2012 Nissan Maxima problems and recalls

The 2012 Nissan Maxima has no recalls on file. Owners have filed 107 complaints, most often on the Air Bags.

107
Complaints
0
Recalls
6
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
7
Injuries
73.9
Severity index

Severity index 73.9 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 73.9p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 43 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 67% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 27 complaints (25.2%)27 25%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 23 complaints (21.5%)23 21%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 20 complaints (18.7%)20 19%Power TrainPower Train: 18 complaints (16.8%)18 17%EngineEngine: 11 complaints (10.3%)11 10%SteeringSteering: 10 complaints (9.3%)10 9%StructureStructure: 6 complaints (5.6%)6 6%SeatsSeats: 6 complaints (5.6%)6 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS2725.2%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2321.5%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2018.7%
POWER TRAIN1816.8%
ENGINE1110.3%
STEERING109.3%
STRUCTURE65.6%
SEATS65.6%

Complaints filed per year

010192011: 12012: 12013: 62014: 172015: 62016: 152017: 72018: 192019: 132020: 42021: 62022: 52023: 42024: 12025: 12026: 1 (partial year)1112131415161718191920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20111
20121
20136
201417
20156
201615
20177
201819
201913
20204
20216
20225
20234
20241
20251
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (6 against 15).

Other Nissan Maxima model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 8 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.