Complaints
137
per 10K Sold
20.8
US Sales
65,946
Crashes
10
Fires
2
Injuries
12
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2012 Nissan Maxima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#126 complaints
Airbags
Avg mileage:32,135 mi
Crash-related:5
Fires:1
#219 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:61,105 mi
#317 complaints
Transmission / Drivetrain
Avg mileage:93,229 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Nissan Maxima.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 26 | 5 | 1 | 32,135 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 19 | — | — | 61,105 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 17 | — | — | 93,229 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 11 | — | 1 | 70,850 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 10 | — | — | 50,608 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 6 | — | — | 24,255 mi | |
| Body Structure | 6 | 3 | — | 58,409 mi | |
| Sunroof/Moonroof | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 1 | — | — | — |
Airbags
26
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Avg Miles
32,135
Electrical Faults
19
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
61,105
Transmission / Drivetrain
17
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
93,229
Engine Problems
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
70,850
Steering Defects
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
50,608
Seat-Related Issues
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
24,255
Body Structure
6
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
58,409
Sunroof/Moonroof
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Nissan Maxima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Nissan Maxima Years
2012 Nissan Maxima — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2012 Nissan Maxima reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2012 Nissan Maxima has 137 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 26 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2012 Nissan Maxima?
Top reported problems: Airbags (26 complaints, avg 32,135 mi); Electrical Faults (19 complaints, avg 61,105 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (17 complaints, avg 93,229 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Nissan Maxima?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 56,451 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2012 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA complaints for the 2012 Nissan Maxima include 10 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 12 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2012 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2012 Nissan Maxima as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2012 Nissan Maxima?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Maxima reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2012 Nissan Maxima
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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