAD DEBRIS, ROCKS, ETC, BLASTING THE FILLER NECK. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SHROUD TRAPS FINE DIRT AND MOISTURE. THIS INCLUDES WINTER ROAD SALT. WHEN I REMOVED THE SHROUD, MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF FINE SAND & DIRT FELL TO THE GROUND. WHEN I CLEANED OUT WHAT WAS STUCK UP INSIDE THE REAR QUARTER PANEL AREA, I SWEPT UP 3 FULL DUSTPANS. IT WAS CLOSE TO 10LBS OF CRAP. THE FILLER NECK WAS BADLY RUSTED. THE REAR QUARTER PANEL WAS RUSTED BADLY. WHEN I STARTED TO DISMANTLE, I WENT TO REMOVE SEATBELT BOLT. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THE ENTIRE AREA WHERE THE SEATBELT ATTACHED WAS BEHIND FILLER NECK AND COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THE SHEET METAL TWISTED APART EASILY AND WOULD NOT HAVE PROTECTED THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER IN A 5 MPH COLLISION. IT WOULD HAVE JUST TORE AWAY. YEARS AGO MY '86 HONDA PRELUDE HAD A RUSTY FILLER NECK. I REMOVED IT AND WENT TO BUY THE PART, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. IT WAS CONSIDERED

Mileage: 100,000

20090401FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

MY MAXIMA HAS A PLASTIC SHROUD AROUND THE FUEL FILLER NECK, PRESUMABLY TO PROTECT IT FROM ROAD DEBRIS, ROCKS, ETC, BLASTING THE FILLER NECK. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SHROUD TRAPS FINE DIRT AND MOISTURE. THIS INCLUDES WINTER ROAD SALT. WHEN I REMOVED THE SHROUD, MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF FINE SAND & DIRT FELL TO THE GROUND. WHEN I CLEANED OUT WHAT WAS STUCK UP INSIDE THE REAR QUARTER PANEL AREA, I SWEPT UP 3 FULL DUSTPANS. IT WAS CLOSE TO 10LBS OF CRAP. THE FILLER NECK WAS BADLY RUSTED. THE REAR QUARTER PANEL WAS RUSTED BADLY. WHEN I STARTED TO DISMANTLE, I WENT TO REMOVE SEATBELT BOLT. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THE ENTIRE AREA WHERE THE SEATBELT ATTACHED WAS BEHIND FILLER NECK AND COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THE SHEET METAL TWISTED APART EASILY AND WOULD NOT HAVE PROTECTED THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER IN A 5 MPH COLLISION. IT WOULD HAVE JUST TORE AWAY. YEARS AGO MY '86 HONDA PRELUDE HAD A RUSTY FILLER NECK. I REMOVED IT AND WENT TO BUY THE PART, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. IT WAS CONSIDERED

Mileage: 100,000

20080131TIRES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER TRENDSETTER SE, SIZE P206/65R15 (NA) TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SAW A DEFECTIVE TREND IN SEVERAL COOPER TIRES THAT SHE PURCHASED. SHE BOUGHT FOUR TIRES INITIALLY IN AUGUST OF 2006. THE CONTACT RETURNED ONE TIRE ON DECEMBER 6, 2007 BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, TRANSMISSION TYPE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, ENGINE SIZE, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 178,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,307.

Mileage: 176,307

20080114TIRES:SIDEWALL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A, SIZE P245/45R18 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD A CRACKED SIDEWALL. GOODYEAR WAS NOTIFIED. THERE WAS A BUY BACK PROGRAM ON THIS TIRE THAT EXPIRED ON DECEMBER 31, 2007. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,000.

Mileage: 43,000

20051101FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

THERE WAS A FAULTY FUEL LINE IN CONSUMERS 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA. *TS THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP AND TEMPERATURE SENSOR. *JB

20051101ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THERE WAS A FAULTY FUEL LINE IN CONSUMERS 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA. *TS THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP AND TEMPERATURE SENSOR. *JB

20050630FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

FUEL TANK LEAKS DURING FILL-UPS AND IF CAR IS POSITIONED ON AN INCLINE.

Mileage: 150,000

20050620POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN 2003 I GOT IT REBUILT IT WENT OUT AGAIN IN 2004 EVERY PERSON I KNOW OWN A 1991-1994 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS THESE PROBLEMS AND I DONT THINK ITS RIGHT.SO THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE CARS TRANSMISSION.

Mileage: 129,000

20050620EQUIPMENT

MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN 2003 I GOT IT REBUILT IT WENT OUT AGAIN IN 2004 EVERY PERSON I KNOW OWN A 1991-1994 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS THESE PROBLEMS AND I DONT THINK ITS RIGHT.SO THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE CARS TRANSMISSION.

Mileage: 129,000

20050531ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

DT: FOR THE PAST YEAR SMELLED GAS. BEEN TOOK TO DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. DONE REPAIRS TO HOSES,EXHAUST, ETC. LATER DISCOVERED THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL INJECTION. SYSTEM. WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON HIGH THE SMELL WAS EVIDENT. ALSO, THIS WAS PRESENT IN THE MORNING WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED FOR THE FIRST 5 MINUTES. TOOK TO SERVICE DEALER, AND FOUND NO LEAKS, BUT DID PERFORM SMOKE TEST AND NUMEROUS INSPECTIONS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, IS WAS PRESENT WHEN IS DEFROST WAS TURNED ON. GAS SMELL IWASSTRONGER WHEN ACCELERATING ABOUT 25 MPH OR SO IN STOP OR GO TRAFFIC. *AK

Mileage: 90,000

20050531FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

DT: FOR THE PAST YEAR SMELLED GAS. BEEN TOOK TO DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. DONE REPAIRS TO HOSES,EXHAUST, ETC. LATER DISCOVERED THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL INJECTION. SYSTEM. WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON HIGH THE SMELL WAS EVIDENT. ALSO, THIS WAS PRESENT IN THE MORNING WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED FOR THE FIRST 5 MINUTES. TOOK TO SERVICE DEALER, AND FOUND NO LEAKS, BUT DID PERFORM SMOKE TEST AND NUMEROUS INSPECTIONS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, IS WAS PRESENT WHEN IS DEFROST WAS TURNED ON. GAS SMELL IWASSTRONGER WHEN ACCELERATING ABOUT 25 MPH OR SO IN STOP OR GO TRAFFIC. *AK

Mileage: 90,000

20050531VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

DT: FOR THE PAST YEAR SMELLED GAS. BEEN TOOK TO DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. DONE REPAIRS TO HOSES,EXHAUST, ETC. LATER DISCOVERED THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL INJECTION. SYSTEM. WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON HIGH THE SMELL WAS EVIDENT. ALSO, THIS WAS PRESENT IN THE MORNING WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED FOR THE FIRST 5 MINUTES. TOOK TO SERVICE DEALER, AND FOUND NO LEAKS, BUT DID PERFORM SMOKE TEST AND NUMEROUS INSPECTIONS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, IS WAS PRESENT WHEN IS DEFROST WAS TURNED ON. GAS SMELL IWASSTRONGER WHEN ACCELERATING ABOUT 25 MPH OR SO IN STOP OR GO TRAFFIC. *AK

Mileage: 90,000

20040927FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

NHTSA RECALL 95V244000 CONCERNING FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY PIPE FILLER NECK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL. HOWEVER, DEALER CHARGED CONSUMER $1,700.00 FOR RECALL REPAIRS. *AK

20040922WHEELS

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALLS 95V244000 AND 94V194000 REPAIRS CONCERNING WHEELS AND THE FUEL FILLER. CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR THE LABOR, AND THE REPAIRS ON THE WHEELS WAS NOT PERFORMED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. A BROKE VACUUM LINE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO IDLE POORLY. THE VEHICLE'S WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. *NM

20040922FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALLS 95V244000 AND 94V194000 REPAIRS CONCERNING WHEELS AND THE FUEL FILLER. CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR THE LABOR, AND THE REPAIRS ON THE WHEELS WAS NOT PERFORMED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. A BROKE VACUUM LINE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO IDLE POORLY. THE VEHICLE'S WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. *NM

20040922ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALLS 95V244000 AND 94V194000 REPAIRS CONCERNING WHEELS AND THE FUEL FILLER. CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR THE LABOR, AND THE REPAIRS ON THE WHEELS WAS NOT PERFORMED. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. A BROKE VACUUM LINE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO IDLE POORLY. THE VEHICLE'S WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. *NM

20040526VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONCE, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

Mileage: 12,000

Compare 1994NISSANMAXIMA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA have?
The 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA has 128 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 3 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA?
The most-complained component for the 1994 NISSAN MAXIMA is VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1994 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.