Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1999 Nissan Maxima
NHTSA data on file today
The 1999 Nissan Maxima has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 165 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E050000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMPS/MISSING AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E049000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 83 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 37 complaints
- Air Bags 18 complaints
- Power Train 8 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 8 complaints
- Unknown or Other 8 complaints
Of the 165 complaints on file, 7 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 165 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1999 Nissan Maxima shows a below-average reliability, mainly due to the high number of electrical system complaints. Recalls are mostly associated with aftermarket lighting non-compliances, indicating minimal manufacturer-related recalls but issues with aftermarket parts. This limited data suggests potential key problem areas but requires caution due to uncertainty.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | Unknown | $200–$1,000 | very common |
| Engine cooling | Unknown | $300–$1,500 | common |
| Airbags | Unknown | $500–$2,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad and rotor replacement
- Coolant flush and refill
- Transmission fluid change
- Tire rotation and balancing
- Air filter replacement
- Timing belt inspection
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Electrical issues
- Engine overheating
- Airbag warning lights
- Transmission slipping
- Brake pedal softness
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1999 Nissan Maxima at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.