Nissan Maxima Reliability
8,839 NHTSA complaints (1982–2023). Complaint rate: 343.8 per 1,000 vehicles.
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 1999–2006 Nissan Maxima (219 crash-related complaints). The 2018–2023 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: POWER TRAIN.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Nissan Maxima Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 1,248 | 1.3% |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1,125 | 1.8% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 469 | 1.9% |
| STEERING | 455 | 3.3% |
| AIR BAGS | 371 | 23.7% |
| ENGINE | 369 | 3.0% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 329 | 2.4% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 243 | 16.9% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 222 | 1.4% |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 212 | 5.7% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
See also: Nissan Maximaaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
Buying a Nissan Maxima?
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