Nissan Maxima: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Nissan Maxima: 12 model years scored from 471 NHTSA owner complaints and 11 recall campaigns. Worst year 2016, best year 2013.
Nissan Maxima: which years to avoid
Across 9 scored model years the Nissan Maxima ranges from 32/100 in 2016 to 93/100 in 2021 — a 61-point spread, so which year you buy matters more than whether you buy a Maxima at all. The weakest year’s complaints concentrate in Power Train (33 of them).
Avoid: 2016 — scored below 45 on the complaint and recall record.
Safest years: 2011, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 — scored 70 or better.
Scored from NHTSA complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. How the score works · every car’s years to avoid.
How the Maxima changed, run by run
The federal record falls into 2 stretches of years that behave alike. A redesign shows up here as a step in the complaint rate that then holds.
2013–2014
Mean score 80/100, about 6 complaints per year on the road. Owners of these years complain about Power Train more than anything else (45 complaints).
2020–2023
Mean score 92/100, about 1 complaints per year on the road. Owners of these years complain about Structure more than anything else (6 complaints).
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2013 (score 87). Worst: 2016 (score 32, AVOID).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 93 | BUY | $3,966 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 93 | BUY | $4,124 | 5 | 0 |
| 2021 | 93 | BUY | $4,251 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020 | 90 | BUY | $4,446 | 21 | 1 |
| 2019 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,520 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 84 | BUY | $4,646 | 36 | 2 |
| 2017 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,700 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 32 | AVOID | $5,110 | 142 | 8 |
| 2014 | 73 | BUY | $5,670 | 95 | 0 |
| 2013 | 87 | BUY | $5,750 | 62 | 0 |
| 2012 | — | DATA PENDING | $5,800 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 76 | BUY | $6,074 | 106 | 0 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the Maxima, through the years →
What goes wrong on the Nissan Maxima
Across every Maxima model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Power Train102 complaints across all Maxima years · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair$1,290–$4,040
- Air Bags77 complaints across all Maxima years · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement$600–$1,700
- Unknown Or Other72 complaints across all Maxima years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Electrical System60 complaints across all Maxima years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Engine44 complaints across all Maxima years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Service Brakes33 complaints across all Maxima years · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles$580–$1,140
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
Which Nissan Maxima years should I avoid?
On the NHTSA record the years to avoid are 2016 — each scores below 45 out of 100 on complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. The 2016 is the weakest at 32/100, with its complaints concentrated in Power Train.
What are the best Nissan Maxima years to buy?
2011, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2021 at 93/100, on 3 complaints and 0 recall campaigns.
What is the most common Nissan Maxima problem?
102 of the complaints filed against the Maxima across all its model years sit in the Power Train group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04