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Nissan Maxima.

The best Nissan Maxima years are 2013, 2019, 2011. Years to avoid: 2004, 2005, 2009. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 50, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2000 to 2019.

50Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Better than average. Whole model, 2010-2022: 2× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2013 · Worst year 2004

Nissan Maxima
Photo shows a 2016 Nissan Maxima. Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

2000701.4× fewer complaints2001402.5× fewer complaints200297about average200394about average20044094.1× the complaints20051301.3× the complaints2006104about average2007392.6× fewer complaints2008432.3× fewer complaints20091241.2× the complaints2010721.4× fewer complaints2011323.1× fewer complaints2012472.1× fewer complaints2013254× fewer complaints2014521.9× fewer complaints2016561.8× fewer complaints2017561.8× fewer complaints2018432.3× fewer complaints2019293.4× fewer complaints

Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.

Best years to buy

2013.

2013254× fewer complaints than average2019293.4× fewer complaints than average2011323.1× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2004.

20044094.1× the average car's complaints20051301.3× the average car's complaints20091241.2× the average car's complaints

Quick answers.

Is the Nissan Maxima a good car?

Yes, it draws fewer complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 50; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2013 and the worst is 2004.

What are the best Nissan Maxima years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2013, 2019, 2011.

What Nissan Maxima years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2004, 2005, 2009.

How many recalls does the Nissan Maxima have?

47 safety recalls across the 19 model years we track. Most: 2002 (9), 2016 (8), 2001 (7). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Nissan Maxima problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name tires, airbags and steering most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
2000701.4× fewer complaints than average100service brakes, hydraulic (25%)3—20–21
2001402.5× fewer complaints than average48service brakes, hydraulic (35%)7—20–22
200297about average98lights (22%)9—20–21
200394about average70lights (31%)4—20–21
20044094.1× the average car's complaints281tires (42%)2—21
20051301.3× the average car's complaints68transmission & drivetrain (19%)2—21
2006104about average51tires (22%)2—21
2007392.6× fewer complaints than average20engine (25%)1—21
2008432.3× fewer complaints than average20tires (40%)0—21
20091241.2× the average car's complaints53steering (49%)1—22
2010721.4× fewer complaints than average48steering (44%)1—22
2011323.1× fewer complaints than average23airbags (48%)0—22
2012472.1× fewer complaints than average31airbags (42%)0★★★★☆22
2013254× fewer complaints than average17airbags (71%)0★★★★☆22
2014521.9× fewer complaints than average30airbags (40%)0★★★★☆22
2016561.8× fewer complaints than average58brakes (21%)8★★★★★25
2017561.8× fewer complaints than average47airbags (17%)4★★★★★25
2018432.3× fewer complaints than average22brakes (27%)2★★★★★25
2019293.4× fewer complaints than average11brakes (27%)1—24

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Nissan Maxima transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data