1999 Nissan Maxima GXE 3.0

Summary:

Good performance, moderatly reliable, dealer customer service not very good

Faults:

At about 4,000 miles, the car wouldn't start because of a bad chip in the key.

Caliper problem at about 40K miles.

Service Engine Soon light came on at 131000.

General Comments:

Received a new key with the new chip since the car was still under warranty.

Spent $400 to replace the caliper.

Re-tightened the gas cap twice and disconnected the negative of the battery, and the Service Engine Soon had gone away.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 14th May, 2008

1999 Nissan Maxima SE

Summary:

Good car, but too many issues

Faults:

I have had my 99 Nissan Maxima for about 8 years now. Like everyone is saying, the car keeps blowing the cylinders. I am going through my fourth misfire since I have the car. I just recently replaced the #1 cylinder, and few weeks ago I also replaced the EGR valve.

Right now the car is acting up again, and idles so low that the car cuts off as I am driving. What I mean by is this, as I am driving and put the car neutral to let it coast a little, the car would idle so low that it cuts off. I don't know what to do anymore, because I had the idle adjusted higher but it does not make a difference.

Any suggestions???

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 11th April, 2008

13th Apr 2008, 02:32

I have a similar problem with my 5 spd 2000 Maxima (which I'm currently trying to get rid of). The stalling problems are even worse in wet/cool weather. I have no idea what's causing the problem in mine, but I can tell you one thing I've done that seems to help a little. As I decelerate, I press on the brake, but I don't press in the clutch pedal until the car gets down to about 1500rpm (@ which pt you're almost stopped anyway). It doesn't seem to stall in that case. That's in contrast to going, say, 45mph then you have to slow down, and you press in the clutch when you're still going 30-40mph. That will cause my car to stall sometimes.

I had a 5 spd Nissan 240SX before the Maxima, and that car also had stalling problems. However, cleaning the throttle body of the 240SX always immediately solved the stalling problems. with the Maxima, I've had the throttle body and fuel system cleaned, and the stalling issue hasn't gone away.

Nissan really got a lot worse in the late 90's and early 00's with their cars. They don't deserve a reputation for being reliable anymore.

26th Aug 2011, 01:55

Classic valve cover gasket symptoms. Engine vacuum is lost at low rpm (below 1000rpm) and you will get a funny idle and stalling.

If you have oil coming out near the valve cover, that is the best sign that the gasket is shot.

It's not too hard to replace. Easier than dealing with what happens when oil gets inside the combustion chamber, and ruins the plug wires and plugs due to oil impregnation.

Rubber parts only last so long. Replace those bits guys.

1999 Nissan Maxima SE V6

Summary:

It's not worth it to buy a car that the manufacturer won't stand behind, and fix a defect in the car

Faults:

I have consistently gotten the P1320 diagnostic error code and have to replace ignition coils. I had asked Nissan USA to cover this problem recently, and they refused today.

I've read many complaints on the Internet and believe this is a MFR Defect in the car. Nissan had a service bulletin on this back in 2001, so obviously enough people complained that they knew about the problem.

I hope that enough more people will come forward and complain so that Nissan makes this a recall. If I could find enough people, it would be great to do a class action suit against Nissan. I do plan to complain to as many consumer protection agencies that I can find, and encourage others to as well.

General Comments:

Other than the one problem above, I do like the car and have had no other complaints. However, the expensive upkeep of replacing coils is not worth it. A car should last more than 53,000 miles, but the maintenance cost on these coils is getting too expensive. I may need to trade it in years earlier than I had planned due to this defect.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 17th January, 2008