1993 Nissan Maxima Problems, Recalls & Reliability

102 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1993 Nissan Maxima, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 10/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Airbags leads the reports.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1993 Nissan Maxima has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

102Complaints
10/100Trouble index
6Recalls

Better year

Where 1993 sits among all Maxima years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Airbags 13 complaints (13%)
Visibility & wipers 13 complaints (13%)
Brakes & stability 12 complaints (12%)
Engine 12 complaints (12%)
Electrical 11 complaints (11%)
Fuel system 10 complaints (10%)

Recalls (6)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09E025000 2009

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…

Fix: 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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09E012000 2009

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…

Fix: 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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 06E026000 2006

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…

Fix: 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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 95V244000 1995

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.

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

WHEELS 94V194000 1994

THE ALUMINUM WHEELS WERE CLEAR COATED SEVERAL TIMES TO PROTECT THE METAL FINISH. SOME EXCESSIVE COATING CAN LEAVE THE WHEEL NUTS AN EXCESSIVE DISTANCE FROM THE WHEEL HUB WHEN TIGHTENED, ALLOWING THEM TO LOOSEN OVER TIME.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CLEAR PLASTIC COATING FROM THE BRAKE ROTOR MATING SURFACE ON THE BACK OF EACH WHEEL AND FROM THE WHEEL NUT MATING SURFACES. THE WHEELS WILL BE REINSTALLED AND THE WHEEL NUTS…

AIR BAGS 94V007000 1994

IN SOME UNDERBODY IMPACTS THE AIRBAG SENSOR ACTIVATES AND SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE AIRBAG, LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG TO INFLATE.

Fix: A TUNNEL SENSOR OF DIFFERENT DESIGN WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Federal defect investigations

INADVER.AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT EA93024 opened 1993, closed 1994

Led to recall campaign 94V007000.

Technical service bulletins

27 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on wheels & tires and electrical — are on file for the 1993 Nissan Maxima. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 1993 Maxima TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

1995peak 20 in 20002018

Questions buyers ask

Is the 1993 Nissan Maxima reliable?

The 1993 Nissan Maxima drew 102 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 10/100, scored against the model's worst year (2004).

What are the most common 1993 Nissan Maxima problems?

The top reported problems for the 1993 Nissan Maxima are airbags (13 complaints), visibility & wipers (13), and brakes & stability (12).

Does the 1993 Nissan Maxima have recalls?

6 recall campaigns apply to the 1993 Nissan Maxima. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.