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Nissan MaximaYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 6,919 NHTSA owner complaints across 39 model years, the Nissan Maxima years to avoid are 1987, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2009, and the strongest years are 1989, 2008, 2013 and 2018. The Maxima has 27 safety recalls on record.

Nissan Maxima
Years to avoid'87 '00 '04 '05 '06 '09Use caution: 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2010Best years'89 '08 '13 '18Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints6,919Top: Power trainSafety recalls271985–2023 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Nissan Maxima years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Maxima median. Tap a year for its full report.

'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2023Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2022Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls2021Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls2020Not rated–/10022 complaints · 1 recall2019Not rated–/10018 complaints · 1 recall2018Best76/10036 complaints · 2 recalls2017Solid51/100106 complaints · 4 recalls2016Solid44/100142 complaints · 8 recalls2015Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2014Solid54/10096 complaints · 0 recalls2013Best68/10062 complaints · 0 recalls2012Solid52/100107 complaints · 0 recalls2011Solid52/100106 complaints · 0 recalls2010Caution32/100275 complaints · 1 recall2009Avoid28/100339 complaints · 1 recall2008Solid59/10079 complaints · 0 recalls2007Solid50/100129 complaints · 1 recall2006Avoid18/100576 complaints · 2 recalls2005Avoid12/100948 complaints · 2 recalls2004Avoid8/1001,426 complaints · 2 recalls2003Caution36/100206 complaints · 3 recalls2002Caution33/100205 complaints · 6 recalls2001Caution41/100172 complaints · 3 recalls2000Avoid24/100360 complaints · 0 recalls1999Solid43/100165 complaints · 0 recalls1998Solid45/100113 complaints · 1 recall1997Solid48/100102 complaints · 1 recall1996Solid51/10096 complaints · 0 recalls1995Caution40/100152 complaints · 0 recalls1994Solid55/10089 complaints · 2 recalls1993Solid54/10078 complaints · 3 recalls1992Solid46/100110 complaints · 2 recalls1991Solid57/10076 complaints · 1 recall1990Solid52/100106 complaints · 1 recall1989Solid61/10062 complaints · 1 recall1988Solid52/10060 complaints · 0 recalls1987Avoid27/100176 complaints · 0 recalls1986Solid50/10060 complaints · 1 recall1985Solid52/10054 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Nissan Maxima problems

All model years combined: 6,919 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train244155
Electrical system884115
Engine and engine cooling56257
Steering52327
Air bags500179
Fuel system, gasoline399153
Engine37427
Structure34027
Suspension33719
26 other systems1954217
27 recalls

Nissan Maxima recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

75%Visibility: glass, side/rear20V-570 · 2020 · Sep 22, 2020 · 150 vehicles36%Passenger side: inflator module20V-008 · 2001–2003 · Jan 9, 2020 · 307,962 vehicles63%Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip19V-807 · 2016–2018 · Nov 8, 2019 · 391,479 vehiclesPark outside80%Sensing system: camera19V-654 · 2018–2019 · Sep 12, 2019 · 1,228,830 vehicles81%Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip18V-601 · 2016–2017 · Sep 7, 2018 · 215,124 vehiclesPark outside50%Sensor: occupant classification16V-911 · 2016 · Dec 19, 2016 · 757 vehicles90%Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip16V-636 · 2016–2017 · Sep 2, 2016 · 120,329 vehicles77%Sensor: occupant classification16V-244 · 2016–2017 · Apr 26, 2016 · 3,296,947 vehicles78%Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip16V-193 · 2016 · Apr 7, 2016 · 12,616 vehicles88%Disc: caliper15V-733 · 2016 · Nov 5, 2015 · 119 vehicles85%Fuel system, gasoline15V-486 · 2016 · Aug 4, 2015 · 46,846 vehicles27%Air bags15V-287 · 2001–2003 · May 15, 2015 · 1,090,569 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 27 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

16 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Maxima

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · 2001–2003 · still open
    Open
  2. Rear Suspension Control Arm FailureEA19002 · 2016–2018 · closed Jun 16, 2025
    No recall
  3. TRANSMISSION HOSE LEAKPE08045 · 2007–2008 · closed Oct 24, 2008
    No recall
  4. GLASS ROOF SHATTERINGPE04035 · 2004 · closed Jul 13, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-326
  5. ALTERNATOR FIRESPE02034 · 1997 · closed Jul 22, 2002
    Led to recall 02V-171
  6. SEAT TRACKEA95032 · 1995 · closed Feb 28, 1997
    No recall
  7. SEAT TRACKSPE95038 · 1995 · closed Oct 31, 1995
    No recall
  8. FT SEAT LATCH MECHANISM FAILUREDP95002 · 1995 · closed Jun 20, 1995
    No recall
  9. FUEL INJECTOR ASSEMBLY LEAKAGEEA94018 · 1985–1988 · closed Nov 8, 1995
    Led to recall 95I006000
  10. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE94018 · 1986–1988 · closed Jun 23, 1994
    No recall