NissanMaxima1992Overview/nissan/maxima/1992/base/

1992 Nissan Maxima

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Maxima.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

As a passenger car, the 1992 Nissan Maxima utilizes a 4-speed automatic transmission and an engine requiring 4.2 quarts of 10W-30 or 5W-30 API SM oil to deliver EPA fuel economy estimates of 17/24/19 mpg. Reliability records for this specific year show 126 total owner complaints and 5 recalls, with Engine & Engine Cooling identified as the top complaint area. These figures must be viewed within the broader 1990-2023 model history, where annual complaints ranged from a low of 1 in 2015 to a high of 1,425 in 2004. Consequently, the 1992 model occupies a moderate position in the lineage, suggesting a more stable ownership experience than the peak problem years despite the concentrated nature of the reported mechanical concerns.

Model year202320222021202020192018201720161992

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 API SMOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/24/19 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length187.8 in
Overall width69.3 in
Overall height55.1 in
Wheelbase104.3 in
Curb weight3142 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 24 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume96 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Maxima of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.00 sec — 1991 SE
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1991SE 3.0L V68.00 sec16.30 sec160 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API SM engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil10W-30 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miTiming Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1992 Nissan Maxima sits at a notable inflection point within its generation, with complaint volume rebounding sharply to 126 from the previous year’s 85, while recalls increased to five—the highest in the 1990–1994 span. This uptick follows a downward trend in complaints from 1990 to 1991 but precedes a temporary stabilization in 1993 and 1994, suggesting early signs of emerging reliability concerns, particularly in engine cooling, fuel systems, and visibility. The data shows no root cause specified for these issues, but the concentration of complaints in critical drivetrain and safety-related areas is concerning. Investigations doubled to two in 1992, further indicating heightened scrutiny during this model year. While not the worst in its generation, the 1992’s elevated complaint and recall figures relative to adjacent years imply potential undiagnosed systemic weaknesses. **Takeaway:** Given the rising trend in complaints and recalls, the 1992 Maxima is a riskier choice than the more stable 1991 or 1993 models—proceed only with thorough pre-purchase inspection and documented service history.**

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
36
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
126
Owner complaints
15 involved a crash · 3 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 126 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling20
Fuel System, Gasoline18
Visibility14
Air Bags10
Seat Belts7
Electrical System6
Seats6
Suspension5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

06E026000Exterior LightingReported 23/03/2006

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL… Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 36 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
NTB08-097L2023-09-21SteeringDIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been…
NTB23-0492023-06-16Electrical System12 VOLT BATTERY TESTING FOR IN-SERVICE VEHICLES SERVICE INFORMATION The following Service…
NTB23-0532023-06-16Electrical SystemSILICONE-BASED LUBRICANT OR GREASE CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SERVICE INFORMATION…
NTB13-107F2023-04-27Electrical SystemVEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been…
NTB16-003C2023-04-17Electrical SystemINTELLIGENT KEY REPLACEMENT OR SWAPPING BETWEEN VEHICLES This bulletin has been amended…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Maxima. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1992 Maxima take?

4.2 qt of 10W-30 OR 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 Maxima have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Maxima get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.