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1986 Nissan Maxima

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 Maxima.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1986 Nissan Maxima comes with an automatic four‑speed transmission and an engine that requires 4.1 qt of oil, with acceptable viscosities of 20W‑40, 20W‑50 or 5W‑30. Its EPA fuel‑economy rating is 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined. Owner‑reported data show a total of 67 complaints for this model year, with the fuel‑system/gasoline area being the most frequent issue and two recalls recorded. When viewed against the broader 1990‑2023 complaint history—where complaints peaked at 1,425 in 2004 and fell to a low of just 1 in 2015—the 1986 Maxima’s modest total places it toward the lower‑end of the spectrum, indicating a relatively trouble‑free early example of the line.

Model year2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 1986

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.1 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 5W-30OEM · verified

EPA fuel economy16/22/18 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	182.3 in
Overall width	66.5 in
Overall height	55.1 in
Wheelbase	100.4 in
Curb weight	3139 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	65/35

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	16 / 22 / 18 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	87 cu ft
Cargo volume	14 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular 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.

9.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.80 sec — 1985 SE

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1985	SE 3.0L V6	9.80 sec	17.50 sec	157 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.1 qt of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	20W-40 · 20W-50 · 5W-30 · 10W-30 · 10W-40
Engine Oil Capacity	4.1 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

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; 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 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Oxygen Sensor (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Timing 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 1986 Nissan Maxima generated 40 fire‑related complaints and 3 crash‑related complaints in the federal database. Its top reported problem areas were Fuel System, Gasoline (35 complaints), Electrical System (10), Engine & Engine Cooling (6), and Seat Belts (5). The complaint and recall activity recorded from 1990 onward shows a general rise through the 1990s and early 2000s, peaking at 1,425 complaints in 2004 before declining, indicating that early‑generation models like 1986 are not reflected in that later trend. Because the dataset does not include years prior to 1990, the root cause of the fire complaints cannot be identified from the available records. Consequently, while the model’s early‑generation profile does not show a pattern of widespread recalls, the relatively high fire complaint count suggests a need for careful inspection before purchase.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

3 involved a crash · 40 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 67 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline35

Electrical System10

Engine & Engine Cooling6

Seat Belts5

Engine & Engine Cooling,Fuel System, Gasoline2

Vehicle Speed Control2

Steering2

Equipment1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95I006000Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection SystemReported 01/11/1995

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. THE CAMPAIGN WILL REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTORS AND RELATED HOSES OF… Remedy: NISSAN DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTORS AND RELATED HOSES ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

86V096000Visibility:WindshieldReported 16/07/1986

THERE MAY BE INSUFFICIENT THICKNESS OF ADHESIVE IN THE CONTACT AREA BETWEEN THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD GLASS AND THE BODY. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS LACK OF ADHESIVE MAY CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO DISMOUNT IN AN… Remedy: ADD MORE ADHESIVE TO BOTTOM OF FRONT WINDSHIELD GLASS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 3 of 3 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
NTB-09-101	2010-09-30	Tires	NISSAN: TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WARNING LIGHT ON/FLASHING. NO MODELS OR…
NTB-09-129	2010-09-13	Equipment	NISSAN: VENT CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENT. WHEN REPLACING THE EVAP CANISTER VENT CONTROL…
NTB-09-030	2009-04-06	Electrical System	NISSAN: THE 12 VOLT BATTERY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND IS…

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.

Vehicles taking 4.1 qt

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1986 Maxima take?

4.1 qt of ABOVE 50 degrees F: 20W-40 OR 20W-50, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30 OR 10W-30, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30 OR 10W-40, per the factory manual.

Does the 1986 Maxima have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Maxima get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 22 highway / 18 combined mpg.