Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that may have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair. The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti...
1982-2023 · 42 model years
Nissan Maxima Problems by year
Owners have filed 7,043 complaints about the Nissan Maxima across 42 model years, and it has 34 recalls. The 2004 has the most complaints once its age is allowed for (1,426), while 1982, 1983, 2023 have far fewer than a typical year. The most reported problem area is the transmission & drivetrain, followed by the engine & cooling.
- Complaints
- 7,043
- Recalls
- 34
- Crashes
- 348
- Fires
- 334
- Injuries
- 350
- Deaths
- 15
Maxima complaints by model year
Highlighted: the year with the most complaints for its age. Older vehicles have had more time to collect complaints - the Safety Index grade allows for that.
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | A |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 | A |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | A |
| 2020 | 22 | 1 | A |
| 2019 | 18 | 1 | A |
| 2018 | 36 | 2 | A |
| 2017 | 106 | 4 | C |
| 2016 | 142 | 8 | D |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | A |
| 2014 | 96 | 0 | C |
| 2013 | 62 | 0 | A |
| 2012 | 107 | 0 | C |
| 2011 | 106 | 0 | C |
| 2010 | 275 | 1 | F |
| 2009 | 339 | 1 | F |
| 2008 | 79 | 0 | B |
| 2007 | 129 | 1 | C |
| 2006 | 576 | 2 | F |
| 2005 | 948 | 2 | F |
| 2004 | 1,426 | 2 | F |
| 2003 | 206 | 4 | D |
| 2002 | 220 | 9 | F |
| 2001 | 181 | 7 | D |
| 2000 | 376 | 3 | F |
| 1999 | 174 | 4 | D |
| 1998 | 115 | 6 | D |
| 1997 | 110 | 6 | C |
| 1996 | 102 | 5 | C |
| 1995 | 158 | 5 | D |
| 1994 | 92 | 5 | C |
| 1993 | 78 | 6 | C |
| 1992 | 112 | 5 | D |
| 1991 | 77 | 4 | C |
| 1990 | 107 | 4 | C |
| 1989 | 64 | 4 | C |
| 1988 | 60 | 1 | C |
| 1987 | 178 | 1 | F |
| 1986 | 63 | 2 | C |
| 1985 | 54 | 2 | C |
| 1984 | 30 | 0 | A |
| 1983 | 5 | 0 | A |
| 1982 | 4 | 0 | A |
Most common Maxima problems
Nissan Maxima recalls 34
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima, Maxima and Leaf vehicles. The rear window glass may not remain properly secured to the vehicle.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and...
Park outside
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and determined to not...
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti...
Park outside
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Nissan Murano, 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2017-2018 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2017 Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal...
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima vehicles manufactured January 3, 2013, to July 29, 2013, 2015-2016 Rogue vehicles manufactured October 14, 2014, to August 12, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured...
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 19, 2016 and equipped with Intelligent Cruise Control, 2015-2017 Murano vehicles manufactured August 22, 2014, to...
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and...
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 Murano vehicles manufactured December 17, 2015, to February 11, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to February 12, 2016 and equipped with an antilock braking...
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2015 Altima and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured October 6, 2015, to October 7, 2015. The affected vehicles have front brake calipers whose mounting bolts may not be properly tightened.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) notified the agency on July 31, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2016 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 18, 2015. On October 14, 2015, Nissan expanded the recall to cover an...
Latest Maxima complaints
Assessment: The driver reported that the vehicle did not provide any alert prior to the collision. The exact cause of the lack of alert is unknown at this time. Possible contributing factors may include system malfunction, sensor obstruction, or limitations in the vehicle's alert technology.
I am experiencing a severe safety defect regarding the door lock mechanisms on my 2017 Nissan Maxima. The electronic door lock actuators have failed, causing the doors to intermittently refuse to lock or unlock when using either the key fob or the internal door switches. This creates a critical safety hazard, as it leaves the vehicle vulnerable to theft when the doors fail to lock. More importantly, when the doors fail to unlock, it compromises passenger safety during an emergency, as occupants can become trapped...
Read the full complaint
inside the vehicle or unable to exit quickly. This is a known, widespread issue across multiple Nissan models from this era, and Nissan needs to be held accountable. I request that the NHTSA investigate the 2017 Nissan Maxima door lock actuators and force a safety recall to prevent potential injuries or entrapment.
I woke up the morning of 09/30/2026 and took my kids to the bus stop. All the lights on my dash lit up. We were headed out of town for the night so we parked the car and took my husband's truck. That was at 9:42 am. At 9:16 pm our neighbor called and said the fire department was next door and that my car was engulfed in flames. We contacted Nissan and there is a recall for a fire hazard but it's not attached to my VIN number.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, the ABS independently activated. In addition, the contact became aware of an abnormal sound. The failure was a persistent failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while her husband was attempting to park and turn off the vehicle, the gear shifter failed to shift into park, the STOP button failed to respond, and the vehicle suddenly accelerated, crashed into a tree in the median strip, knocked down three poles, and the brake pedal was depressed but became unresponsive. The vehicle continued driving and crashed into a sign pole and came to a stop. The contact stated that a tire also exploded during the crash. The...
Read the full complaint
contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. The contact and her husband sustained injuries during the crash. The contact's husband sustained a fractured left shoulder and had since developed balance issues. The contact sustained balance issues and weakness in the body. Medical attention was provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,000.
Questions about the Nissan Maxima
Which Nissan Maxima years have the most problems?
Which Nissan Maxima years have the fewest complaints?
What are the most common Nissan Maxima problems?
Across every model year, owners report problems with the transmission & drivetrain (2,444), engine & cooling (937), electrical system (900) most often.
How many recalls does the Nissan Maxima have?
NHTSA lists 34 recalls across all Nissan Maxima model years. Each year's page lists the recalls for that year; check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether the repair has been done.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data