2016 Nissan Maxima problems and recalls

Owners have filed 142 complaints on the 2016 Nissan Maxima, and NHTSA has issued 8 recalls. The most cited component is the Power Train (33 complaints).

142
Complaints
8
Recalls
10
Crash reports
4
Fire reports
12
Injuries
91.3
Severity index

Severity index 91.3 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 91.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 20 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 86% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Power TrainPower Train: 33 complaints (23.2%)33 23%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 31 complaints (21.8%)31 22%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 27 complaints (19.0%)27 19%Service BrakesService Brakes: 21 complaints (14.8%)21 15%EngineEngine: 18 complaints (12.7%)18 13%Air BagsAir Bags: 14 complaints (9.9%)14 10%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 14 complaints (9.9%)14 10%SteeringSteering: 9 complaints (6.3%)9 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
POWER TRAIN3323.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3121.8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2719.0%
SERVICE BRAKES2114.8%
ENGINE1812.7%
AIR BAGS149.9%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL149.9%
STEERING96.3%

Complaints filed per year

010192015: 62016: 92017: 192018: 132019: 112020: 162021: 172022: 92023: 142024: 122025: 142026: 2 (partial year)15161719181920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20156
20169
201719
201813
201911
202016
202117
20229
202314
202412
202514
2026 (year to date)2
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (40 against 42).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V60100007/09/2018SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIPNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Nissan Murano, 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2017-2018 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2017 Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.
16V91100019/12/2016AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima vehicles manufactured January 3, 2013, to July 29, 2013, 2015-2016 Rogue vehicles manufactured October 14, 2014, to August 12, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured June 4, 2015, to August
16V63600002/09/2016SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIPNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 19, 2016 and equipped with Intelligent Cruise Control, 2015-2017 Murano vehicles manufactured August 22, 2014, to August 19, 2016 and equ
16V19300007/04/2016SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIPNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 Murano vehicles manufactured December 17, 2015, to February 11, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to February 12, 2016 and equipped with an antilock braking system (ABS) and Vehi
15V73300005/11/2015SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPERNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2015 Altima and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured October 6, 2015, to October 7, 2015. The affected vehicles have front brake calipers whose mounting bolts may not be properly tightened.
15V48600004/08/2015FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINENissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) notified the agency on July 31, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2016 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 18, 2015. On October 14, 2015, Nissan expanded the recall to cover an additional 41,388 vehi
16V24400026/04/2016AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 N
19V80700008/11/2019SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIPNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and determined to not need a repair, under

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.