1985 Nissan Maxima problems
The Nissan Maxima is a car manufactured and marketed by Nissan and offered as Nissan's flagship sedan primarily in North America, the Middle East, South Korea, and China—and currently in its eighth generation. Having debuted for model year 1982 as the Datsun Maxima, it replaced the earlier Datsun 810. The name Maxima dates to the 1981 model year when Datsun marketed the upscale 810 as the 810 Maxima in North America. Like the 810, early versions of the Maxima had their origins in the Datsun/Nissan Bluebird. It is renamed to Nissan Maxima when the Datsun brand was phased out for the 1985 model year.
The Maxima was marketed as an upscale alternative to the Altima and prior to 1993, the Stanza, distinguished by features such as a premium interior and V6 engine. Most Maximas were built in Oppama, Japan, until North American assembly began in Smyrna, Tennessee for the 2004 model year.
For the US and Canada, Nissan ended production of the Maxima in July 2023.
Outside North America, the Maxima nameplate has also been applied to variants or trim levels of several other models.
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Common 1985 Nissan Maxima problems
Based on the complaints from owners of the Nissan Maxima 1985, several common problems have been reported:
- Electrical Issues: Owners have experienced problems with the electrical system, such as the car struggling to start, battery drainage issues, and issues with the security system causing battery drain. This can lead to repeated battery failures and difficulties in starting the vehicle.
- Transmission Problems: Transmission issues have been a concern, including jerking when shifting, rough gear transitions, engine stalling, and sluggish acceleration. These symptoms can eventually lead to a total failure of the transmission, requiring costly repairs or replacements.
- Ignition Coil Failure: Another common problem reported is ignition coil failure. This issue can affect the car's performance, causing damage to other coils and potentially leading to further electrical and engine problems.
- Oil Leaks: Some owners have reported oil leaks in the Nissan Maxima 1985. Oil leaks can impact the overall performance of the vehicle, potentially causing damage to other components and affecting the car's reliability.
- Power Steering Pump Leaks: Power steering pump leaks have been noted in units made between 1995 and 2013 after reaching a certain mileage. These leaks can lead to fluid dripping onto other components, affecting the power steering system's functionality and potentially causing further issues.
- Other Common Issues: Additional problems include trouble with the air conditioning systems, electronic steering column locks, and faulty wiring in the front seat harness. These issues can impact the comfort, safety, and overall performance of the Nissan Maxima 1985.
By addressing these common problems reported by owners of the Nissan Maxima 1985, it is essential for potential buyers and current owners to be aware of these issues to ensure proper maintenance and timely repairs to maintain the car's reliability and performance.
What is the common problem with Nissan Maxima?
A prevalent concern among Nissan Maxima owners is a leaking and low-pressure air conditioning (AC) hose, often causing the AC to blow warm air. This issue is notably frequent in 2001 and 2004-2012 models, typically surfacing around 87,000 miles.
Is the Nissan Maxima a reliable car?
RepairPal gave the Nissan Maxima a 4.0 out of 5.0 reliability rating, ranking it 9th out of 32 car brands in the same category. The Nissan Maxima suffers from a few common problems, including a leaking and low-pressure air conditioning hose, transmission malfunction and failure, and a faulty front-seat wire harness.
How much horsepower does a 1985 Nissan Maxima have?
On October 17, 1984, the first front-wheel drive Maxima (based on the Bluebird U11) was introduced for the 1985 model year. This Maxima was available with a 157 hp (117 kW), 3.0-liter VG30E V6 engine and a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission.
What year of Nissan Maxima should I stay away from?
Best Nissan Maxima Years to Buy. According to CarComplaints, Nissan Maxima 2004-2008 are the years to avoid. Any year before 2004, although it might not have the best reliability due to being an older model, will serve you well.
1985 Nissan Maxima car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Nissan Maxima problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Fuel system problems
- Gasoline problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Electrical system problems
- Power train problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1985 Nissan Maxima vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 1985 Nissan Maxima
The NHTSA has received 61 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1985 Nissan Maxima. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 1985 Nissan Maxima vehicles.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1990-05-05
- VIN: JN1HU11S5FT
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
- Summary: FONTANA DEALER WHICH IS NOW PURCHASED BY SAN BERNARDINO NISSAN ADVISED ME SOMETIME IN 1993 THAT FUEL INJECTORS ARE TO BE CHANGED UNDER RECALL. I GAVE MY CAR WITH TRUST TO PERFORM NECESSARY REPLACEMENTS OF INJECTORS AND RELATED HOSES.THE JOB WAS NOT DONE. WHEN OTHER DEALER AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS DETECTED THAT THE JOB WAS NOT DONE AND THE ORIGINAL PARTS ARE THERE. I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, PLANET NISSAN [NOW SAN BERNARDINO NISSAN] TO CHECK AND CONFIRM. HE DID NOT CHECK MY CAR INSTEAD VERIFIED HIS RECORDS ONLY AND DENIED.THE CAR HAS STILL UNCHANGED PARTS AND RECENTLY IT WAS AGAIN DETECTED BY PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC THAT THE JOB UNDER RECALL IS NOT DONE. I TRUSTED THE DEALER AND I AM NOT A MECHANIC TO VERIFY. YOU CAN SEE OR ADVISE DEALER TO VERIFY. MY CAR IS IN SACRAMENTO AND IS USED BY MY SON [TEL # 1-916-296-2163] AND YOU CAN REACH HIM TO TAKE THE CAR TO A DEALER FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION/VERIFICATION.*AK
STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-05-15
- Fire: 1
- VIN: JN1HU11S8FT
- Components: STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: 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. ALSO, NO APOLOGIES FOR MY INCONVENIENCES.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2001-06-20
- Fire: 1
- VIN: JN1HU11S8FT
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: 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 FIRE DEPT.. NISSAN AGREED TO FIX/REPLACE FUEL INJECTORS "ONLY".
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2001-07-07
- Fire: 1
- VIN: JN1HU11S8FT
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: 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
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-10-01
- VIN: JN1HU15S1FX
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: HAD FUEL INJECTORS SERVICE 10/2001, NOW VEHICLE DOES NOT PASS EMISSION TEST AND DEALER DENIES ANY CONNECTION. SAYS NEEDS $2100.00 PLUS REPAIR WORK. *AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Fire: 1
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: WAS NOTIFIED OF A RECALL DUE TO ENGINE FIRES BY A FRIEND WHO WORKED AT NISSAN. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE REPAIR TO BE DONE AND WAS PUT ON A WAITING LIST. WAS NEVER CONTACTED BACK. WHEN I TRY TO START MY CAR ONE DAY, THE ENGINE BLEW UP LIFTING THE FRONT END OF MY CAR OFF THE GROUND AND MY CARS FRONT END (ENGINE) WAS ON FIRE. I SENT ALL THE INFORMATION TO NISSAN AND THEY GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THEY WANTED RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES AND TUNE UPS, WHICH I DID NOT HAVE. IT WAS BECOMING TO MUCH OF A HASSLE AND I STOPPED PURSUING IT. PREVIOUSLY I SENT THEM ALL THE INFORMATION REGARDING MY CAR AND ALL REPORTS REGARDING THE INCIDENT. I EVEN HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALER TO EXAMINE THE CAR AS THEY HAD INSTRUCTED. I STILL WAS NEVER REIMBURSED FOR MY CAR. *AK
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-04-25
- VIN: JN1HU11S6FT
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: I HAVE SINCE HAD MY LEAK REPAIRED AFTER LEARNING OF THE RECALL ON THE INTERNET (CAR POINT). I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY NISSAN OF THE RECALL IN 1995. I PAID TO FIX THE PROBLEM OF THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IN APRIL OF 1995 BUT CAR STILL SMELLED LIKE GAS INTERMITTENTLY AND I WAS NEVER TOLD BY ANYONE THAT MY CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE! THANKFULLY, THE PROBLEM IS FIXED WITH A NEW INJECTOR AND HOSE HARNESS SYSTEM, AND MY FAMILY AND MY HOME ARE NO LONGER IN DANGER OF FIRE BUT BUT I FEEL THAT NISSAN SHOULD PAY FOR PREVIOUS REPAIRS THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED, THE CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED RECALL 95I-006, DUE TO TIME PERIOD. *MJS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Fire: 1
- VIN: JN1HU11S2FT
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO RECALL COMPONENT FAILURE OF THE FUEL INJECTORS, PRIOR TO COMPLETION OF RECALL REPAIR, WHICH CAUSED WIRING HARNESS TO BURN.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-01-16
- Fire: 1
- VIN: JN1JU11SOFT
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: FUEL INJECTORS FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE.*AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-02-26
- Fire: 1
- VIN: JN1HU11S7FT
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: STARTED VEHICLE AT NOON. AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 2 HOURS, SAW SMOKE THEN FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD AREA OF VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT FIRE OUT. *AK
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Fire: 1
- VIN: JN1HU11SOFT
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: FUEL INJECTION WIRING SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-01-08
- Fire: 1
- VIN: JN1HU11S0FT
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: HAD RECEIVED NOTICE (395I006000) & CALLED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. TOOK NOTIFICATION & TORE IT UP. DROVE TO A STORE & VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-04-03
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: MR. SWINSON HAS LOOKED AT (15) NISSAN MAXIMA'S BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 1985 THROUGH 1988 AND FOUND THAT THEY ALL HAD BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLDS ON EITHER THE LEFT SIDE OR FRONT SIDE . *AK
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-02-18
- Fire: 1
- VIN: JN1HU11S4FT
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE. *AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-02-18
- Fire: 1
- VIN: JN1HU11S4FT
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: ENGINE FIRE CAUSE BY POSSIBLE FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: JN1H011S2FT
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: RECEIVED RECALL LETTER #95I00600, HAS BEEN WAITING FOR PARTS, CAR IS STARTING TO SMELL GAS . *AK
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: TRANSMISSION FAILED.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: RECALL NOTICE NOT RECEIVED ON THE FUEL INJECTORS.
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: TIRE FAILED.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Fire: 1
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED ON FUEL INJECTORS, ONE YEAR PRIOR TO RECALL CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-07-08
- VIN: JN1HU1153FT
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: RECALL REPAIR (P5137) COMPLETED ON THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, HOWEVER AFTER REPAIR DAMAGES TO ENGINE RESULTING FROM DEFECTIVE SYSTEM. MJS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-12-05
- Fire: 1
- VIN: JN1HV151FT0
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OWNER SMELLED GAS, WHEN OWNER PULLED OVER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE ENTIRE ENGINE AREA WAS BURNED. *AK
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-10-22
- Fire: 1
- VIN: JN1HU11S8FT
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: FUEL INJECTOR FIRE.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-09-23
- Fire: 1
- VIN: JN1HU1SXFT0
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A SMOG CHECK, STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES BECAUSE OF THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, RECALL 951006000.*AK *JB
1985 Nissan Maxima recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 1985 Nissan Maxima.
- Manufacturer: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
- Summary: THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. THE CAMPAIGN WILL REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTORS AND RELATED HOSES OF AFFECTED VEHICLES WHICH COULD LEAK.
- Consequence: FUEL LEAKS IN THE ENGINE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
- Remedy: NISSAN DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTORS AND RELATED HOSES ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
- Manufacturer: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
- Components: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
- Summary: THERE MAY BE INSUFFICIENT THICKNESS OF ADHESIVE IN THE CONTACT AREA BETWEEN THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD GLASS AND THE BODY. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS LACK OF ADHESIVE MAY CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO DISMOUNT IN AN ACCIDENT, THUS FAILING TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 212, WINDSHIELD MOUNTING AND WHICH MAY ALLOW THE OCCUPANTS TO BE EJECTED OUT OF THE CAR, CAUSING MORE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH.
- Remedy: ADD MORE ADHESIVE TO BOTTOM OF FRONT WINDSHIELD GLASS.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1985 Nissan Maxima problems:
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