MODELYEARINDEX

Which Nissan Maxima years to avoid

Across 10 scored model years, the 2016, 2017 and 2010 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Nissan Maxima Full report
F
Grade 2010–2020
2016 vs model median 2.9×
Model median3× median
Brakes 14
Airbags & Restraints 13
Electrical 9
Avoid

2016 · 2017

Best

2013 · 2020

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
2.00× 104 D
2011
0.81× 33 B
2012
1.25× 53 C
2013
0.63× 25 B
2014
1.19× 46 B
2016
2.87× 101 F
2017
2.14× 85 F
2018
0.64× 30 B
2019
0.59× 17 B
2020
0.57× 26 B

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2016 F 101 reports · median 30,000 mi

  1. Brakes 14

    Takata recall.I brought my 2016 maxima in june 2015. Plastic bottles melts and explodes in my car. And eye glass class melts. Front right bumber clamps broke off. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Airbags & Restraints 13

    The contact owned a 2016 nissan maxima. While driving 60 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle. The vehicle collided into a concrete barrier. The air bag did not deploy. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 9

    In late november 2016 the ABS and other warning lights on my 2016 nissan maxima began intermittently appearing on the dashboard. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

11 crash · 4 fire · 13 injuries

2017 F 85 reports · median 28,049 mi

  1. Airbags & Restraints 13

    The contact owns a 2017 nissan maxima. While driving 25 MPH, another vehicle crossed in front of the contact's vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into the driver side of the other vehicle. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Body & Interior 11

    Rear passenger side door fails to/does not close tightly/hermetically. I AM worried that the door/window would open while driving. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Driver Assist 10

    The car is becomes unstable and difficult to control when going over bumps, even at moderate speeds (20+ MPH). When going over bumps, there is a loud thump / clunk / bang from the rear suspension - and then the rear of… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

8 crash · 3 fire · 8 injuries

The best year for the Maxima

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2013 is the best-scoring Maxima model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 84.3 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations. On complaint rate alone the lowest is 2020 at 0.57× this model’s median, against 0.63× for 2013.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2013 0.63× 25 B
2020 0.57× 26 B
2019 0.59× 17 B

Recalls

11 campaigns on record, 2 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
16V244000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION 2016, 2017 3,296,947
19V654000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2018, 2019 1,228,830
19V807000 Park it SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 2016–2018 391,479
18V601000 Park it SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 2016, 2017 215,124
16V636000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 2016, 2017 120,329
15V486000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 2016 46,846
09V358000 SUSPENSION 2010 26,398
16V193000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 2016 12,616
16V911000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION 2016 757
20V570000 VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR 2020 150
15V733000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER 2016 119

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2016 were reported at a median of 30,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Nissan Maxima years should you avoid?
2016, 2017, 2010 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Nissan Maxima model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Nissan Maxima?
2013 is the best-scoring Nissan Maxima model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 84.3 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Nissan Maxima have?
11 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Nissan Maxima model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2016 Maxima
Complaints in window
101
Severity-weighted
169.5
Model median (weighted)
59
vs model median
2.87×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
12
Open investigations
0
Score 13.2 F