VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Nissan Maxima2000–2023
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Nissan Maxima
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Nissan Maxima Years to Avoid
0 recalls · 844 complaints
16 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1 recall · 561 complaints
57 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN
1 recall · 373 complaints
9 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 4 past investigations into the Maxima became recalls.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of October 28, 2026.
Nissan Maxima — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 96 | 84 | 92 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 0 | 4 | 2 | — | 96 | 91 | 94 | Excellent |
| 2021 | 0 | 1 | — | — | 96 | 94 | 95 | Excellent |
| 2020 | 0 | 17 | 7 | — | 87 | 93 | 89 | Excellent |
| 2019 | 0 | 17 | 3 | — | 92 | 89 | 91 | Excellent |
| 2018 | 1 | 25 | 2 | — | 86 | 83 | 85 | Excellent |
| 2017 | 3 | 79 | 4 | — | 71 | 76 | 73 | Good |
| 2016 | 4 | 110 | 6 | — | 71 | 69 | 70 | Good |
| 2015 | 0 | 2 | 4 | — | 96 | 62 | 84 | Excellent |
| 2014 | 0 | 68 | 5 | — | 71 | 56 | 66 | Excellent |
| 2013 | 0 | 35 | — | — | 84 | 51 | 72 | Excellent |
| 2012 | 0 | 70 | 8 | — | 71 | 47 | 63 | Excellent |
| 2011 | 0 | 68 | — | — | 71 | 44 | 62 | Excellent |
| 2010 | 1 | 200 | 7 | — | 71 | 44 | 62 | Good |
| 2009 | 1 | 254 | 6 | — | 71 | 44 | 62 | Good |
| 2008 | 0 | 43 | 1 | — | 78 | 44 | 66 | Excellent |
| 2007 | 0 | 83 | 3 | — | 71 | 44 | 62 | Good |
| 2006 | 1 | 373 | 9 | — | 71 | 44 | 62 | Caution |
| 2005 | 1 | 561 | 57 | — | 71 | 44 | 62 | Avoid |
| 2004 | 0 | 844 | 16 | — | 71 | 44 | 62 | Avoid |
| 2003 | 2 | 122 | 7 | 1 | 71 | 44 | 62 | Good |
| 2002 | 5 | 144 | 12 | 2 | 71 | 44 | 62 | Good |
| 2001 | 4 | 107 | 5 | — | 71 | 44 | 62 | Good |
| 2000 | 2 | 251 | 17 | 2 | 71 | 44 | 62 | Good |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Nissan Maxima Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Maxima compares — best year within each era shown.
2018–Present
Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2021 (Buyer Score 95).
2013–2017
Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2015 (Buyer Score 84).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Maxima to buy?+
The 2021 Nissan Maxima scores highest on our Buyer Score (95/100) — combining a reliability score of 96/100 with a value score of 94/100. It has 0 recalls and 1 NHTSA complaint on record.
Which Maxima years have the most problems?+
The 2004, 2005, 2006 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2004 Maxima leads with 0 recalls and 844 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Maxima problems?+
The most frequently reported Nissan Maxima issues involve: POWER TRAIN, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.