RecallMyCar

1997 Nissan Maxima Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 1997 Nissan Maxima, and owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
102
owner complaints to NHTSA
7 / 16
complaints citing a crash / fire
21
MPG combined (EPA)

1 safety recall for the 1997 Nissan Maxima

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Alternator/generator/regulator (electrical system)

    NHTSA 02V171000 Reported 161,000 vehicles potentially affected NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    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…

102 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1997 Nissan Maxima have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA; 7 describe a crash and 16 describe a fire. Reports cite 7 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 85,943 miles. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 16 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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 wa”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 31, 2018 · Service brakes

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 nissan maxima. The contact stated that smoke was emitting from the engine compartment on several occasions. The contact indicated the vehicle was taken to an independent me”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 17, 2014 · Engine

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1997 Nissan Maxima. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined21 mpg
City / Highway18–19 / 24–26
FuelPremium
EPA classMidsize Cars
Engine6 cyl, 3 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Nissan Maxima model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Nissan Maxima model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1982 Nissan Maxima04
1983 Nissan Maxima05
1984 Nissan Maxima030
1985 Nissan Maxima154
1986 Nissan Maxima160
1987 Nissan Maxima0176
1988 Nissan Maxima060
1989 Nissan Maxima162
1990 Nissan Maxima1106
1991 Nissan Maxima176
1992 Nissan Maxima2110
1993 Nissan Maxima378
1994 Nissan Maxima289
1995 Nissan Maxima0152
1996 Nissan Maxima096
1997 Nissan Maxima1102
1998 Nissan Maxima1113
1999 Nissan Maxima0165
2000 Nissan Maxima0360
2001 Nissan Maxima3172
2002 Nissan Maxima6205
2003 Nissan Maxima3206
2004 Nissan Maxima21,426
2005 Nissan Maxima2948
2006 Nissan Maxima2576
2007 Nissan Maxima1129
2008 Nissan Maxima079
2009 Nissan Maxima1339
2010 Nissan Maxima1275
2011 Nissan Maxima0106
2012 Nissan Maxima0107
2013 Nissan Maxima062
2014 Nissan Maxima096
2015 Nissan Maxima01
2016 Nissan Maxima8142
2017 Nissan Maxima4103
2018 Nissan Maxima236
2019 Nissan Maxima118
2020 Nissan Maxima122
2021 Nissan Maxima03
2022 Nissan Maxima05
2023 Nissan Maxima01

Checking a specific 1997 Nissan Maxima

How do I know if my 1997 Nissan Maxima has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1997 Nissan Maxima; your car may already have been repaired under it.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Nissan dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V171000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Nissan models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.