Abs lights flashed on and off several times. Then solid brake light came on. Car gave off a strange smell. Turned off car. Parked car in the street. 2 hours later the police alerted us that the car was on fire. The engine bay was completely engulfed in flames. Fire department was called and they extinguished the fire. Police report was filed. Video of the fire was captured on my ring doorbell.
1997 Nissan Maxima: fire, smoke or burning smell
14 of the 102 complaints about the 1997 Nissan Maxima describe fire, smoke or burning smell.
- owner complaints
- 14
- of this car's complaints
- 14%
- typical mileage
- 103,565
- recalls
- 1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 9 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Fire, smoke or burning smell by model year
What owners say
My wife backed the car out of the garage and noticed a burning smell. She turned off the engine and got me. When I opened the hood there was smoke and a burning smell. The alternator had started to burn as well as the wiring harness. This issue was covered by the federal safety agency campaign id 02v171000, but nissan says my VIN was not among those affected and my car is not covered by the recall.
1997 maxima se. I pulled into my garage and could smell something burning. I lifted the hood of the car and saw smoke coming from the alternator. It drained the battery. As I replaced the battery, the alternator caught fire.
Recall 02v171000 concerning alternator. Consumer was in the parking lot and noticed a burning smell, then saw smoke coming out from under the hood. Consumer lifted up the hood and flames came out from the alternator. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer. Consumer contacted the manufacturer, and was told that they had records indicating that the alternator was replaced. Consumer was told that the recall was warranted for 1 year. It was past a year, and there was nothing they could do.
Consumer received recall 02v171000 concerning alternator. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, and mechanic replaced the alternator. While driving 55 MPH consumer noticed smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. Consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and pulled over. Vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the aternator needed to be replaced.
Fax ltr fm georgia chester (ca) request re-start of a 2002 recall on the 1997 nissan maxima, her maxima caught on fire, reply attn maria cobian/oxnard, a district office, es have no rec of previous corr. Fm ms. Chester. *ph the consumer er's vehicle was not covered under recall 02v‑171 because it was produced prior to february 13, 1997, when nissan began to use the defective alternators.
Alternator has failed, burning smell from under hood. Vehicle has missed recall by 16 days.
Rear brakes/calipers and discs overheated, had been serviced 3 times in 1 month for new brakes twice. Brakes have burned up with calipers which locked, and have almost gone on fire.
I put the car in the garage and went inside the house. I came back out to the garage to get something else out of the car and I smelled a horrible smell, like plastic burning. I opened the hood and saw the flames. My neighbor helped me push the car out fhe garage. I ran a hose over the engine to put the fire out. Had I not gotten the car out of the garage, my car could have caught fire, burned my brand new house down and possibly killed me. I am apalled that I found out about this recall more than 1 year after my incident. I thought it was isolated until I read about it in the newpaper. It cost more than $650 to replace the alternator and fix the damage to my car. I am going to contact nissan for reimbursement. I am very lucky that my situation did not end up killing me.
Pe-02-034; vehicle was driven 30 minutes before turned off and parked. Consumer was notified that vehicle was on fire. Smoke came from beneath the hood, and flames blazed when hood was opened. Vehicle was not totaled. Dealer replaced alternator due to it going bad. Please provide more information.
I own 2 of the sames cars make year and model and the same thing hqappened 2 both cars but one of them was really serious it caught on fire as I was driving I dont know what to do I think there shouldve been a recall or something please help thnk you. No safety defect.
Alternator not charging-after starting car in shop-alternator caught fire. Second 1997 maxima we have witness with this condition-will send fill out seperate form on other car also.
Service bulletins that may apply
- 12 volt battery testing for in-service vehicles service information
- Silicone-based lubricant or grease CAN damage electrical components service information
- Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
- Intelligent key replacement or swapping between vehicles
- As part of an enhanced emissions test for Inspection & Maintenance (I/M), some States may require the...
- Nissan: the 12 volt battery is an important part of the vehicle electrical system and is required to stay...
- Subject regarding egi harness wire breakage diagnosis and repair procedure
- Diagnostic procedure for P0731, P0732 & P0733 (a/t signals) with no driveability incidents
Related recalls
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, one of the diodes used in the alternator may have been damaged when built. This can eventually result in failure of the diode and an electrical short which could melt the plastic housing.
- Risk
- If the combustible gas emitted by the melting plastic does not disperse due to air flow through the engine compartment, it could ignite and in turn ignite the fan guide in the alternator.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the alternator. Owner notification began july 29, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact nissan at 1‑800‑647‑7261 or infiniti at 1‑800‑662‑6200.
Recall number 02V171000 · Recall details
Questions about the 1997 Nissan Maxima fire or smoke
Is fire, smoke or burning smell a common problem on the 1997 Nissan Maxima?
14 of 102 owner complaints about the 1997 Nissan Maxima (14%) mention fire, smoke or burning smell. The model year with the most reports is 1997.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1997 Nissan Maxima?
There is 1 recall and 9 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 1997 Nissan Maxima
VIN decoder
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