Nissan Maxima complaints by model year
6,955 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2017 | 103 | 7 | 2 | 4 |
| 2016 | 142 | 10 | 4 | 8 |
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 96 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | 62 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 107 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| 2011 | 106 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 275 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| 2009 | 339 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| 2008 | 79 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 129 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 2006 | 576 | 21 | 4 | 2 |
| 2005 | 948 | 16 | 10 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1,426 | 33 | 16 | 2 |
| 2003 | 206 | 13 | 2 | 3 |
| 2002 | 205 | 27 | 0 | 6 |
| 2001 | 172 | 8 | 4 | 3 |
| 2000 | 360 | 25 | 6 | 0 |
| 1999 | 165 | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| 1998 | 113 | 13 | 12 | 1 |
| 1997 | 102 | 7 | 16 | 1 |
| 1996 | 96 | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| 1995 | 152 | 17 | 5 | 0 |
| 1994 | 89 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| 1993 | 78 | 9 | 4 | 3 |
| 1992 | 110 | 15 | 3 | 2 |
| 1991 | 76 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| 1990 | 106 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| 1989 | 62 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| 1988 | 60 | 2 | 32 | 0 |
| 1987 | 176 | 5 | 97 | 0 |
| 1986 | 60 | 3 | 37 | 1 |
| 1985 | 54 | 2 | 38 | 1 |
| 1984 | 30 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1983 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2014–2023. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 10 | 0 | 27 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Power train | 22 | 0 | 33 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 8 | 0 | 31 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Air bags | 24 | 1 | 14 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 | 21 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 9 | 0 | 18 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 8 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 19 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Nissan Maxima recalls (27)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Maxima model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20V570000 | Sep 22, 2020 | Rear Window Glass May Separate | 2020 | 84% |
| 20V008000 | Jan 9, 2020 | Frontal Passenger Air Bag Inflators May Explode | 2001, 2002, 2003 | 47.8% |
| 19V807000 | Nov 8, 2019 | Brake Fluid Can Leak Into ABS Pump and Ignite | 2016, 2017, 2018 | 63% |
| 19V654000 | Sep 12, 2019 | No Back-Up Camera Display Image/FMVSS 111 | 2018, 2019 | 80.4% |
| 18V601000 | Sep 7, 2018 | Brake Fluid may Leak into ABS Pump and Ignite | 2016, 2017 | 80.9% |
| 16V911000 | Dec 19, 2016 | Air Bag May Not Deploy Due to Software Issue | 2016 | 49.8% |
| 16V636000 | Sep 2, 2016 | Brake Fluid may Leak into ABS Pump and Ignite | 2016, 2017 | 90% |
| 16V244000 | Apr 26, 2016 | Passenger Air Bag may not Deploy due to OCS Error | 2016, 2017 | 77.1% |
| 16V193000 | Apr 7, 2016 | ABS Brake Actuator may have a Damaged O-Ring | 2016 | 78% |
| 15V733000 | Nov 5, 2015 | Front Brake Caliper Mounting Bolts may be Loose | 2016 | 88.2% |
| 15V486000 | Aug 4, 2015 | Fuel Sending Unit may Leak Fuel | 2016 | 84.5% |
| 15V287000 | May 15, 2015 | Passenger Air Bag Inflator may Rupture | 2001, 2002, 2003 | 39.7% |
| 09V358000 | Sep 16, 2009 | SUSPENSION/STRUT INSULATOR CRACKING | 2009, 2010 | — |
| 06V402000 | Oct 23, 2006 | STEERING WHEEL LOCK INTELLIGENT KEY/FMVSS 114 | 2007 | — |
| 06V046000 | Feb 13, 2006 | REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME | 2006 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Crash-test stars by model year
| Model year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Tested as |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2022 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4 fwd |
| 2021 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2020 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2018 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2017 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2016 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2014 | ★★★★☆ | 3★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2013 | ★★★★☆ | 3★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2012 | ★★★★☆ | 3★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4 dr fwd |
Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Source: NHTSA NCAP, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Nissan Maxima FAQ
How many recalls has the Nissan Maxima had?
NHTSA lists 27 recall campaigns that cover at least one Nissan Maxima model year from 1982 to 2023. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Nissan Maxima year has the most complaints?
Among the last 15 model years with settled counts, the 2009 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (339) and the 2015 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Nissan Maxima problems?
Across the 2014–2023 model years, owners most often name the unknown or other, power train, electrical system in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Nissan Maxima get?
EPA rates the 2023 Nissan Maxima at 24 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.