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1985 Nissan MaximaProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 54 owner complaints about the 1985 Nissan Maxima, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

52
CarFlaw IndexSolid year6% below the Maxima median · #21 of 35 years by complaints
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints5441 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage90kFuel system, gasoline, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 23, 2004. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1985 Nissan Maxima has problems

54 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Fuel system, gasoline3222
Engine and engine cooling1310
Electrical system77
Service brakes, hydraulic20
Power train20
Fuel system, other10
Steering11
Tires10
Vehicle speed control11
1 other systems10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

1985 Nissan Maxima recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Nissan.

Best & worst years

1985 vs. every other Maxima year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Maxima median. How we score

'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1985 Nissan Maxima, and the recalls they led to.

  1. FUEL INJECTOR ASSEMBLY LEAKAGEEA94018 · closed Nov 8, 1995
    Led to recall 95I006000
  2. STEERING MALFUNCTIONPE88025 · closed May 11, 1988
    No recall
In owners' words

What Maxima owners report

Recent fuel system, gasoline complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AS A RESULT OF ADMITTED DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTORS(ON RECALL). NISSAN REPLACED FUEL INJECTORS AT NO CHARGE, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE OTHER DAMAGED ITEMS SUCH AS, POWER STEERING, "SEVERE" SEAL DAMAGE CAUSING LARGE OIL LEAK, AND OTHER DAMAGES. I HAVE CALLED AND WRITTEN NISSAN.…
Complaint 10069981 · Jan 15, 2004 · 90,000 miles
FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTORS. ROYED INJECTORS AND OWER STEERING PUMP, NUMEROUS OIL SEALS, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, ETC. IN ADDITION THERE WAS GENERAL SOOT ALL OVER THE ENGINE, WHICH WIIL NOT COME OFF.*AK FURTHERMORE, IT WAS A DANGEOUS SITUATION, AND HAD TO CALL THE…
Complaint 10033449 · Aug 25, 2003 · 90,000 miles
NISSAN MAXIMA FUEL INJECTORS LEAKED CAUSING LARGE FIRE IN ENGINE AREA. INJECTORS ARE ON RECALL BECAUSE OF DEFECT BUT I WAS NOT INFORMED. NISSAN REFUSES TO PAY FOR ALL DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE FIRE. NISSAN ADMITS INJECTORS ARE DEFECTIVE. *NLM
Complaint 10023942 · Jun 28, 2003 · 95,000 miles

Own a 1985 Maxima?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.