VehicleVerdict

1990 Nissan Maxima problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

A typical year for this model

The 1990 Nissan Maxima sits mid-pack among Maxima years: 138 NHTSA complaints against a model median of roughly 127, with 4 recalls and no defect investigations.

Fuel System leads the complaint categories with 41 reports (30% of the total).

138

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

0

Investigations

7

Crash-involved

3

Fires reported

7

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 1990 compare to other Maxima years?

Maxima NHTSA complaints by model year, 1990 highlighted1,725 complaints1982: 4 complaints1983: 8 complaints1984: 40 complaints1985: 64 complaints1986: 74 complaints1987: 194 complaints1988: 73 complaints1989: 78 complaints1990: 138 complaints1991: 99 complaints1992: 140 complaints1993: 102 complaints1994: 128 complaints1995: 195 complaints1996: 117 complaints1997: 123 complaints1998: 133 complaints1999: 215 complaints2000: 467 complaints2001: 225 complaints2002: 278 complaints2003: 249 complaints2004: 1,725 complaints2005: 1,152 complaints2006: 733 complaints2007: 169 complaints2008: 99 complaints2009: 460 complaints2010: 399 complaints2011: 138 complaints2012: 137 complaints2013: 71 complaints2014: 126 complaints2015: 2 complaints2016: 224 complaints2017: 154 complaints2018: 46 complaints2019: 28 complaints2020: 33 complaints2021: 4 complaints2022: 6 complaints2023: 2 complaints
Maxima NHTSA complaints by model year, 1990 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Maxima years to avoid →

What are the most common 1990 Nissan Maxima problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Fuel System4130%
Visibility & Wipers2216%
Transmission118%
Lighting107%
Engine97%
Electrical System97%
Brakes86%
Seat Belts64%
Seats64%
Latches & Locks43%
Body & Structure32%
Speed Control32%
Steering32%
Other21%
Airbags11%

Does the 1990 Nissan Maxima have recalls?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

09E025000LightingMay 11, 2009 · 42,540 units

Defect

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

09E012000LightingApril 7, 2009 · 16,270 units

Defect

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

06E026000LightingMarch 23, 2006 · 61,944 units

Defect

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

95V244000Fuel SystemDecember 15, 1995 · 747,000 units

Defect

IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A MIXTURE OF MUD AND SALT TO GET TRAPPED BETWEEN THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND WHEEL HOUSING. THE TRAPPED MUD AND SALT CAN RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE AND THE WHEEL HOUSING.

Consequence

SIGNIFICANT CORROSION OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE MAY RESULT IN FUEL LEAKS WHICH IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. IN ADDITION, THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS MOUNTED TO THE WHEEL HOUSING AND IN THE EVENT OF SIGNIFICANT CORROSION, AND THE MOUNTING COULD FAIL IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN DEPENDING UPON THE EXTENT OF THE CORROSION.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING; HAD REPLACED MOTOR OIL; VEHICLE STILL SHAKES; DRIVING & NOTICED SMOKE FROM A/C & UNDERHOOD; VEHICLE LOST BRAKES; PULLED OVER & CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. UNDERHOOD NOTICED ENGINE HAD MELTED (ALUMINUM BLOCK). FIRE DEPT. SAID FUEL RELATED. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · July 18, 1997 · fire

“DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR POWER WINDOW CABLE BROKE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, 1:00 POSITION, SPEED 20MPH. IN FOR REPAIR 4 TIMES. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · August 1, 1996 · crash

“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”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · April 20, 2004

“I SMELL BURNED WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE. I ISOLATED TO THE REAR CENTER BRAKE LAMP WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. BECAUSE THE SOCKETS WERE THE METAL CAN IN THE LAMP SOCKET MOVES OR SEPARATES FROM THE PLASTIC SOCKET HOUSING. IT IS VERY CLOSE TO THE RECALL 96V253004. ”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · September 7, 2002

“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…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · September 10, 2002

1990 Nissan Maxima — common questions

Is the 1990 Nissan Maxima reliable?

It is close to typical for the Maxima: 138 NHTSA complaints, 4 recalls, and no investigations on file.

What are the most common 1990 Maxima problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are fuel system (41 complaints), visibility & wipers (22 complaints), transmission (11 complaints).

Does the 1990 Nissan Maxima have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 1990 Nissan Maxima. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Nissan Maxima years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Maxima years to avoid are 2004, 2005, 2006, 2000, 2009, 2010, 2002, 2003, 2001, 2016, 1999, 1995, 1987. The cleanest record among Maxima years belongs to 2023.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.