Recall Register

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Nissan Maxima

Model years 1982–2020 · 27 recall campaigns · 6,396 complaints · 16 investigations · filed by NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Across 39 model years (1982–2020), the Nissan Maxima has 27 NHTSA recall campaigns and 6,396 complaints on file.

The component named most often in complaints is power train (293.1 per 1,000 component mentions), followed by electrical system (103).

The 2004 model year has the most complaints (1,411). Recall campaigns peaked in 2002 with 4; complaints were received in the largest number in 2011 (642). Within Nissan, this line ranks 2 of 46 by total complaints.

Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.

Model years

Model yearRecallsComplaintsvs line averageUnits in campaigns
1982 Nissan Maxima NHTSA record042%—
1983 Nissan Maxima NHTSA record053%—
1984 Nissan Maxima03018%—
1985 Nissan Maxima15433%33,000
1986 Nissan Maxima16037%33,000
1987 Nissan Maxima0176107%—
1988 Nissan Maxima06037%—
1989 Nissan Maxima16238%747,000
1990 Nissan Maxima110665%747,000
1991 Nissan Maxima17646%747,000
1992 Nissan Maxima211067%812,000
1993 Nissan Maxima37848%909,000
1994 Nissan Maxima28954%844,000
1995 Nissan Maxima015293%—
1996 Nissan Maxima09659%—
1997 Nissan Maxima110262%161,000
1998 Nissan Maxima111268%161,000
1999 Nissan Maxima0164100%—
2000 Nissan Maxima0358218%—
2001 Nissan Maxima3168102%1,489,031
2002 Nissan Maxima6195119%2,158,874
2003 Nissan Maxima3190116%2,028,531
2004 Nissan Maxima21,411860%134,651
2005 Nissan Maxima2940573%192,567
2006 Nissan Maxima2564344%103,310
2007 Nissan Maxima111872%9,506
2008 Nissan Maxima07345%—
2009 Nissan Maxima1288176%26,398
2010 Nissan Maxima1238145%26,398
2011 Nissan Maxima07546%—
2012 Nissan Maxima07646%—
2013 Nissan Maxima04125%—
2014 Nissan Maxima04628%—
2015 Nissan Maxima NHTSA record011%—
2016 Nissan Maxima85232%4,084,217
2017 Nissan Maxima42314%4,023,879
2018 Nissan Maxima232%1,620,309
2019 Nissan Maxima NHTSA record100%1,228,830
2020 Nissan Maxima NHTSA record100%150

"vs line average" is the model year's complaints as a share of the line's average per model year (100% = average). A campaign covering several model years counts once per year. Model years with one campaign and fewer than 25 complaints are listed but have no page of their own; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record.

Components most reported

Power Train293.1
Electrical System103
Engine and Engine Cooling71.8
Steering60.9
Air Bags55.7
Fuel System, Gasoline53.5
Suspension38.4
Structure37.8
Engine37.4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic36

Per 1,000 component mentions across all Nissan Maxima complaints (8,018 mentions).

Campaigns by year reported

90
94
98
02
06
10
14
18
22
26
Distinct NHTSA campaigns naming the Nissan Maxima, by the year the Part 573 report was received.

Complaints by year received

95
99
03
07
11
15
19
23
Complaints about any Nissan Maxima model year, by year received.

Other Nissan model lines

Questions and answers

Which Nissan Maxima model years have the most recalls?

2016 (8), 2002 (6), 2017 (4). Across model years 1982–2020 there are 27 distinct campaigns.

Which Nissan Maxima model year has the most complaints?

2004, with 1,411 of the line's 6,396 complaints. Newer model years have had less time to accumulate reports.

What do owners of the Nissan Maxima complain about?

power train (293.1 per 1,000 mentions), electrical system (103 per 1,000 mentions), engine and engine cooling (71.8 per 1,000 mentions). Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint flat files, public domain, dated 24 Sep 2026 and 15 May 2019.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, dated 24 Sep 2026 and 15 May 2019. Model names are as NHTSA records them; variants such as "Accord" and "Accord Hybrid" are separate lines. See the methodology.