1999 Nissan Maxima: won't start

Filed Sep 20, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · TX · fire

Car had just been shut off from running to store I ran inside my house real quick came back out to leave again but car didn't start. Battery light came on and I noticed white smoke coming from under hood. Smelled like electrical parts were burning so I opened hood to notice fire coming from alternator. I used my shirt to put out and during inspection of damage found the fire burned wire harnesses and part of valve cover assembly where oil cap is located. This is an original oem part and the car only has 118,000 original miles. Found that a recall was done on the years prior for same issue but dealer stated they would not do nothing due to no recall. Alternator s don't just catch fire...

Filed May 17, 2010 · Electrical, Locks · 200,000 miles · AZ

I bought a nissan maxima 1999 for my daughter only to find out that she got in her car one morning after just having her vehicle at a mechanic for a check up/service. They told her the car was fine. She then proceeded down the road to the freeway, stopped for gas and the car would not start. Panicked by the 'area' of town she was in I had a tow truck from aaa dispatched to meet her as soon as possible. The vehicle was towed back to the mechanic and we were told that the key to the vehicle had become deprogrammed. I proceeded to call the dealership and they refused to help me unless I had the vehicle towed to them. A scam alert to ensure that you must use a dealership at high cost. My fear is that should my daughter be headed through the arizona desert in 120 heat and this same situation would have come up without the ability to contact someone, her (or anyone else's) life could have been in danger. I find this key malfunctioning to be a sever safety hazard and that more people should know that they could endanger their lives if the key malfunctions and they are not near a dealership. I believe a safety recall on this vehicle should be considered. I have another nissan fx45 that I do not want to drive for fear that the key could malfunction in a similar manner leaving me stranded as well.

Filed Mar 20, 2007 · Electrical, Engine · 132,300 miles · OH

I have a potentially deadly problem with my 133,000-mile, 1999 nissan maxima. It might be related to the crank sensor on newer maxima, a steering column lock, a faulty ignition switch, faulty clutch depression switch, and the anti-theft kill switch, perhaps even a random ground. The problem was conceivably catastrophic.*ak upon entering my car using the remote, occasionally the car won't respond, and must be unlocked manually. In these instances, neither the dome lights nor the headlights shine. When the ignition key is rotated to the start position, as the clutch is being depressed, sometimes the gauge lights appear and then quickly fade and disappear; the car just doesn't crank. A faint, diminishing telltale buzzing sound can be heard. What's worse, this can happen spontaneously while driving, in which case the car's steering wheel locks and the brakes become inoperable. I have had this happen on three occasions, twice while driving in a mall parking lot (february and march ''07) and the other time (just last week) while turning into my neighbor's driveway, to take out her oak tree. The ignition crank sensor must slip into an inoperable mode during driving or while attempting to start the car, or the anti-theft switch somehow interferes with starting, operation or driving. Maybe the master ignition coil is failing (but that doesn't explain the headlight and dome light problems). The clutch switch may not engage when its pedal is being depressed. Sometimes, I can restart the car after an incident in which it was parked for a while. My battery is brand new, and there don't seem to be any shorts as far as I can tell. But nothing electrically works (not even the radio) when I have to unlock the car manually. I am very concerned about driving the car beyond my neighborhood. I might have to become a hermit, or worse, a college professor. Any ideas? The car is in excellent shape otherwise and has all service records.

Filed Feb 18, 2005 · Electrical · 54,000 miles · MO

When leaving the grocery store my car would not start. The failure resulted in my walking home and loss of income. The car was towed to a shop and was diagnosed as ignition system immoblized because of the anti-theft system. Apparently, the key code has a problem and all keys and car need to be reprogrammed. Now, car has to be towed to the dealership as only nissan can fix. And nissan is charging me for their defectiveness!! So, end result count on two towing bills, mechanic charge, nissan dealership charge and delivery of car back to shop. Nissan is aware of this problem and has not issued a recall even though it is quite common. Now how am I supposed to account for when my car will not start again? Does not strike me as a dependable car. And, I do not have a cell phone, so what time of night will I be walking home next time?

Filed Jan 27, 2005 · Electrical · 26,861 miles · IL

Went into our locked garage, and car wouldn't start. Local repair guy said the computer had locked out our keys, thinking that car was being stolen. He said that many people are encountering this... So it was towed to nissan.*ak nissan confirmed the nats system had locked out the keys, and charged us money to re-program the computer and our origional keys... Nothing was replaced, but now it works! This is crazy! Extended warranty from nissan did not cover it either. We pay because their computer program has a glitch?

Filed Sep 1, 2003 · Electrical · 127,000 miles · GA

Car cranks but will not start/catch. Security indicator light is illuminated indicating vehicle immobilizer system is malfunctioning. Appparently the ignition key has deprogrammed and needs to be reprogrammed.

Filed May 6, 2000 · Electrical · MD

Ignition system immobilized when using proper coded nissan keys. Keys recoded, problem still occurs later. Nissan/factory rep knows max se have aproblem, but don't know why. I have a car that I never know when it won't start and must be towed in!!

Filed Oct 6, 1999 · Engine · CT

While driving and and making any stop or turn, vehicle would stall/cut off,*ak causing consumer to be in the middle of intersections in a vehicle that won't start.