1998 Nissan Maxima Nissan Maxima 1998

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1998 Nissan Maxima repairs by problem area

Engine (44%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (8%)

Brakes and Traction Control (6%)

Suspension and Steering (11%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (29%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (0%)

Other (2%)

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Chart based on 100 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 1998 Nissan Maxima.

1998 Nissan Maxima engine repair cost distribution

$2500+ (0%)

$1000 - $2499 (5%)

$500 - $999 (37%)

$100 - $499 (39%)

< $100 (18%)

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Chart based on 38 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

1998 Nissan Maxima

Engine not specified

236000 mi

US $843
Leaking upper oil pan gasket. 
160300 mi

US $281
check engine light, compression check, replace spark plugs, clean injection with injection flush and a additive in tank. 
161100 mi

US $739
Radiator blew up. Replace radiator. Remove and replace coolant fans. Remove and replace temp sensor. 
145000 mi

US $300
Replaced fuel filler assembly. No non-OEM parts available, so a Nissan assembly had to be sourced. 
190000 mi

US $100
Changed knock sensor myself without removing intake 

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1998 Nissan Maxima 4-door

6-cylinder manual 2WD

252000 mi

US $600
Center muffler and exhaust pipes replaced. 
272000 mi

US $80
Radiator cracked and was replaced rear muffler was rusted out and was replaced 
82000 mi

US $700
Check engine light - one O2 sensor replaced, one knock sensor replaced. 
86000 mi

US $200
New radiator fan in Sept 08, done by a shop, $200, in shop one day, radiator fan was making noise. Repair successful. 
193000 mi

US $20
One of the cooling fan motors did not work and caused the car to overheat in traffic. Installed one from the junk yard which solved the problem 

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1998 Nissan Maxima 4-door

6-cylinder automatic 2WD

110000 mi Valve cover gasket. 
173000 mi

US $425
Middle exhaust pipe between converter and muffler was replaced. Remainder of exhaust is original. 
210000 mi

US $342
Engine was flooding, but no relevant codes. Replaced plugs, cleaned throttle body and MAF. Ran rough for 50 miles as it burned off chemicals from O2 sensor. Running great again now. (Starter replaced at cost as it burned out during repair.) 
170000 mi

US $800
problems with engine and transmission. Bought both and I'm just waiting to install them, meanwhile the car is in the garage. Driving another car while problem is solved 
195000 mi

US $350
Clogged muffler ruptured 
113000 mi

US $20
Cleaned throttle body & replace air filter to solve poor cold starts. 
105000 mi

US $600
Engine had a rough idle and shook car. Replaced the radiator and spark plugs. Fixed the problem. Car also has a leaking valve cover gasket. 
132000 mi

US $255
O2 Sensor Replacement 
135000 mi

US $624
Replaced oil pan due to leaks. replaced a seal as well 
143000 mi

US $550
Rreplaced mass airflow sensor. 
89000 mi

US $700
Exhaust system was rusted out, with exception of catalytic converter. 
106000 mi Radiator fixed. 
175000 mi

US $160
coil failure 
169000 mi

US $400
Engine skipping; took it in, but not bad enough to determine where problem existed. When it got worse, took it in and shop replaced 2 coil packs. Problem lessened, then worsened until exactly as bad as before. 
175000 mi

US $1900
Fuel injection system cleaned; spark plugs replaced. Valve gaskets replaced. 
175000 mi

US $936
Same problem of engine skipping, especially while idling. Replaced all 6 ignition coil packs and problem has not reappeared so far. 
182300 mi

US $780
We took the car in for a minor problem and the dealership gave a huge list of things to repair, including oil pan leaking $2600 worth. Friend (mechanic) did necessary repairs but not extras (leaking timing belt cover and right axle seal). Replaced upper and lower oil pan gaskets. Replaced oxygen sensor. Replaced rear engine mount. 
188000 mi

US $370
Harmonic balancer and belts. 
80000 mi

US $500
replaced exhaust resonator and muffler 
166000 mi Engine light came on due to knock sensor error 
180000 mi

US $1000
rusted muffler was replaced. parts and labor about $1000 
99400 mi Exhaust pipe separated from flange where it connects to short pipe that is part of muffler. Cleaned flange, welded approx a 4 inch length of new pipe, approx 2 1/8 inch inside diameter, to fit over the pipe that separated. No clamp required 

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1998 Nissan Maxima 4-door

4-cylinder automatic 2WD

171000 mi

US $500
Key would not start car when turned 
82460 mi SES light came on, downloaded codes and cleared codes from car's computer. Codes have not reappeared after more than a week 
88040 mi

C $187
Needed new muffler 
89900 mi

C $290
O2 sensors replaced 
259000 mi Check engine light kept coming on, we would just get it turned off. 
245000 mi

US $525
valve cover gaskets replaced 
247000 mi

US $400
replaced valve cover gaskets and plenum gasket 

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1998 Nissan Maxima Engine Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 1998 Nissan Maxima problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.