I had to replace the TPS, CV boots, and had to reprogram the keys TWICE.

 

I posted too soon in this thread - my starter took a dive today. Hurray for lifetime warranty, I've replaced it so many times (this is #3 I've had to get to it) it only took 35 minutes to do this time around.

 

Well well well, this poll has certainly gained some attention. My conclusion after less than a week of voting is that the rate of failure for an average 10 y/o 4th gen is just about less than 50%. This means that 50% of people on this site have had to deal with serious mechanical problems on their cars.

The reason i have created this poll is due to a recent article i have read in the Consumer Reports Canada magazine about old cars ("Reliability trends Survey" p23.). Nissan ranked 3rd best out of 8 major manufacturers only behind the #1 Toyota and the #2 Honda. Surprisingly The 1998 Lexus LS400 had fever problems then the 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500.

 

I know this is not a scientific poll, but it was fun to see the result we came up with in the real world as compared to this article. Thanks for participating and being my lab subjects.

 

Oil leak a couple of times.

 

My timing chain cover is leaking oil according to a couple of nissan dealerships. They all said they would have to overhaul the engine to fix it and they all wanted 1800-2200 for the service so I said screw it. I looked on the ground today after turning off my car and I did see a drop of oil fall to the floor.

 

time to get a new car man, white smoke could be your heads goin bad. you got to check your codes dude, your engine might be on its way out. check fluid levels, ESPECIALLY your anti-freeze overflow resevoir and color and smell. i would do a flush and pull those codes asap.

 

I bought my 98' Max GXE last year, now @ 91k miles. All that I have done or know that has been done was the (manual interface) was the heater resistor and that was $15 and a 2 min job.

Cheers!

 

This has developed nicely. Carry on.

 

The tranny was rebuilt on this one due to bearings, need to replace the 02 sensors and knock sensor.. my old 96 never had any major issues or leaks

 

had the car for just over year now. transmission has been rebuilt but not fixed... have an egr problem & evap that haven't been fixed. don't think those are too major. other than that just normal stuff.

 

Check your oil pressure sending unit, it's probably leaking & your drain plug washer could also be bad.

 

280k miles.
1. Brake master cylinder
2. Starter (of course)
3. Rear bearing

Forgot to add rust hole in the radiator support...not fixed yet.

 

While we're on the subject of comparing service records on cars,check this out:

my '95 max, 190,0107K , costed less for me/pops to service than our fam's 2003 BMW X5 3.0, which to date has run up a $4000 service tab....and it only has 60,000 miles....

That situation pops into my head everytime somone writes how awesome BMW's are .

Be glad that on our cars, we can AFFORD to change a knock sensor or suspension part. Wouldn't it suck to have to pay $1500 for a y-pipe job,
hehe?

 

75,000K

O2 sensors, knock sensor, exhaust system, power steering fluid line, radiator support, timing housing gasket, front discs and calipers, altenator, control arm, oil leak somewhere, problem with a tensioner now

Still got love for my Max though...

 

Is that the same as the oil pressure sensor? If so that was replaced already. I'll check the drain plug as well. For some reason I have a feeling that dealerships find a potential problem and bring it out so they can charge you to fix it.

 

Ive had some problems since ive had my max since july. Replaced IACV, new starter, new radiator, coolant line brackat (something like that that costed me $360) new battery, new brakes, new tires. And I have a problem that sometimes when I switch to reverse I stall, and I have no clue whats causing it. Check engine light just came on the other day gettin that looked at on sunday and every now and then (rare) i get a fuel smell or something like that in my car, dont know what thats about.. need some help. 144k on my 96.

 

Vibration from 20 to 30 on accel really annoying bumper paint cracking an chiping off and thats about it 120k still love the car bvut wish it was manual that will be fixed soon enough.

 

voted for all 3...
tranny iz slipping slightly...
water pump jus crapped out... having it changed as i type this.
completely new suspension cauz da old one gave up on me...
my passenger door has a huge electrical bug in it... has a mind of its own..
etc etc etc.... but still runz STRONG at 230k+

 

Damn I can't belive all these problems everyone is having...

 

Has anyone read the article i have posted? It kinda shows how cars last through time.

Also, think of the warranties that manufacturers give on their vehicles and how long those vehicles last without needing those warranties.

 

You are pushing 306,000 miles, not almost 300k miles.

I have a 95SE. The Canadian-made 95SEs have LSD. I thought these were not prone to the infamous differential bearing failure, more prevalent in US models.

However, given the mileage on your car it is understandable that you would have to rebuild the tranny.

What was the mileage when this was done? What were the symptoms?

I only have 109,000 kilometres on mine, so I guess I am good to go for awhile.

I got the leaky left tranny seal problem fixed on Thursday.

Now my only problem is the light on the passenger heated seat switch needs to be replaced and that is all.

 

My clutch is slipping something serious. 97 SE has about 165k on the factory clutch, and it just started slipping after some major powershifting a few days ago.

I gots an entire new 5th gen setup in a box though, ready to go in...

Other than the clutch, no problems whatsoevar

 

hello
150k- new clutch (first replacement)
160k- ac stopped working (turned out to be a bad wire)
160k- just had the starter motor redid
160k- shocks finally shot (i'm currently in process of getting some illuminas, which is what brought me back to these boards for the first time since before i could even drive)

it still looks great, the interior almost smells brand new sometimes, and mechanically with the exception of those issues it's fine. here's to 150k+

 

I've got nearly 96K on the clock, and have had the Max since March of 06 (bought at 88K). The only significant problem was an exhaust setup that was rusted to all hell (dude's at the shop couldn't believe how rusty it was) but that just gave me a reason to swap in aftermarket pipes . It's running smoothly right now, my only plans are to swap in new OE calipers, rotors, and pads (selling the BBK unfortunately) as well as a fuel filter.

 

Just found out today I need two front 02 sensors and an egr valve so add that to my list lol.

 

96' SE, had since nov of 99' nuthin major, just wear & tear shizzle & a couple o2s', knock sensor, oil pressure sensor(small leak), othet than that shes runnin strong @ 160k!!

 

To date I've had to replace the Clutch, Clutch Master Cylinder, and exhaust.

And right now, it stalls whenever it feels like when its out of gear

 

98 SE with 200k+.
struts, axles, ball joint all needed to be replaced around 185k.
O2 sensors, knock sensor, EGR BPT valve.
Starter noise.
1 rust spot on the wheel well.

A mildly drunken woman backed into my front left bumper in a parking lot last summer and did $1100 worth of damage which I used to do all of the front end work and fixed the body damage myself.

I have no complaints, this car has been good to me and still drives nicely.

 

Hey Bobo...I see you also pop by on the BITOG

Well I think my tranny was rebuilt around the 250k kms mark ..(btw km to miles => 492k x 0.62 = 305k, so you're right)

symptoms of bearing is a hum during cruising around, especially loud in 1st & 2nd gear IIRC

Your car is almost new compared to mine

 

I've owned mine since 1998 with 31000 miles on it and it now has 88000 miles. Two batteries and then a new starter and the same battery since 2001 and no other problems since. Great car.

 

Well life is not without its share of irony. i spoke too soon and now i have a PS cooler leak, its minor and i think i can handle this within the next 2 days (i must cause i have a 2 hour trip coming up on friday)

This problem actually existed before but it was hidden by its previous owner who completely disconnected the PS cooler.

 

Forgot all about my emissions problems. My check engine light has been on since a week after I bought the car, EVAP canister vent control valve bs or something...

 

my 95 needed some suspension work, but nothing incredibly bad. my 97 is pretty perfect, just needed knock sensors.

 

My car has 105k, bought it with 69k 2 years ago. Since I owned it front o2's have gone bad, knock sensor went bad (3rd KS on the car) trans started slipping and lost 2 gears (@100k) so I had to rebuild it, however I blame the trans stuff on myself. The muffler rusted through (chicago winters get to that stuff) so I got a new cat-back, and thats about all the major stuff that HAD to have been replaced.

 

my max has 167k miles I have a major problems,first the engine is leaking oil like crazy.I took it to a mechanic, he told me it was a seal in the middle of the engine,about $800.Due to the oil leak my pass. side A arm needs to be replaced. the oil got inside the bushing, so now the car stears to the left when accelerating,then jerks back to the right when the car shifts gears.Sears said it would be $491 to fix.Finaly it takes me about 5 minutes to start the car in the mornig.




ps. that does not include
shock & struts
front brakes
tires
due to some one trying tosteal it my trunk won't open and my ignition switch is messed up

 

Only major problems i had was that i lost all my foward gears in the tranny and had to have the tranny rebuilt..but other than than nothing major....brakes, starter, battery are just some of the minor problems ive had..but its got 206,000 on the odo. so i belive that the max has held up good over the past 12 years..

 

girl drove car ,trans blew, motor revved past 8000 spun a bearing
99infinity motor and trans with 60k 800$ weekend in the driveway,
be able to light the tires up again priceless

 

Sweet, seems like 98 was a decent year. I replaced my CV axles, that's about it...143k now. Bought a new car but was driving the Maxima daily through the winter. Now it's about 50/50. Never did any major service since 54k, but if I got a discount I would as the plugs have 90k on them. Replaced a hood lift strut, planning on doing the radiator hoses, hoping the clutch and water pump hang in. Want this car to serve again next winter as daily driver, no reason it can't.

 

I let my g/f drive my car and she bent a lightweight 2-pc rim. That was a major hassle to replace as it was closeout and hard to find a replacement, and then the offset was wrong on the replacement. I finally let her drive it again about 3 wks. ago...the rim could have happened to anyone incl. me. Never again with aftermarket rims.....