Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

1997 vs 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 347 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▲ 9.1% more reports in the equal exposure window

1997 99 complaints 1998 108 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 1997 share 1998 share Share change
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 38.4% 21.3% ▼ 17.1 pts smaller share
AIR BAGS 9.1% 20.4% ▲ 11.3 pts larger share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1.0% 4.6% ▲ 3.6 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES 5.1% 8.3% ▲ 3.3 pts larger share
VISIBILITY 2.0% 4.6% ▲ 2.6 pts larger share
STEERING 6.1% 3.7% ▼ 2.4 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 5.1% 2.8% ▼ 2.3 pts smaller share
WHEELS 2.0% not reported ▼ 2.0 pts smaller share
ENGINE 8.1% 6.5% ▼ 1.6 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM 3.0% 4.6% ▲ 1.6 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 7.1% 5.6% ▼ 1.5 pts smaller share
TIRES not reported 0.9% ▲ 0.9 pts larger share
SEAT BELTS 1.0% 1.9% ▲ 0.8 pts larger share
POWER TRAIN 4.0% 3.7% ▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
PARKING BRAKE 1.0% 0.9% ▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1.0% 0.9% ▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 57.6% 58.3% ▲ 0.8 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

1997 6

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1998 6

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and EXTERIOR LIGHTING

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
16 → 12
◆ Injuries
7 → 9