Most common 1997 Nissan Maxima problems
Share of the 102 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Maxima complaints by model year
Best Maxima years: 2022, 2019, 2020. Years to avoid: 2009, 2010, 2004, 2005, 2006. Compare all years →
1997 Nissan Maxima recalls (1)
Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
On certain passenger vehicles, one of the diodes used in the alternator May have been damaged when built. This can eventually result in failure of the diode and an electrical short which could melt the plastic housing.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the alternator. Owner notification began July 29, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1997 Nissan Maxima:
Alternator fires
What 1997 Nissan Maxima owners say
Electrical system all 39 →
Recall 02V171000 concerning alternator. Consumer was in the parking lot and noticed a burning smell, then saw smoke coming out from under the hood. Consumer lifted up the hood and flames came out from the alternator. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer. Consumer contacted the manufacturer, and was told that they had records indicating that the alternator was replaced. Consumer was told that the recall was warranted for 1 year. It was past a year, and there was nothing they could do.
My wife backed the car out of the garage and noticed a burning smell. She turned off the engine and got me. When I opened the hood there was smoke and a burning smell. The alternator had started to burn as well as the wiring harness. This issue was covered by NHTSA campaign id 02V171000, but Nissan says my VIN was not among those affected and my car is not covered by the recall.
Engine & cooling
ABS lights flashed on and off several times. Then solid brake light came on. Car gave off a strange smell. Turned off car. Parked car in the street. 2 hours later the police alerted us that the car was on fire. The engine bay was completely engulfed in flames. Fire department was called and they extinguished the fire. Police report was filed. Video of the fire was captured on my ring doorbell.
I needed to replace a muffler on my 1997 Nissan Maxima. On 092209 I took my Maxima to a muffler shop, the mechanic noticed a very strong rawfuel smell. He said he could not use a flame torch due to a possible explosion. He replaced the muffler by hand and told me to have the fuel system inspected because this could be a dangerous situation. On 092609 I had the fuel system inspected by an independent mechanic, he discovered that fumes and possibly gas were escaping from the fuel filler neck and tube because of corrosion within the wheel base. I have tried to locate replacement parts from 3 salvaged vehicles and each were also corroded. New parts have been hard to located and remain uncertain as to whether they will fit.
Air bags
While driving our vehicle on the interstate, my son rear-ended a Ford winstar van. He believes that he was going approximately 60 MPH and was able to brake to some extent before hitting her rear bumper. Fortunately no one was injured. However there was extensive damage to the front of the Maxima. This included the front bumper, grill, radiator, hood and other components that I was unable to assess. However our body shop and insurance company felt that the cost of repairs exceeded the value of the vehichle such that they "totaled" the car. My concern was that with such extensive front-end damage the air bags did not deploy. Nissan seems to think that this was appropriate. How can we determine if this is correct. Please advise. Thank you.
Travreling 45mph when another vehicle was making a turn in front, consumer's vehicle swerved to avoid hitting the other vehicle. Instead, hit vehicle on driver's side then on passenger's side. Upon impact, the air bags beployed but must have popped or fizzled out. Driver's head made contact with the front windshild and there was smoke inside of vehicle.
1997 Nissan Maxima engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 24 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Nissan Maxima a good car?
Based on 102 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Maxima rates average: 30% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Maxima at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Nissan Maxima?
The electrical system — 39 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year, most often about alternator/generator/regulator. Next are the engine & cooling (14) and air bags (10).
How many recalls does the 1997 Nissan Maxima have?
There is 1 recall for the 1997 Nissan Maxima, the most recent from June 24, 2002 (alternator/generator/regulator). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Maxima?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2019 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2009, 2010, 2004, 2005 and 2006. See the full Nissan Maxima years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Nissan Maxima problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 86,000 miles; 10% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.