Nissan Maxima: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
5,417 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Nissan Maxima, model years 2000 to 2023. 6 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2004 (transmission 93×); 2005 (transmission 78×); 2006 (transmission 39×); 2000 (engine 5.6×). Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2018, 2013, 2008. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Maxima | 359 | engine 5.6× | 3 | |
| 2001 Maxima | 172 | — | 7 | |
| 2002 Maxima | 205 | engine 4.3× | 9 | |
| 2003 Maxima | 206 | engine 9.3× | 4 | |
| 2004 Maxima | 1,425 | transmission 93× | 2 | |
| 2005 Maxima | 947 | transmission 78× | 2 | |
| 2006 Maxima | 576 | transmission 39× | 2 | |
| 2007 MaximaFEW REPORTS | 129 | — | 1 | |
| 2008 MaximaFEW REPORTS | 79 | quiet: 3 of 18 | 0 | |
| 2009 Maxima | 339 | — | 1 | |
| 2010 Maxima | 275 | — | 1 | |
| 2011 MaximaFEW REPORTS | 106 | quiet: 5 of 18 | 0 | |
| 2012 MaximaFEW REPORTS | 107 | — | 0 | |
| 2013 MaximaFEW REPORTS | 62 | quiet: 2 of 18 | 0 | |
| 2014 MaximaFEW REPORTS | 96 | quiet: 4 of 18 | 0 | |
| 2015 MaximaFEW REPORTS | 1 | — | 0 | |
| 2016 MaximaFEW REPORTS | 142 | — | 8 | |
| 2017 MaximaFEW REPORTS | 106 | quiet: 6 of 18 | 4 | |
| 2018 MaximaFEW REPORTS | 36 | quiet: 1 of 18 | 2 | |
| 2019 MaximaFEW REPORTS | 18 | — | 1 | |
| 2020 MaximaFEW REPORTS | 22 | — | 1 | |
| 2021 MaximaFEW REPORTS | 3 | — | 0 | |
| 2022 MaximaFEW REPORTS | 5 | — | 0 | |
| 2023 MaximaFEW REPORTS | 1 | — | 0 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 200020012002200320042005200620092010