2016 Nissan MAXIMA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Nissan MAXIMA has 223 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (15% of all complaints), specifically: sunroof transmission front bumper clip fuel sonar senor not working. ⚠️ 7 fire reports filed.

7 fire reports 14 crash reports 13 injuries

223

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

33 complaints

15%

• SUNROOF TRANSMISSION FRONT BUMPER CLIP FUEL SONAR SENOR NOT WORKING
• 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
• WHEN STOPPED AND START TO MOVE THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION JERKS AND SLIPS. SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER AS WELL. JERKS AND SLIPS AGAIN N REGAINS POWER. HAPPENS FROM A STOP AND ALSO FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR.

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

“SUNROOF TRANSMISSION FRONT BUMPER CLIP FUEL SONAR SENOR NOT WORKING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

31 complaints

14%

• FRONT BUMPER CLIP WAS BROKEN, STILL WAITING FOR DEALER TO REPLACE BUMPER. LEFT TAIL LIGHT HAS WATER IN IT.
• IN LATE NOVEMBER 2016 THE ABS AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS ON MY 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA BEGAN INTERMITTENTLY APPEARING ON THE DASHBOARD. I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD TO MENTION IT DURING THE NEXT SERVICE APPOINTMENT WHICH WAS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 27. AT THE APPOINTMENT I WAS NOTIFIED OF SEVERA
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“FRONT BUMPER CLIP WAS BROKEN, STILL WAITING FOR DEALER TO REPLACE BUMPER. LEFT TAIL LIGHT HAS WATER IN IT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

26 complaints

12%

• SUNROOF TRANSMISSION FRONT BUMPER CLIP FUEL SONAR SENOR NOT WORKING
• THE OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRRORS AUTOMATICALLY ADJUST TO A LOWER VIEW WHEN THE CAR IS BACKING UP. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN D (DRIVE), THE MIRRORS ARE SUPPOSED TO RETURN TO THE NORMAL SETTING. THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR DOES NOT; IT NEEDS TO BE MANUALLY RESET EACH TIME.
• I JUST MERGED ONTO THE HIGHWAY GOING I-55 SOUTH FROM COUNTYLINE RD, WHEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE SIMILAR TO A GUN SHOT IN CLOSE RANGE AND WAS LITERALLY FRIGHTENING. THEN I HEARD AIR SEEPING THROUGH MY SUNROOF AREA SO I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE I STARTED TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“SUNROOF TRANSMISSION FRONT BUMPER CLIP FUEL SONAR SENOR NOT WORKING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

21 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, HEAD, AND LOWER BACK THAT R
• TAKATA RECALL.I BROUGHT MY 2016 MAXIMA IN JUNE 2015. PLASTIC BOTTLES MELTS AND EXPLODES IN MY CAR. AND EYE GLASS CLASS MELTS. FRONT RIGHT BUMBER CLAMPS BROKE OFF. MONTHS LATER CAT STARTED MAKING A CHRUCHING SOUND WHEN I HIT A BUMP. REPLACE BUSHINGS. 3 DAYS LATER THE NOSE CAME BACK. WENT BACK T
• WAS DRIVING EAST ON 495 MARYLAND ABOUT 55 MPH. APPROACHING ANOTHER CAR AND PRESSED THE BREAKS TO STOP. MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP. PRESSED THE BREAKS AS HARD AS I COULD AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I CAUSED A THREE CAR ACCIDENT. MY CAR WAS TOTALLED....UPDATED 03/29/17 *BF *CN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, HEAD, AND LOWER BACK THAT R”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

20 complaints

• SUNROOF TRANSMISSION FRONT BUMPER CLIP FUEL SONAR SENOR NOT WORKING
• 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 *T
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“SUNROOF TRANSMISSION FRONT BUMPER CLIP FUEL SONAR SENOR NOT WORKING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~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 223 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: SUNROOF TRANSMISSION FRONT BUMPER CLIP FUEL SONAR SENOR NOT WORKING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: FRONT BUMPER CLIP WAS BROKEN, STILL WAITING FOR DEALER TO REPLACE BUMPER. LEFT TAIL LIGHT HAS WATER IN IT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: SUNROOF TRANSMISSION FRONT BUMPER CLIP FUEL SONAR SENOR NOT WORKING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, HEAD, AND LOWER BACK THAT R
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)