NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
18 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · May 21, 2021
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other
05/21/21--2016 Nissan Maxima with CVT tranmissions problems. No current recalls, but lots of lemon law cases from 2012-2018 with all models except the maxima. Have 94K on it and was driving and it stopped mid street almost threw my son out the front windshield. Took it to Nissan $4800 to replace. Bought vehicle with CVT tran…
Read full complaint
05/21/21--2016 Nissan Maxima with CVT tranmissions problems. No current recalls, but lots of lemon law cases from 2012-2018 with all models except the maxima. Have 94K on it and was driving and it stopped mid street almost threw my son out the front windshield. Took it to Nissan $4800 to replace. Bought vehicle with CVT transmission being sold as "smoothness". but in reality it has been a complete nightmare that Nissan ignores on the maximas.
NHTSA ODI #11418077
80,000 miles · Feb 7, 2021
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
TUESDAY, DEC. 22 MY 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA JUST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING IN HAYWARD, CA NEAR INDUSTRIAL RD. CALLED TRIPLE AAA WHO JUMPED THE BATTERY AND A SHORT DISTANCE LATER ON HWY 880 THE CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN, I WAS TOWED OFF THE FREEWAY BY CALTRANS. ON JANUARY 4, IT SHUT OFF AGAIN WHILE ON A CITY STREETS. A CO-WORKERS HUSBAND REPLAC…
Read full complaint
TUESDAY, DEC. 22 MY 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA JUST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING IN HAYWARD, CA NEAR INDUSTRIAL RD. CALLED TRIPLE AAA WHO JUMPED THE BATTERY AND A SHORT DISTANCE LATER ON HWY 880 THE CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN, I WAS TOWED OFF THE FREEWAY BY CALTRANS. ON JANUARY 4, IT SHUT OFF AGAIN WHILE ON A CITY STREETS. A CO-WORKERS HUSBAND REPLACED THE BATTERY AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE IT HOME. JAN. 30 A MECHANIC LOOKED AT RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I DROVE IT WITHOUT ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES FROM EL CERRITO TO SAN RAFAEL THE WEEK. ON FEB. 5 WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREETS IN OAKLAND, THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. WHILE WAITING FOR AAA IT STARTED AGAIN BY THE TIME AAA ARRIVED IT HAD STOPPED AGAIN. LUCKILY THIS HASN'T CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. AND WHILE I SEE THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE REPORTED HERE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP ONLY WANTS TO CHARGE ME $190 TO DIAGNOSTICS WHEN THEY KNOW THIS IS AN ISSUE. THIS ISSUE IS A TICKING TIME BOMB FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS AND NISSAN NEEDS TO ADDRESS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
NHTSA ODI #11395106
45,000 miles · May 26, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train
CAR IDLING, JERKING AND HESITATING AT 30MPH. WHEN ACCELERATING IT DOES NOT. THE CAR IS GOING BUT FROM A SLOW SPEED GOING TO A HIGHER MPH, IT WILL STAY STUCK AND IF YOU FLOOR IT, IT JUST WON'T MOVE. THIS IS DANGEROUS. IT'S HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY THREE TIMES. NOW THE BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING EVERYWHERE. THIS IS A SECOND ISSUE. TRAN…
Read full complaint
CAR IDLING, JERKING AND HESITATING AT 30MPH. WHEN ACCELERATING IT DOES NOT. THE CAR IS GOING BUT FROM A SLOW SPEED GOING TO A HIGHER MPH, IT WILL STAY STUCK AND IF YOU FLOOR IT, IT JUST WON'T MOVE. THIS IS DANGEROUS. IT'S HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY THREE TIMES. NOW THE BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING EVERYWHERE. THIS IS A SECOND ISSUE. TRANSMISSION. ENGINE. CVT, ECM ISSUE AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND PVC SENSOR MUST NOT BE ON CORRECTLY. I HAVE VIDEOS. THE SERVICE DEPT HAS SEEN THEM BUT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11325995
54,000 miles · Mar 26, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A GUARD RAIL. ADDITIONALLY, AFTER THE CRASH THE 4 DOORS WERE UNABLE TO BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHIC…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A GUARD RAIL. ADDITIONALLY, AFTER THE CRASH THE 4 DOORS WERE UNABLE TO BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND RESCUED THE DRIVER FROM THE VEHICLE BY BREAKING THE WINDOW. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES AFTER THE CRASH THE DOORS WERE ABLE TO BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND NO MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. *BF*JB
NHTSA ODI #11319303
13,131 miles · Mar 7, 2017
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50-55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT LOST POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHA…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50-55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT LOST POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REPLACED THE VALVE ASSEMBLY, SEAL LIP, STRAINER ASSEMBLY, CLIP, OIL PAN GASKET, O-RING SEAL, WASHER DRAIN, AND NS-3 CVT TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,131.
NHTSA ODI #10959162
Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2016
EngineSteeringStructure
FRONT BUMPER CLIP BROKEN CAR STALLS WHEN DRIVING UP AN INCLINE AT LOW SPEEDS. CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN DRIVING. ALIGNMENT WAS CHECKED, BUT WAS FINE ACCORDING TO A NISSAN DEALER TECHNICIAN. THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMED TO MOMENTARILY LOCK WHEN MAKING A SWIFT AND SHARP LEFT TURN.
NHTSA ODI #10926795
462 miles · Sep 14, 2016
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 462. UPDATED 10/28/16*LJ *TR
NHTSA ODI #10906426
2,000 miles · Dec 9, 2015
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other
SUNROOF TRANSMISSION FRONT BUMPER CLIP FUEL SONAR SENOR NOT WORKING
NHTSA ODI #10809337
Official recalls
8Nov 8, 2019
Nissan 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 recall number 18V-601. In addition, this recall expands the previous population. The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS actuator, free of charge. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available, currently expected to be during summer 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: If the ABS warning light remains illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.
Sep 7, 2018
Nissan 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number on the ABS actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: When brake fluid has leaked onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp will remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up. If this occurs, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.
Dec 19, 2016
Nissan 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 19, 2015. An incorrect Occupant Classification System (OCS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have been installed in the front passenger seat. The incorrect ECU and seat combination may misclassify the front passenger seat occupant.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant is misclassified, the air bag may deploy incorrectly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ECU and update the OCS software free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Sep 2, 2016
Nissan 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 equipped with Intelligent Cruise Control, and 2015-2016 Murano Hybrid vehicles manufactured August 22, 2014, to July 19, 2016. The affected vehicles have Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps that may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal electrical circuit board.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A brake fluid leak onto the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ABS Actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 12, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: When brake fluid has leaked onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp will remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up. If this occurs, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.
Apr 26, 2016
Nissan 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 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Apr 7, 2016
Nissan 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 Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC). The ABS actuator may have a damaged O-ring that may result in a lack of brake fluid pressure.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ABS actuator, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 16, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Nov 5, 2015
Nissan 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the bolts were not properly tightened, the caliper may detach and reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will check the brake caliper mounting bolts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 14, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Aug 4, 2015
Nissan 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 vehicles, including certain model year 2013-2015 Altima 3.5 vehicles equipped with a V6 engine manufactured March 30, 2012, to August 18, 2015 as well as the vehicles covered by the July 31, 2015 notification. In the affected vehicles, due to an improperly installed o-ring that may not have been seated correctly at the time of assembly, fuel may leak during a crash from the area where the fuel sending unit attaches to the fuel tank.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If fuel leaks from between the fuel sending unit and the tank, it may increase the risk of a fire in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer ring between the fuel tank and the fuel sending unit. The recall began on September 28, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
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
1EA19002 · Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure
Opened Jul 29, 2019 · Closed Jun 16, 2025
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:rear
On July 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened EA19002 to investigate instances of alleged rear lower control arm failures in 2013-2018 Nissan Altima and 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima vehicles. At the time the investigation was opened ODI had 91 consumer complaints alleging rear lower control arm failures in the subject vehicles.ODI was concerned about these complaints because many of them alleged an increased steering effort or loss of vehicle control.At the time these complaints were received, ODI was also aware of a proactive service campaign addressing 2013 Nissan Altima in salt-belt states for a similar concern. Since opening the investigation, ODI has confirmed, based on consumer complaints, warranty data, and testing conducted by Nissan and ODI, that owners of the subject vehicles are experiencing a corroded bushing at one of three mounting points of the control arm to the rear subframe.ODI has also confirmed that drivers become aware of the problem because of sound and abnormal vibrations. In addition, the failure mileage is typically over 113,000 miles at the time of failure.In conjunction with Nissan and VRTC, ODI participated in testing to assess the potential safety consequence of a bushing failure.It was found the Vehicle Dynamic Control system allows the driver to maintain vehicle control in the event of a bushing failure.With between 7 to 13 years of field exposure, ODI is aware of only one low speed crash allegation describing minor contact with another vehicle’s trailer hitch. Nissan acknowledges that a crack can develop in affected control arms due to stress loading from normal use and that salts commonly used for roadway snow and ice treatment may result in corrosion that exacerbates the progression of the crack.Nissan implemented a design change in January of 2018 to improve the durability of the lower control arm.Affected vehicles have either been repaired with the countermeasure part under a customer satisfaction campaign or been provided a warranty extension from 3 years/36,000 miles to 10 year/unlimited mileage. Through testing and analysis of the information obtained to date, ODI has not identified a defect representing an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety involving corrosion of the subject rear lower control arm at this time.With a declining trend of reports and Nissan’s actions to implement a countermeasure and extended warranty coverage, further investigation of the issue does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov. A detailed discussion of the investigation and related complaint numbers can be viewed in the attached closing report.
Illustration