Nissan Maxima: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Nissan Maxima problems by model year, from 977 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2013 (73%, 27 drivetrain complaints), 2014 (54%, 29 drivetrain complaints) and 2011 (41%, 33 drivetrain complaints). 5 of the 8 Nissan Maxima years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2018 (9%), 2010 (14%) and 2017 (23%). 2018 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2010 (14%) to 2011 (41%), up 27 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2016 drew the most drivetrain complaints (47 of 226 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021, 2022 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Nissan Maxima year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Maxima | no elevated signal | 14% | 36 | 275 | 7/8 | 1 |
| 2011 Maxima | high | 41% | 33 | 106 | 3/8 | 0 |
| 2012 Maxima | high | 41% | 32 | 107 | 4/8 | 0 |
| 2013 Maxima | very high | 73% | 27 | 62 | 1/8 | 0 |
| 2014 Maxima | high | 54% | 29 | 96 | 2/8 | 0 |
| 2015 Maxima | too few to score | – | 0 | 1 | – | 0 |
| 2016 Maxima | elevated | 39% | 47 | 142 | 5/8 | 8 |
| 2017 Maxima | no elevated signal | 23% | 19 | 103 | 6/8 | 4 |
| 2018 Maxima | no elevated signal | 9% | 3 | 36 | 8/8 | 2 |
| 2019 Maxima | too few to score | – | 6 | 18 | – | 1 |
| 2020 Maxima | too few to score | – | 5 | 22 | – | 1 |
| 2021 Maxima | too few to score | – | 1 | 3 | – | 0 |
| 2022 Maxima | too few to score | – | 1 | 5 | – | 0 |
| 2023 Maxima | too few to score | – | 0 | 1 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Nissan Maxima years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Nissan Maxima fuel system recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the Nissan Maxima involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 10 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2015 | 15V486000 | fuel system, gasoline | 2016 |
9 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2009 | 09V358000 | suspension | 2010 |
| Nov 2015 | 15V733000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2016 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V193000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2016 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V244000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification | 2016–2017 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V636000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2016–2017 |
| Dec 2016 | 16V911000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification | 2016 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V601000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2016–2017 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V654000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2018 |
| Nov 2019 | 19V807000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2016–2018 |
What the free pages leave out on the Nissan Maxima
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Nissan Maxima
What are the worst years for the Nissan Maxima?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Nissan Maxima years are the 2013 (73% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2014 (54% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2011 (41% of relevant complaints, high). 5 of 8 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Nissan Maxima?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Nissan Maxima years are the 2018 (9%), the 2010 (14%) and the 2017 (23%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Nissan Maxima have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 8 scored years, 226 of 763 relevant NHTSA complaints (30%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016.
Is the Nissan Maxima reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 5 of 8 Nissan Maxima years we score have an elevated complaint share and 3 do not. Pooled across those years, 30% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Nissan Maxima?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Nissan Maxima years we track, out of 10 in total: 15V486000 (Aug 2015, 2016). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.