i thought maximas would have a better crash rating than a civic or accord! read this..
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle%5Fr...html/95012.htm

poors on almost everything.. i should have checked that site before i got my 96 max.. someone check it out and prove me wrong..

 

Im new to this board, just got my Maxima on Thursday after totalling my 1995 Ford Probe GT V-6, but im glad i got a '99, seems to have went through all the tests alot better than the 95-96s..

 

i thought only 95 or 96 had that problem...and wasn't some guy in a head on collision sue nissan for like $14mill?

 

argh.. i totalled my 2002 hyundai elantra manual.. so i got a bigger car.. the 96 maxima.. but this car has even worse ratings than the elantra! i bought this car for $5800 and its only got 60k miles.. should i sell it?

 

Ive been in two serious accidents in my Maximas, see my sig... Anyway, the most recent one was nearly head on at a combine speed of nearly 70mph, and I walked away without a scratch. The 1st one I T-boned the guy doing about 45mph, and I walked away without a scratch. Both accidents totaled the Max, but I was okay, which is what really matters...

 

damn.. aight i feel a lil better driving this peice haha

 

Hmm..I remember a member here was doing about 120mph when he lost control and wound up off the road flipped upside down. Aside from the roof, there wasn't much visible damage. He had like 4 other friends in the car with him too. No one got hurt. This was maybe 3-4 months ago?

I was amazed..

 

Relax.

The 97-99 is definitely better.
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle%5Fr...html/97024.htm

The 00-03 is better still.
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle%5Fr...html/00015.htm

Key weakness appears to be the driver's side footwell. That's the PAINFULLY bad area. The rest of the ratings, especially on the 00-03, are excellent.

 

Didnt Meccanoble or someone done that before?

 

I belive the ratings compare cars in the same class (size), so your Maxima could be safer overall. When Nissan redisgned the front and rear for 97 the improved the crash protection.

 

just curious.. where'd you find a 96 maxima w/ 60k miles for $5800? a junkyard? a wreck-and-rebuild? i bought a 95 maxima w/ 80k miles last spring and i didnt get that good of a deal..

 

My Maxima's been hit 3 times in the last 4 months, and so far has turned out much better than the other cars. A couple days ago I had some guy in an Integra run into the back of me doing better than 25. I found out yesterday from his insurance company that his car had to be towed away. I'll need a new rear bumper, but that's it, no other damage whatsover, and the metal bumper itself wasn't damaged at all. I have a 2k, but I don't see there being that big of a difference.

 

hah.. i got it from some private owner who was moving.. everythings fine..

 

lol, why are everyone telling me about the 97+ maximas.. i know they are a lot better argh stupid 96 max.. after that crash with my elantra, i'm getting paranoid about driving now.. especially with this car wif horrible crash ratings..

 

Then learn to drive, or take the bus. If youre that worried about crash test ratings, then you shouldnt be driving, because nothing is perfect, and i swear that if you roll a Hummer and a Maxima, both are gonna be ****ed, well one more than the other.

 

The main reason the 95-96 gets a bad rating is because the car they tested had an issue with the drivers seat coming off the rail.

Were it not for that, the test would have come out much better.
It might have been a fluke with that particular test car.