The April issue of Consumer Reports is devoted to rating automobiles.
Nissan products scored well in reliability.

In the Family Car category the most reliable models were:
1) Infiniti G20
2) Nissan Maxima
3) Toyota Camry
4) Honda Accord
5) Mazda 626

In the Upscale Car category the most reliable models were:
1) Infiniti I30
2) Lexus ES300
3) Mazda Millenia
4) Acura TL
5) BMW 3-series

All years of 4Gen Maxima appear on the list of Reliable Used Cars.

 

Wow, we beat the Accord at its own game... go Maxima!!

 

I have a company friend who is a Japaness engineer. He personally likes Infiniti/Nissan. I talked with him before new car purchase, first time 96 Maxima and second time Lexus RX300. He said in Japan, less people like Honda because it used to have environment problem. But he doesn't know why Honda sells very well here in US. Nissan's business is not good, but technology wise no problem at all, the same as Toyota. One day his co-worker came from Japan and said to me "Don't buy Camry, buy Maxima. I rent a Camry this time. When I made turn it bounced a lot and didn't know where to go!" Actually that was a few days after I purchased my 96 Maxima.

That time I seriously compared Camry LE V6 and Maxima. The only thing I still like Camry is that it is a little quieter. Camry's downshift just took too long, and I could feel each gear as a step. With Maxima, depending how heavy my foot is, it'll downshift right to whichever gear I like it to be in. It took almost no time compared to Camry.

 

This should be helpful at re-$ale time and is a further testament to the good decision we made to purchase Maximas.

 

I know... I seriously think that there is little difference between the accord, maxima, and camry in this case... I think that they all last so long and cost so little to repair that the difference is almost nothing and comes down to luck

 

I think the Camry and Maxima are built 10 times better than the Accord. People are somehow fooled into thinking Honda makes a reliable car. Although it's well built, and the engine runs forever, it's accessories are horrible. Alternators, electrical problems, starters, etc. Not to mention the preventative maintence on the cars is real high.

 

Speaking of starters...The Maxima starters seem to be terrible. I had to replace mine at 58K and it seems to be a common problem. Hope they've improved them in newer models.

 

Yeah I havne't had mine go yet, but my acura's went at 50K. Clutch throwout at 40K. Water Pump at 58K.

 

Millenia is upscale? Hell, MAZDA is upscale??!?!? Thats so out of place...

 

The published price range for the Mazda Millenia is US$28,025-US$31,025. The published price range for the Infiniti I30 is US$29,465-US$31,540. These cars are in the same bracket.

 

The millenia was to be the debut car for Mazda's upscale line (ie infinti,lexus,acura) that never came to be. The line was to be called Amati.

 

Three of my friends have 97 Honda Accord, 99 Toyota Sienna, 95 ToyotaAvalon, respectively. One day Accord didn't start after 8 hours parking. We made sure it wasn't the light kept on, and we jump-started the car; Sienna's sun visor got cracked, and one of the power window switch failed and replaced by the dealer; Avalon's power antenna quit working and was extended all the way out permanently, and one of the power window failed, both failures happened just after
3 yrs/36k warranty.

My 96 Maxima had a radio with its front face paint peeling off and I knew it before I took the car, because I checked all the Maxima of the same color I wanted, inside and outside and found this was the best one. I had it replace it after I took it. My Maxima is really a low mileage car, only 28K now. Other than radio replacement, zero problem.
Before 3yrs/36K warranty expired, I really looked and checked hard and kind of abused it a little bit when driving, just wanted to find something to complain and to get some free replacement. I failed, not my Maxima!

My 94 Altima does not belong to this forum, but it is also very very reliable. Except for its not-yet-rust-though muffler replaced for free by the dealer (dealer was nice and said it was going to rust through anyway), zero problem too.

 

Concerning the list put out by Consumer and the research I have done regarding reliability, Lexus ES300 is by far, one of the most reliable cars on the market today. Check out EPIONIONS.COM for any year and you will find nothing but positive reviews for this vehicle. Consumers Report gives it one of the highest ratings (in just about all areas). I hope my Maxima (currently has 30k miles on it) turns out to be as reliable.

 

Hmmm better not show the Camry guys this! hehe.

 

A customer of our company is a mechanic at Fletcher Jones Motorcars. They are a Mercedes Benz dealer. He tells me don't buy a Benz. I suppose he knows, he owns 2 Maximas himself.

 

Hey, jiaxima96, I had a '94 Altima but the muffler never really rusted. The clutch did go pretty bad around 80k, and I didn't even abuse the car. Ah, well, I have the Max to keep me entertained.