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1997 Nissan Maxima consumer reviews

$21,499–$23,249 MSRP range
side view of 1997 Maxima Nissan
(21 reviews)
100% of drivers recommend this car
Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.6
  • Interior 4.6
  • Performance 4.6
  • Value 4.9
  • Exterior 4.6
  • Reliability 4.8
Explore the 1997 Nissan Maxima

This car is Immortal!!!

I got my 97 Maxima GXE 5 speed from someone used. It wasn't in the greatest shape to begin with. Repaired a few things and I drive the heck out of it and it just keeps on going. Now has 236,300 miles and wants more!

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 3.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Having fun
  • Does recommend this car
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bought it for 100 bucks

For a 97 car in 2018 to run this good, be this reliable, and simply work is amazing. I paid 100 for the car, it needed 1400 worth of repairs which I did, now it starts right up, runs smooth shifts great, I am amazed at how solid the car is after all these years, I have the loaded leather, bose stereo cassette and cd, even an aftermarket 10 disc changer in the trunk and everything works. Cruise, power mirrors, electric seats, moonroof, everything. I have a Honda fit and Silverado but I just jump into the maxima and go, love this car, worth every penny. Wouldn't sell it.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
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Most reliable car i've owned

This vehicle is awsome. I has gone all over the United States. Allways reliable. The air conditioner is cold even at 20 years old.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
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My first car

My father owned this car before me and handed it down to me in early 2009. I can honestly say having this machine was possibly one of the better first cars I could have had. I had the GLE with the full black leather moonroof bose speakers and the whole shibang, and for the first 7 or so years, it was running flawlessly. I can without a doubt say I kept up on all the maintenance and had it washed on a weekly basis, I live in wisconsin so there is a lot of snow and salt in the winters. About 9 years after my family owned it at 155,xxx miles the thing started to have numerous issues/things that needed to be repaired. It all came down at once it seemed like, the transmission started running really rough, you felt every shift throughout your entire body, when it was really cold you had to basically floor the gas when turning the key in the ignition or it would die, it needed new struts, most of the exhaust had to be replaced also. It also had an idling issue where the rpms would dip a little too low, and then it would shoot up to 2000 rpm out of the blue. This was even after replacing the throttle position sensor. All in all it was a great car that got me through highschool as well as my first year and a half of college. Seeing as now in 2013 you can basically find this car for a really nice price, it is great for teens who just began driving. One last note I feel I need to warn anyone reading this about, the 500 miles per tank these people are talking about is rediculous. If you drive it as nicely as possible, never flooring it, and in warm conditions, I was only getting about 330 miles a tank. In winter here only 225-250 at max. If I had to go back in time and relive my life over the last 5 years, I would stick with this car despite its numerous needed repairs all at once.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
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very good car, but....

i've owned max for almost 5 years now, when i got it back in 09, it had close to 89,000 miles. now, close to the end of 2013, it has 138,000 miles. while i love this car, i am having some issues. all seem to be related to the car's age. i've replaced the stater and cv goints, and i have a strut thats worn out. plus i have an eletrical issue, that no one can figure out what wrong with it. but overall, i've been very happy with it. good power, given it's only a 190hp 3.0 DOHC V-6. fuel milage is pretty decent. i get between 18-20 city, and between 26-28 hwy. even though it recommends premium, i'm getting these fuel milages, with regular. honestly, i can't tell any diffrence, between the two grades. oh and i've been seeing reviews from other people on other cars, complaining that the milage, isint what's posted on the sticker. reason why, is it's an ESTIMATE ONLY!!! if you look closely at the window sticker, there is 2 milage figures. 1 is the EPA estimate (the big number) and 2, th expected (which is the tiny number) if you base your milage solely on the big number's you may be very disappointed. but all in all, if you need a dependable car and dont mind a little maitnence every now and then, i highly recommend this one, im actually planing on tradeing in for a newer model, and i've never had 2 conceitive cars, that were the same model before.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 4.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Does recommend this car
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300,000 miles and still going!

I bought my 97 Maxima in 2002 and it had 80k miles on it at the time. It's 2013 now and I have over 309,000 miles on it and still going. Besides basic maintenece I've replaced the muffler recently, a new starter a few years back. It still looks sharp and clean and the mileage has been consistently good for years. I love this car!

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
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Old Faithful~

I purchased my Maxima LE back in '04 and now have 198K miles on it. It's been my commuter for the past 9yrs traveling 25+ miles one way each day. I've replaced the starter twice and the alternator a couple times and replaced the CV joints. Those are my only larger than "oil change" maintenaces I've done. I've just noticed that the AC is not blowing as hard as it should, but considering it's daily trek in the Florida heat and sitting out in the sun, not garaged- it's been very forgiving and reliable. I have a little rust that was there previously when I purchased it and it's still in good shape considering. I get 30mpg easy w/ 75% of my miles being highway miles. It has great power for its class w/o being a gas guzzler. I would have complete peace of mind passing this vehicle down to a teenage driver for their first car. Great value for the money!

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
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bulletproof

bought the car new , used it yeararound , the se with speed adjusted steering is awesome , i have had snow coming over the hood in numerous wisconsin winters and still made it to work . Great car !

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Transporting family
  • Does recommend this car
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Great Used Car

Got my 97 Max used in Chitown last fall. It has nearly 200k and still runs great and has no leaks and burns no oil.... The only issue I have is I need to replace an A/C pulley because is started making a roaring/whining noise, but in the part's defense it does sit at the bottom of the engine and is exposed to a ton of road salt every winter. Other repairs have just been routine maitenance... The body does have some rust, but that may be due to the previous owner not washing, waxing, etc.... as he should have.....

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 4.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
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Best car on the road

I got this 97 nissan maxima last year from my uncle who is the original oner of it for the past 12 years. When I got the car in March of 2007, it had 88k miles. Now a year later it's comming up on 103k miles. In that time the only thing i've replaced is the battery. overall the car is very well desinged inside and out. Beleve it or not for a car that's 13 years old there are very few squeaks and rattles. The only issue im having is with the transmission, case in point when it's running cold the shift from 1st to 2nd is hard, but the other gears shift smoothly. And it only does this untill the transmission gets warm, after that you barly notice it's shifting. performance-wise, this is the fastest car i've ever had. i dont know what it tops out at, but i can assure you it will do at least 122mph. it'll keep up with most cars costing 40-50k. fuel-wise i can get aroud 18-20 intown and 25-28 on the hwy. and with an 18.5 gal. tank, i can go around 500 miles on a fill-up (havent tryed it yet). I plan on keeping this car untill my daughter is old enough to drive, whitch won't be untill 2024. so thats at least 14 more years. overall if your looking for a very good desinged and reliable car this is the car to have

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 4.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Does recommend this car
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