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2012 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 99.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

85 reports with mileage · 22 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

107 reports
179,000 miles · May 24, 2020
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

I HAD AN A.C. COMPRESSOR ISSUE 3 YEARS AGO AND HAD IT REPLACED BY TROPHY NISSAN MESQUITE,TEXAS IN 2017. NOW 3 YEARS LATER MAY OF 2020 MY COMPRESSOR HAS LOCKED UP AGAIN. IT WAS WORKING FINE UNTIL A WEEK AGO WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK IT WAS GREAT BUT AFTER MY SHIFT WAS DONE AND I CAME OUT TO GO HOME MY A.C.COMPRESSOR WASN'T WOR…

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I HAD AN A.C. COMPRESSOR ISSUE 3 YEARS AGO AND HAD IT REPLACED BY TROPHY NISSAN MESQUITE,TEXAS IN 2017. NOW 3 YEARS LATER MAY OF 2020 MY COMPRESSOR HAS LOCKED UP AGAIN. IT WAS WORKING FINE UNTIL A WEEK AGO WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK IT WAS GREAT BUT AFTER MY SHIFT WAS DONE AND I CAME OUT TO GO HOME MY A.C.COMPRESSOR WASN'T WORKING.SO I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WERE ANY NISSAN RECALLS WITH A.C. COMPRESSOR ISSUES ON MY MAXIMA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11325719

31,301 miles · Jan 21, 2020
Air Bags

WHENEVER SOMEONE SITS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPEN (ACCIDENT) THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. ALL THE PEOPLE I HAVE TESTED ARE OVER 120 LBS. I BROUGHT THIS PROBLEM TO PINNACLE NISSAN IN SCOTTSDALE, AZ BUT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT SAYING THERE'S NOTHING WRONG W…

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WHENEVER SOMEONE SITS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPEN (ACCIDENT) THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. ALL THE PEOPLE I HAVE TESTED ARE OVER 120 LBS. I BROUGHT THIS PROBLEM TO PINNACLE NISSAN IN SCOTTSDALE, AZ BUT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT SAYING THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. THEY SAID THEY TESTED IT BUT THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA ODI #11300985

55,000 miles · Dec 19, 2019
Unknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THIS MORNING, THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF ON MY 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED AND SHATTERED. HAD THE SUNROOF BEEN OPEN, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO ME PERSONALLY, MY UNBORN CHILD (7 MONTHS PREGNANT), AND OTHERS DRIVING AROUND ME IF I HAD LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11290173

79,882 miles · Dec 9, 2019
Steering

I PICKED MY CAR UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP AFTER GETTING A STATE INSPECTION, OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. THEY SAID THEY TOPPED OFF ALL THE FLUIDS. AS I BACKED OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE AND PULLED FORWARD I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT. I TRIED ADJUSTING IT A FEW TIMES, BUT AS I APPROACHED THE LIGHT AND TRIED TO TURN RIGH…

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I PICKED MY CAR UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP AFTER GETTING A STATE INSPECTION, OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. THEY SAID THEY TOPPED OFF ALL THE FLUIDS. AS I BACKED OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE AND PULLED FORWARD I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT. I TRIED ADJUSTING IT A FEW TIMES, BUT AS I APPROACHED THE LIGHT AND TRIED TO TURN RIGHT I HAD TO GO OUT WIDE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT. I WAS AFRAID AT THE NEXT TWO LIGHTS. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT, AND AFTER STRUGGLING I MANAGED TO TURN AND GET THE CAR TO MY HUSBAND TO LOOK AT. HE TEST DRIVE IT AND SAID IT WAS NO POWER STEERING. WE TOLD THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND OF COURSE IT IS NOTHING THEY DID, THE POWER STEERING PUMP JUST WENT OUT. I THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST OR ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN IT WENT OUT, BECAUSE I READ ABOUT SOME CRASHING. IT STILL WAS A SCARY EXPERIENCE. MY CAR ONLY HAS 79,882 MILES ON IT. WHY WOULD THE POWER STEERING GO OUT AT THIS MILEAGE. NOW THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $1,000. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURE IT A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED AND PAID FOR BY THEM.

NHTSA ODI #11287877

50,000 miles · Nov 19, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

CAR WILL NOT START, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, KEY FOB LIGHT IS ON, BRAKE IS STIFF. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME NISSAN HAD THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #11280976

50,000 miles · Nov 18, 2019
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

THE CAR STREERING WHEEL WONT MOVE AND THE CAR WONT START.

NHTSA ODI #11280945

158,000 miles · Sep 23, 2019
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT CALLED FRED ANDERSON NISSAN OF RALEIGH (LOCATED AT 9225 GLENWOOD AVE, RALEIGH, NC 27617, (919) 324-3443) AND I…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT CALLED FRED ANDERSON NISSAN OF RALEIGH (LOCATED AT 9225 GLENWOOD AVE, RALEIGH, NC 27617, (919) 324-3443) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

NHTSA ODI #11257523

92,500 miles · Jul 5, 2019
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED DAVE WRIGHT NISSAN AT 319-393-0640 (LOCATED AT 999 BOYSON RD, HIAWATHA, IA 52233) AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED DAVE WRIGHT NISSAN AT 319-393-0640 (LOCATED AT 999 BOYSON RD, HIAWATHA, IA 52233) AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL, AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,500. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11229671

31,789 miles · Jun 8, 2019
Air Bags

2012 NISSAN MAXIMA PASSENGER SEAT BELT NOTICE STAYS ON NO MATTER WHO SIT IN SEAT. DEALER SAYS NEED TO BE REPLACED $1,600 TO FIX THIS IS ABSURD AS THEY RECALLED 2013 MODELS. HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR PAST 3 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI #11218685

100,000 miles · Jun 2, 2019
EngineService Brakes

THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED COOLING WHILE DRIVING. THE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR.(THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE) AAMCO SAID THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL NISSAN ALTIMAS AND MAXIMAS COME IN WITH A BAD COMPRESSOR AND BRAKES. I KNOW AT LEAST FOUR OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THE SAME IS…

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THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED COOLING WHILE DRIVING. THE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR.(THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE) AAMCO SAID THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL NISSAN ALTIMAS AND MAXIMAS COME IN WITH A BAD COMPRESSOR AND BRAKES. I KNOW AT LEAST FOUR OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY DRIVE ALTIMAS AND MAXIMAS AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11217322

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.