Nissan

Maxima

Midsize Cars · model years 1984 to 2023

Includes Maxima and Maxima Wagon as listed by the EPA.

See all 75 Maxima trims All Nissan cars

The verdict

Best year: 2023. complaints: 1, below this model's typical 79; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1.

Worst year: 2000. complaints: 360, about 2.3x this model's typical 158; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Nissan Maxima
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
1984	6Gas	21	no data	$3,200	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1984
1985	4Gas	18	no data	$3,750	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1985
1986	3Gas	18	no data	$3,700	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1986
1987	3Gas	18	no data	$3,700	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1987
1988	3Gas	18	no data	$3,700	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1988
1989	2Gas	19.5	no data	$4,225	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1989
1990	2Gas	19.5	no data	$3,950	1	106	0	no data	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 28%, VISIBILITY 16%, POWER TRAIN 8%
complaints: 106, below this model's typical 158 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 63 of 100, where higher is better.
1991	2Gas	19.5	no data	$3,950	1	76	0	no data	SEAT BELTS 15%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 13%, POWER TRAIN 10%
complaints: 76, below this model's typical 158 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 64 of 100, where higher is better.
1992	3Gas	19	no data	$4,050	2	110	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 17%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 16%, VISIBILITY 11%
complaints: 110, below this model's typical 237 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 18 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 43 of 100, where higher is better.
1993	3Gas	19	no data	$4,050	3	78	0	no data	AIR BAGS 13%, VISIBILITY 13%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%
complaints: 78, below this model's typical 237 recalls: 3, about 3x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 35 of 100, where higher is better.
1994	3Gas	19	no data	$4,050	2	89	0	no data	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 17%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 16%, VISIBILITY 16%
complaints: 89, below this model's typical 237 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 47 of 100, where higher is better.
1995	2Gas	21	no data	$3,650	0	152	0	no data	AIR BAGS 14%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 12%, SEATS 11%
complaints: 152, below this model's typical 158 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 15 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 66 of 100, where higher is better.
1996	2Gas	21	no data	$3,650	0	96	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 15%, AIR BAGS 14%, POWER TRAIN 11%
complaints: 96, below this model's typical 158 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 73 of 100, where higher is better.
1997	2Gas	21	no data	$3,650	1	102	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 34%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 10%, AIR BAGS 9%
complaints: 102, below this model's typical 158 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 complaints reporting a fire: 16 Score: 62 of 100, where higher is better.
1998	2Gas	21	no data	$2,950	1	113	0	no data	AIR BAGS 19%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 19%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 8%
complaints: 113, below this model's typical 158 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 complaints reporting a fire: 12 Score: 44 of 100, where higher is better.
1999	2Gas	21	no data	$2,950	0	165	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 40%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 18%, AIR BAGS 9%
complaints: 165, above this model's typical 158 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 73 of 100, where higher is better.
2000	2Gas	20.5	no data	$3,025	0	360	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 38%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 16%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 6%
complaints: 360, about 2.3x this model's typical 158 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 26 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2001	2Gas	21	no data	$2,975	3	172	0	no data	AIR BAGS 13%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 13%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%
complaints: 172, above this model's typical 158 recalls: 3, about 3x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 26 of 100, where higher is better.
2002	2Gas	20.5	no data	$3,025	6	205	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 11%, AIR BAGS 11%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 9%
complaints: 205, above this model's typical 158 recalls: 6, about 6x this model's typical 1 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 23 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2003	2Gas	20.5	no data	$3,025	3	206	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 22%, ENGINE 17%, AIR BAGS 14%
complaints: 206, above this model's typical 158 recalls: 3, about 3x this model's typical 1 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 12 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 1 of 100, where higher is better.
2004	3Gas	21	no data	$2,950	2	1,426	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 55%, TIRES 8%, SUSPENSION 6%
complaints: 1426, about 6x this model's typical 237 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 30 complaints reporting a fire: 16 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	2Gas	21	no data	$2,950	2	948	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 68%, ENGINE 5%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 4%
complaints: 948, about 6x this model's typical 158 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 29 complaints reporting a fire: 10 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	2Gas	21	no data	$2,950	2	576	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 54%, ENGINE 6%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 6%
complaints: 576, about 3.7x this model's typical 158 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 12 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2007	1Gas	21	no data	$3,650	1	129	0	no data	STRUCTURE 20%, AIR BAGS 11%, ENGINE 11%
complaints: 129, about 1.6x this model's typical 79 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 43 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	1Gas	21	no data	$3,650	0	79	0	no data	AIR BAGS 23%, STRUCTURE 21%, POWER TRAIN 8%
complaints: 79, in line with this model's typical 79 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 Score: 76 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	1Gas	22	no data	$3,500	1	339	0	no data	STEERING 37%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, AIR BAGS 10%
complaints: 339, about 4.3x this model's typical 79 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 19 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	1Gas	22	no data	$3,500	1	275	0	113	STEERING 40%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20%, SUSPENSION 7%
complaints: 275, about 3.5x this model's typical 79 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 15 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.3 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	1Gas	22	no data	$3,500	0	106	0	112	AIR BAGS 17%, POWER TRAIN 16%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 106, above this model's typical 79 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 15 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 55 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.6 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	1Gas	22	no data	$3,500	0	107	0	112	AIR BAGS 20%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%
complaints: 107, above this model's typical 79 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 57 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 2.0 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	1Gas	22	no data	$3,500	0	62	0	103	POWER TRAIN 34%, AIR BAGS 23%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 13%
complaints: 62, below this model's typical 79 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 77 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 3.7 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	1Gas	22	no data	$3,500	0	96	0	87	AIR BAGS 19%, POWER TRAIN 17%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 15%
complaints: 96, above this model's typical 79 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 64 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 2.3 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2016	1Gas	25	no data	$3,100	8	142	1	269	POWER TRAIN 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 142, about 1.8x this model's typical 79 recalls: 8, about 8x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 12 complaints reporting a fire: 4 NHTSA advised parking the 2016 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	1Gas	25	300	$3,100	4	104	1	209	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17%, AIR BAGS 12%, STRUCTURE 11%
complaints: 104, above this model's typical 79 recalls: 4, about 4x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 complaints reporting a fire: 3 NHTSA advised parking the 2017 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	1Gas	25	300	$3,100	2	36	1	162	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18%, SERVICE BRAKES 16%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 13%
complaints: 36, below this model's typical 79 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 1 NHTSA advised parking the 2018 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 27 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	1Gas	24	300	$3,200	1	18	0	131	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19%, ENGINE 15%, POWER TRAIN 11%
complaints: 18, below this model's typical 79 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 Score: 80 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	1Gas	24	300	$3,200	1	22	0	98	FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 13%, STRUCTURE 13%, POWER TRAIN 9%
complaints: 22, below this model's typical 79 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 78 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	1Gas	24	300	$3,200	0	3	0	94	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 25%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 25%, STRUCTURE 25%
complaints: 3, below this model's typical 79 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 94 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	1Gas	24	300	$3,200	0	5	0	73	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 33%, ENGINE 17%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 17%
complaints: 5, below this model's typical 79 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 87 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	1Gas	24	300	$3,200	0	1	0	51	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 50%, EQUIPMENT 50%
complaints: 1, below this model's typical 79 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1984: 21 to 2023: 24

Owner complaints1990: 106 to 2023: 1

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Nissan Maxima to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.