Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
150–25K
1825–50K
1350–75K
1375–100K
9100–150K
1150K+
69 reports with mileage · 27 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 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
96 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2020
Exterior Lighting
NOT LONG AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE REALLY DIM AND LOW. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE BULBS. SO EVENTUALLY I BOUGHT BRAND NEW BULBS TOP SHELF WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TOOK TO SEVERAL SHOPS AND BASICALLY HAVE BEEN TOLD I WILL NEED A WHOLE NEW LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND IT HAS TO DO WITH THE PROJE…
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NOT LONG AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE REALLY DIM AND LOW. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE BULBS. SO EVENTUALLY I BOUGHT BRAND NEW BULBS TOP SHELF WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TOOK TO SEVERAL SHOPS AND BASICALLY HAVE BEEN TOLD I WILL NEED A WHOLE NEW LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND IT HAS TO DO WITH THE PROJECTOR HEADLIGHT. MY ISSUE IS PAYING ALL THE MONEY ON A NEW ASSEMBLY IF I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME RECURRING ISSUE. I CAN NOT SEE AT ALL. I ALSO HAVE DONE RE SEARCH AND SEEN WHERE A LOT OF ALTIMA AND MAXIMAS BETWEEN CERTAIN YEARS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I WAS DIRECTED TO THIS WEBSITE TO FILE MY COMPLAINT. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE RECALLED AND FIXED COMPLIMENTARY BY NISSAN
NHTSA ODI #11297830
45,000 miles · Jan 4, 2020
Exterior Lighting
THE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT ARE TOO DIM TO BE SAFELY DRIVEN. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS AND THIS HAS NO AFFECT. THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER MAXIMA AND ALTIMA OWNERS.
NHTSA ODI #11297062
105,705 miles · Jan 3, 2020
Structure
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD GUNSHOT SOUNDING NOISE. PULLED OVER WHEN IT WAS SAFE. I DISCOVERED THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED. SAW A BIG HOLE IN THE SUNROOF WITH GLASS EVERYWHERE INCLUDING INSIDE THE SPACE BETWEEN THE SUNROOF AND THE ROOF OF THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI #11296832
48,000 miles · Nov 25, 2019
Service Brakes
MY BRAKE HAVE TO BE PUMPED BEFORE MY CAR STOPS. BRAKE RESISTOR IS FULL. NO SQUEAKS ETC.
NHTSA ODI #11282122
Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2019
Exterior Lighting
WHILE USING LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT, LIGHTS ARE VERY DIM AND DANGEROUS TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD. VERY DANGEROUS TO SEE AHEAD OF ME. I HAVE TRIED REPLACING BULB WITH LITTLE EFFECT. POSSIBLE THAT PROJECTORS ARE BURNT OUT AND WILL NEED ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA ODI #11279956
55,000 miles · Oct 25, 2019
Air Bags
AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR AND MY WIFE IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE 'PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF' LIGHT LOCATED IN THE DASH ILLUMINATES INDICATING THE SYSTEM THINKS THE SEAT IS EMPTY. THIS IS RANDOM AND ALWAYS AFTER A PERIOD OF DRIVING THE CAR. MY WIFE WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 160#, AND IS SITTING FLAT BO…
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AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR AND MY WIFE IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE 'PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF' LIGHT LOCATED IN THE DASH ILLUMINATES INDICATING THE SYSTEM THINKS THE SEAT IS EMPTY. THIS IS RANDOM AND ALWAYS AFTER A PERIOD OF DRIVING THE CAR. MY WIFE WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 160#, AND IS SITTING FLAT BOTTOMED ON THE SEAT WITH BOTH FEET ON THE FLOOR. WE HAVE BEGUN TAKING CELL PHONE PHOTOS SHOWING A TIME AND DATE STAMP AS PROOF. WE ALSO HAVE SOME WITHOUT A TIME STAMP. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A NISSAN DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY REPORT 'NO PROBLEM FOUND'. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED. I AM WILLING TO PROVIDE THE PHOTOS AS PROOF. SO FAR THE TIMES WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS IS AT HIWAY SPEEDS, FLAT AND LEVEL ROADWAYS.
NHTSA ODI #11270991
40,000 miles · Aug 24, 2019
Electrical System
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHT IS OUT IN THE CAR WITH 40,000 MILES. THE INDICATOR LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHICH PREVIOUSLY ILLUMINATED THE TEMPERATURE, TIRE PRESSURE AND INDICATES TO PRESS THE BRAKE TO START THE CAR. THE LIGHT NEVER TURNS ON.
NHTSA ODI #11246240
56,000 miles · Aug 20, 2019
EnginePower Train
TRANSMISSION FAILED PRIOR TO FIRST SERVICE REQUIREMENTS, CVT TRANSMISSION. WARRANTY EXTENDED BUT NOT FOR CURRENT YEAR. ONLY YEAR PRIOR. ALSO VTC RETARTDER KIT RECALLED FOR 2009-2013, NOT FOR 2014. SAME PROBLEMS ARE HAPPENING BUT NOT BEING COVERED UNDER RECALL. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT IS NOT COVERED EVEN IF THE PROBLEM WAS…
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TRANSMISSION FAILED PRIOR TO FIRST SERVICE REQUIREMENTS, CVT TRANSMISSION. WARRANTY EXTENDED BUT NOT FOR CURRENT YEAR. ONLY YEAR PRIOR. ALSO VTC RETARTDER KIT RECALLED FOR 2009-2013, NOT FOR 2014. SAME PROBLEMS ARE HAPPENING BUT NOT BEING COVERED UNDER RECALL. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT IS NOT COVERED EVEN IF THE PROBLEM WAS A RECALL FOR THE YEAR BEFORE.
NHTSA ODI #11245368
70,000 miles · Aug 1, 2019
Power Train
CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED = CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AT 70,000 MILES
NHTSA ODI #11241131
100,000 miles · Jun 19, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other
UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND LOST OF POWER WITHOUT NOTICE THEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION
NHTSA ODI #11221120
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.
2014 Nissan Maxima Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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