1997 NISSAN MAXIMA Electrical System Problems

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 MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

1997 NISSAN MAXIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RECALL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BECAUSE HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS OTHER NISSAN'S THAT WERE RECALLED. *JB

IN THE BEGINNING I NOTICED IT TOOK ME A COUPLE TIMES TO START VEHICLE AND IT WOULD LOOSE POWER AT CERTAIN STOPS OR WHEN I SLOWED DOWN OR CAME TO A STOP. AND AS TIME I FELT IT JERK AND PULL AT TIMES WHEN I WAS NOT DRIVING TOO FAST THIS CONTINUED AND THEN IT WAS ONE DAY THAT IT DOES NOT WANT TO START UP, NEW STARTER, NEW BATTERY, TUNE UP AND IT JUST WONT START. I AM JUST WAITING TO SEE IF THEY FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

MY 1997 MAXIMA HAS HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PERIODICALLY COME ON FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS. THE OBD CODE IS FOR THE SPEED SENSOR (P0500), I HAVE THE SPEEDOMETER DROP TO ZERO OCCASIONALLY AND BELIEVE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CIRCUIT. I HAVE CHANGED THE SENSOR FOUR TIMES AND THE PROBLEM ALWAYS RETURNS. TESTING THE SENSOR SHOWS IT IS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED, I RESET THE CODE AND IT EVENTUALLY RETURNS TO NORMAL AND I CAN PASS THE EMISSION TEST. THIS YEAR, I HAVE INCOMPLETE CODES FOR EGR AND CATALYST MONITOR. THERE ARE NO CODES PENDING AND I CHECK THE STATUS DAILY. I HAVE ABOUT 500 MILES ON THE CAR SINCE THE CODE RESET AND IT CONTINUES TO REGISTER INCOMPLETE. I AM AFRAID THAT I AM GOING TO GET FINED FOR THE EXPIRED INSPECTION. ARE THERE ANY KNOWN ISSUES RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM? *TR

Mileage: 100,000

I OWN A 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA GLE. IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS I HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR TWICE, THE STARTER AND THE BATTERY TWICE. SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE WITH THE CHARGING SYSTEM. THE BATTERY LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON REPEATEDLY ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR TRAVELS MORE THAN 10-20 MILES. I HAVE HAD THE CAR STALL OUT WITH A DEAD BATTERY 5 TIMES AND EACH TIME I HAVE HAD TO HAVE A JUMP START OR CHANGE THE BATTERY ONCE. SOMETHING IS DRAINING THE SYSTEM. *TR

Mileage: 119,000

THEY TOLD ME WHEN I WAS PURCHASING THE 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT IT HAS BEEN THROUGH THERE INSPECTION. AS SOON AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME AND WAS AT A STOP THE ENGINE TURN OFF. IT TOOK ME TWO TIMES TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN TO START UP. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED THE DEALER AND SPOKE TO HIM ABOUT THE CAR TOOK IT IN TO GET IT REPAIRED. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP ENGINE JUST TURNS OFF. IT TOOK ME FIVE TIMES TO PLAY AROUND WITH THE IGNITION TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN AND THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. IN THE GLOVER COMPARTMENT I HAVE FOUND THE ENCLOSED COPY OF THE REPAIR INVOICE FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER THAT STATES HE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAVE KNOW WITH THE ENGINE. THEY NEVER MENTION TO ME THAT THE CAR WAS HAVING ANY PROBLEMS. I BOUGHT THE CAR AS IS PAID CASH. I TRIED TO RETURN THE CAR AND GET MY MONEY BACK. BUT THE DEALER SHIP SAID NO. I PURCHASED THIS CAR AT THE PLANET NISSAN 5850 CENTENNIAL CENTER BLVD. LAS VEGAS NV 89149. (702)876-8000. I'M VERY UPSET THAT THEY SOLD ME A LEMON OF A CAR THAT I PURCHASED AND THAT I HAVE BEEN PAYING OUT OF POCKET TO FIX . *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED HOWEVER IT WOULD RESTART. THIS HAD OCCURRED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. IT WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THREE OXYGEN SENSORS, THE ALTERNATOR AND STARTER. THERE WAS A RECALL #02V171000 PERTAINING TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 12/15/06. *JB

Mileage: 94,000

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. *JB

Mileage: 103,565

1997 MAXIMA SE. I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. I LIFTED THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR. IT DRAINED THE BATTERY. AS I REPLACED THE BATTERY, THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE. *NM

Mileage: 102,000

CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. IT MAY RUN FINE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, THEN SUDDENLY STALL. THIS HAS CAUSED NEAR-ACCIDENTS, AS ENGINE SUDDENLY FAILS TO RESPOND IN SITUATIONS WHERE ACCELERATION IS REQUIRED; PASSING, MERGING, CROSSING INTERSECTIONS. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS SHORT IN EGI HARNESS. BREAKAGE INSIDE THE HARNESS APPEARS TO BE A FREQUENTLY OCCURING PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE, BASED ON OTHER REPORTS ON WEB DISCUSSION BOARDS. ALSO, MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, SO THEY ARE AWARE THAT THIS HAPPENS, AND HAVE PUBLISHED A FIX THAT WORKS ONLY IN SOME CASES (I.E., AN UNSHIELDED WIRE SHORT). MANUFACTURER, IN SPITE OF THIS BEING A COMMON PROBLEM, REFUSES TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING, AND ASCRIBES IT TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE ONLY SOLUTION FOR THE CONSUMER IS TO PAY NEARLY $3,000 TO HAVE THE ENTIRE HARNESS REPLACED, WHEN AS I EXPERIENCED, THE SHORT IS IN A SHIELDED WIRE (PER TSB).

Mileage: 83,000

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V171000 CONCERNING THE ALTERNATOR. A FEW MONTHS AFTER HAVING THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN.*AK

97 NISSAN MAXIMA - I GOT THE ALTERNATOR RECALL AND TOOK IT INTO A NISSAN DEALTERSHIP. AFTER THEY FIXED IT THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TAKEN OUT A "BOLT" OFF A CERTAIN PART, AND THEY COULD NOT PUT IT BACK ON, AND THAT MY CAR WOULD MAKE NOISES IT I DIDN'T PAY TO GET THAT PART FIXED. NOW FOR 2 YEARS MY CAR MAKES A SCREACHING NOISE WHEN I TURN IT ON FOR ABOUT 45 SEC - WHICH WAKES UP THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE REASON I AM FILING THIS IS BECUASE, BEFORE THE RECALL THE CAR WAS FINE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, AND IT SEEMS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME NOISE, SO I FEEL AS IF IT IS ALMOST AN EPIDEMIC AMONGST NISSAN'S, MAXIMAS SPECIFICALLY. PLEASE ADVISE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

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. *AK

Mileage: 129,000

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V171000 CONCERNING ALTERNATOR. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ATERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

RECALL 02V171000 CONCERNING ALTERNATOR. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE AND A ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER CONCERNING THIS RECALL. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *NM

Mileage: 102,000

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK FIRE WAS CAUSED BY PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATOR. *MR

Mileage: 94,000

FAX LTR FM GEORGIA CHESTER (CA) REQUEST RE-START OF A 2002 RECALL ON THE 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA, HER MAXIMA CAUGHT ON FIRE, REPLY ATTN MARIA COBIAN/OXNARD, A DISTRICT OFFICE, ES HAVE NO REC OF PREVIOUS CORR. FM MS. CHESTER. *PH THE CONSUMER ER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 02V-171 BECAUSE IT WAS PRODUCED PRIOR TO FEBRUARY 13, 1997, WHEN NISSAN BEGAN TO USE THE DEFECTIVE ALTERNATORS. *NM

THE CAR STALLS OUT AND PROBLEMS WITH RESTARTING THE ENGINE. THE NISSAN DEALER SAID IT IS DUE TO A WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM AND WOULD COST $1600.00 FOR THE HARNESS AND $700.00 FOR INSTALLATION. I BELIEVE THAT A WIRING HARNESS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED UNLESS THERE WERE AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE HARNESS. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU.

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. TOOK VEHICLETO A MECHANIC, AND THEY SAID THAT ALTERNATOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S ALTERNATOR.*MR (NAR) DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONSUMER WAS REJECTED THE RECALL ISSUED FOR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF MISSING DOCUMENTATION. PLEASE REVIEW FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS. *CB *JB

ALTERNATOR HAS FAILED, BURNING SMELL FROM UNDER HOOD. VEHICLE HAS MISSED RECALL BY 16 DAYS. *LA

Mileage: 85,500

THE ALTERNATOR BURNED OUT TWICE. *NLM

CAR INITIALLY HAD TROUBLE STARTING. THE CAR LATER WOULD NOT START AT ALL; TOWED TO SERICE DEALER. I ALSO NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION. IT IS MAKING A NOISE WITH EACH BUMP IN THE ROAD OR WHEN A LEFT TURN IN MADE.

CAR INITIALLY HAD TROUBLE STARTING. THE CAR LATER WOULD NOT START AT ALL; TOWED TO SERICE DEALER. I ALSO NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION. IT IS MAKING A NOISE WITH EACH BUMP IN THE ROAD OR WHEN A LEFT TURN IN MADE.

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL UNDERHOOD/ENGINE/ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS. RECALL# 02V171000 SCC

Mileage: 63,000

PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, CONSUMER STATES THE ALTERNATOR FAILED ON THE VEHICLE, AND IS NOW REQUESTING A REFUND.*JB

Mileage: 56,274

FOG LIGHTS, BELTS, TRUNK RELEASE, ALTERNATOR, ELECTRICAL WIRING, AND BATTERY. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE NEW FOG LIGHT INSTALLED BECAUSE THE OLD ONES HAD BROWN MOISTURE IN THE LIGHT. THE TRUNK RELEASE STOPPED WORKING AND AS A RESULT THE TRUNK COULD ONLY BE OPENED WITH THE KEY. THE VEHICLE'S ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEMS. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE ALTERNATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AGAIN BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING. *NM

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE ALTERNATOR. ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS

CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR BEFORE FIRE STARTED, OR WAS NOTICED. FIRE DEPT. SUSPECTED ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I FOUND RECALL ON WEB, WHICH I HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF!!!! POOR WORK ON NOTIFICATION NISSAN! ARE THEY REALLY SENDING NOTICES OUT?*AK

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE CUT OFF AND STARTED TO SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND HAD ALTERNATOR REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AT 30MPH VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATED PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE ALTERNATOR. *JG

I PUT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE. I CAME BACK OUT TO THE GARAGE TO GET SOMETHING ELSE OUT OF THE CAR AND I SMELLED A HORRIBLE SMELL, LIKE PLASTIC BURNING. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THE FLAMES. MY NEIGHBOR HELPED ME PUSH THE CAR OUT FHE GARAGE. I RAN A HOSE OVER THE ENGINE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. HAD I NOT GOTTEN THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE, MY CAR COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE, BURNED MY BRAND NEW HOUSE DOWN AND POSSIBLY KILLED ME. I AM APALLED THAT I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS RECALL MORE THAN 1 YEAR AFTER MY INCIDENT. I THOUGHT IT WAS ISOLATED UNTIL I READ ABOUT IT IN THE NEWPAPER. IT COST MORE THAN $650 TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND FIX THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I AM GOING TO CONTACT NISSAN FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I AM VERY LUCKY THAT MY SITUATION DID NOT END UP KILLING ME.*AK

PE-02-034; VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 30 MINUTES BEFORE TURNED OFF AND PARKED. CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. SMOKE CAME FROM BENEATH THE HOOD, AND FLAMES BLAZED WHEN HOOD WAS OPENED. VEHICLE WAS NOT TOTALED. DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR DUE TO IT GOING BAD. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

PE-02-034; VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 30 MINUTES BEFORE TURNED OFF AND PARKED. CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. SMOKE CAME FROM BENEATH THE HOOD, AND FLAMES BLAZED WHEN HOOD WAS OPENED. VEHICLE WAS NOT TOTALED. DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR DUE TO IT GOING BAD. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

I OWN 2 OF THE SAMES CARS MAKE YEAR AND MODEL AND THE SAME THING HQAPPENED 2 BOTH CARS BUT ONE OF THEM WAS REALLY SERIOUS IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AS I WAS DRIVING I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO I THINK THERE SHOULDVE BEEN A RECALL OR SOMETHING PLEASE HELP THNK YOU. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

ALTERNATOR NOT CHARGING-AFTER STARTING CAR IN SHOP-ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE. SECOND 1997 MAXIMA WE HAVE WITNESS WITH THIS CONDITION-WILL SEND FILL OUT SEPERATE FORM ON OTHER CAR ALSO.*AK

SMOKE NOTICED FROM UNDERHOOD WHILE VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE. FIRE INSIDE ALTERNATOR-PUT OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER. *AK

ALTERNATOR JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE, MECHANIC DOES NOT KNOW WHY. THERE WAS NO WARNING, I DROVE FROM THE 6TH FLOOR TO THE 3RD FLOOR OF THE PARKING GARAGE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, SMELLED SMOKE LIFTED UP THE HOOD NOTICED THE ORANGE AND RED FLAMES. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO CONCORD NISSAN WAS TOLD THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAD CAUGHT FIRE & BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS AND FAN BELT. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT NISSAN THERE IS NO KNOWN CAUSE FOR THIS INCIDENT.

SMELLED SMOKE IMMEDIATLY AFTER STARTING CAR TURNED CAR OFF,INVESTIGATED AND SAW 3INCH FLAME EMITTING FROM ALTERNATOR NO WORK EVER DONE WITH ALTERNATOR IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM CONTACTED MANU. UNRESOLVED AS OF THIS TIME COMPLETE FAILURE RESULTED IMMEDIATLY. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK