2012 Nissan MAXIMA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Nissan MAXIMA has 137 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: passenger side air bag intermittently (a lot!) does not have an airbag for 130+ pound person, but does have airbag for 80lb child. have had to the dealership multiple times, nissan reports that this is within their specifications; they have dismissed the complaint. i have further reported to nissa. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 10 crash reports 10 injuries

137

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

27 complaints

20%

• PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INTERMITTENTLY (A LOT!) DOES NOT HAVE AN AIRBAG FOR 130+ POUND PERSON, BUT DOES HAVE AIRBAG FOR 80LB CHILD. HAVE HAD TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES, NISSAN REPORTS THAT THIS IS WITHIN THEIR SPECIFICATIONS; THEY HAVE DISMISSED THE COMPLAINT. I HAVE FURTHER REPORTED TO NISSA
• WHEN ANY ADULT SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHO IS NOT HEAVY WILL NOT ENABLE THE AIRBAG. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IS HOW IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE BUT THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN ANY OTHER CAR. *TR
• AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN A 200 LB ADULT IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT MORE OFTEN THEN NOT. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE IF SOMEONE IS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INTERMITTENTLY (A LOT!) DOES NOT HAVE AN AIRBAG FOR 130+ POUND PERSON, BUT DOES HAVE AIRBAG FOR 80LB CHILD. HAVE HAD TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES, NISSAN REPORTS THAT THIS IS WITHIN THEIR SPECIFICATIONS; THEY HAVE DISMISSED THE COMPLAINT. I HAVE FURTHER REPORTED TO NISSA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

25 complaints

18%

• SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR IN MAY 2013 I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL TIMES THAT WITH OR WITHOUT SOMEONE IN MY PASSENGER SEAT MY AIR BAG SENSOR WILL LIGHT UP SHOWING THAT THE AIR BAG IS OFF NO MATTER HOW I OR THE PERSON IN THE SEAT MOVES IT WILL NOT COME ON. THE AIR BAG JUST REMAINS TURNED OFF. THIS IS A HUGE SA
• TIRE RECALL FROM HANKOOK TIRE FOR VENTUS S1 NOBLE 2, 245/45R18. I HAVE CALLED HANKOOK SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WILL NOT HELP. MY TIRES ARE THE ONES THEY ARE RECALLING. ALL I WANT IS THE REFUND THEY STATE IN THE LETTER THEY SENT TO ME CERTIFIED.
• THE SUNROOF EXPLODED SPONTANEOUSLY. I WAS SITTING IN EVENING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AT AN ALMOST STAND STILL. THE INSIDE ROOF PANEL/COVER WAS PULLED BACK, BUT THE SUNROOF ITSELF WAS NOT OPENED. I HAD TURNED THE A/C ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES BECAUSE ALTHOUGH IT WASN'T VERY HOT OUTSIDE (UPPER 70S), I WAS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR IN MAY 2013 I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL TIMES THAT WITH OR WITHOUT SOMEONE IN MY PASSENGER SEAT MY AIR BAG SENSOR WILL LIGHT UP SHOWING THAT THE AIR BAG IS OFF NO MATTER HOW I OR THE PERSON IN THE SEAT MOVES IT WILL NOT COME ON. THE AIR BAG JUST REMAINS TURNED OFF. THIS IS A HUGE SA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

20 complaints

15%

• I WAS DRIVING SOUTH OF THE NJ TURNPIKE I HEARD A LOUD BOOM SOUND AND VIBRATIONS ON THE ACCELERATOR I LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW DEBRIS AND A CLOUD OF SMOKE. SMELLS OF SOMETHING BURNING ALSO THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF MY CAR. I IMMEDIATELY S
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE OPEN DOOR WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH ALL FOUR DOORS WERE CLOSED SECURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH WAS ENGAGED
• WHEN VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 YEARS OLD THE POSITIVE BATTERY CONNECTOR CONNECTING THE POWER CABLE FROM THE AUTOMOBILE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO THE BATTERY CORRODED AND CAME APART. THE NISSAN PART DESCRIPTION AND PART NUMBER IS "BATTERY TERMINAL 243 - PART # 24340-7F003). THIS WAS REPLACED WITH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I WAS DRIVING SOUTH OF THE NJ TURNPIKE I HEARD A LOUD BOOM SOUND AND VIBRATIONS ON THE ACCELERATOR I LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW DEBRIS AND A CLOUD OF SMOKE. SMELLS OF SOMETHING BURNING ALSO THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF MY CAR. I IMMEDIATELY S”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

18 complaints

13%

• I PURCHASED MY NISSAN MAXIMA BAND NEW TWO YEARS AGO. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS MY VEHICLE RECEIVED ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE, WHICH WAS PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. AT 67,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT 'IT JUST HAPPENS SOMETIME
• THIS IS MY SECOND NISSAN MAXIMA THAT HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. EVERY MAXIMA I BUY EVERY TIME THE CAR REACHES 100,000 AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY THE TRANSMISSIONS GOES OUT. I CONTACTED NISSAN TO HAVE SOMEONE LOOK INTO THIS AS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT T
• TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 64,000 MILES AND STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD, UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND IT FAILED AGAIN A SECOND TIME WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. DELAERSHIP SAYS I NEED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I PURCHASED MY NISSAN MAXIMA BAND NEW TWO YEARS AGO. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS MY VEHICLE RECEIVED ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE, WHICH WAS PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. AT 67,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT 'IT JUST HAPPENS SOMETIME”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

13 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC START BUTTON, WHICH THE CONTACT BELIEVED CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. IN ADDITION, WHILE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS INVESTIGATING THE FAI
• I WAS DRIVING SOUTH OF THE NJ TURNPIKE I HEARD A LOUD BOOM SOUND AND VIBRATIONS ON THE ACCELERATOR I LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW DEBRIS AND A CLOUD OF SMOKE. SMELLS OF SOMETHING BURNING ALSO THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF MY CAR. I IMMEDIATELY S
• WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA, I WAS SLOWING TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY STALLED DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO PUSH THE BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. AFTER STOPPING, I RESTARTED THE CAR, AND WAS WITHOUT P

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC START BUTTON, WHICH THE CONTACT BELIEVED CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. IN ADDITION, WHILE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS INVESTIGATING THE FAI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 137 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INTERMITTENTLY (A LOT!) DOES NOT HAVE AN AIRBAG FOR 130+ POUND PERSON, BUT DOES HAVE AIRBAG FOR 80LB CHILD. HAVE HAD TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES, NISSAN REPORTS THAT THIS IS WITHIN THEIR SPECIFICATIONS; THEY HAVE DISMISSED THE COMPLAINT. I HAVE FURTHER REPORTED TO NISSA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR IN MAY 2013 I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL TIMES THAT WITH OR WITHOUT SOMEONE IN MY PASSENGER SEAT MY AIR BAG SENSOR WILL LIGHT UP SHOWING THAT THE AIR BAG IS OFF NO MATTER HOW I OR THE PERSON IN THE SEAT MOVES IT WILL NOT COME ON. THE AIR BAG JUST REMAINS TURNED OFF. THIS IS A HUGE SA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I WAS DRIVING SOUTH OF THE NJ TURNPIKE I HEARD A LOUD BOOM SOUND AND VIBRATIONS ON THE ACCELERATOR I LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW DEBRIS AND A CLOUD OF SMOKE. SMELLS OF SOMETHING BURNING ALSO THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF MY CAR. I IMMEDIATELY S
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I PURCHASED MY NISSAN MAXIMA BAND NEW TWO YEARS AGO. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS MY VEHICLE RECEIVED ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE, WHICH WAS PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. AT 67,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT 'IT JUST HAPPENS SOMETIME
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)