4th generation (A32) · A32 · 783 complaints, 245 with mileage
Owners filed 783 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995–1999 Nissan Maxima, and 245 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
43% of failures occur beyond 100,000 miles — a wear pattern. The car generally reaches substantial mileage before trouble starts.
The most-reported areas are the electrical system (23.2% of complaints, typically around 91,000 miles), the engine and its cooling system (12.6% of complaints, typically around 92,000 miles), the airbag system (12.6% of complaints, typically around 80,554 miles).
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 182 | 23.2% | 91,000 | 60,000–127,000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 99 | 12.6% | 92,000 | 55,000–125,000 |
| Air Bags | 99 | 12.6% | 80,554 | 65,000–110,000 |
| Power Train | 45 | 5.7% | 71,946 | 56,500–132,300 |
| Suspension | 40 | 5.1% | — | — |
| Structure | 40 | 5.1% | 147,000 | 95,000–159,904 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 39 | 5.0% | — | — |
| Tires | 27 | 3.4% | — | — |
| Steering | 27 | 3.4% | — | — |
| Unknown Or Other | 26 | 3.3% | — | — |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 195 | 15 |
| 1996 | 117 | 22 |
| 1997 | 123 | 39 |
| 1998 | 133 | 48 |
| 1999 | 215 | 121 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 91,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The electrical system accounts for 23.2% of complaints (182 reports, 79 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 91,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 127,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 12.6% of complaints (99 reports, 44 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 92,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 55,000 and 125,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 12.6% of complaints (99 reports, 26 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,554 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 65,000 and 110,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 5.7% of complaints (45 reports, 10 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 71,946 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 56,500 and 132,300 miles.
Body structure accounts for 5.1% of complaints (40 reports, 15 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 147,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 95,000 and 159,904 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 1999 model year drew the most — 215 complaints — while 1996 drew the fewest at 117. The median year sits at 133.
No recall campaigns covering this generation appear in NHTSA's post-2010 recall file. That is not the same as an absence of problems — recalls address safety defects specifically, and many of the complaints above concern faults that are expensive or annoying without meeting that threshold.
Of the 783 complaints filed against this generation, 64 reported a crash; 51 reported a fire; 45 reported an injury; 1 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 8.2% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, a late-failure pattern shifts the question from whether to when. 43% of reported failures occur beyond 100,000 miles, so an example approaching that figure is approaching the range where other owners started reporting problems. The middle half of all failures falls between 60,500 and 132,300 miles.
On inspection, the electrical system and the engine and its cooling system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 91,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Pre-catalyst substrate breakdown on the exhaust manifold; ceramic debris can be drawn back into the cylinders through the EGR path causing scoring and oil consumption.
Valve cover and front crank seal oil leaks, and distributor/ignition failure causing no-start and rough running.