repaired · 2021 Q1
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Park outsideRisk. A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
2018 Nissan MaximaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 36 owner complaints about the 2018 Nissan Maxima, most often about the service brakes. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-807 the manufacturer reports only 63% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 17, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2018 Nissan Maxima has problems
36 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
7Service brakes
6Forward collision avoidance
5Electrical system
2Structure
2Vehicle speed control
2Visibility/wiper
2Electronic stability control (ESC)
1Suspension
1Tires
99 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 7 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 6 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 |
| 9 other systems | 9 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2018 Nissan Maxima recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2021 Q1
Sensing system: camera
Risk. The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Nissan.
Best & worst years
2018 vs. every other Maxima year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Maxima median. How we score
'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
NHTSA crash tests
2018 Nissan Maxima safety ratings
2018 Nissan Maxima 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 5 stars (9.5% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Standard
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2018 Nissan Maxima, and the recalls they led to.
- Rear Suspension Control Arm FailureNo recall
In owners' words
What Maxima owners report
Recent service brakes complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
In June 2019, while driving my 2018 Nissan Maxima, the vehicle suffered a sudden and violent mechanical failure. Without warning, the steering wheel jerked forcefully to the side, and the vehicle became uncomtrollabel leading to an approx 100-foot spin across a median. I have since verified this…
I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MAY WIFE AND LONG TRIPS. IT WAS RATED SATISFACTORY BY CONSUMERS REPORT. I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM NISSAN THAT THE CAR COULD LEAK BRAKE FLUID AND CATCH FIRE. THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIX IT UNTIL SUMMER OF 2020. IN THE MEAN TIME IF THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON I SHOULD PULL IT TO THE…
DASHBOARD MESSAGE APPEARS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING "UNAVAILABLE FRONT RADAR OBSTRUCTION". THE MESSAGE RELATES TO THE SYSTEM THAT AUTOMATICALLY APPLIES THE BRAKES IF IT SENSES A COLLISION DANGER.
Own a 2018 Maxima?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.