Most common 2011 Nissan Maxima problems
Share of the 106 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Maxima complaints by model year
Best Maxima years: 2022, 2019, 2020. Years to avoid: 2009, 2010, 2004, 2005, 2006. Compare all years →
What 2011 Nissan Maxima owners say
Air bags all 23 →
Airbag warning came on. I took to dealership for diagnostic. There was malfunction with the passenger airbag. Seat coushin needed to be replaced so the "normal" wear and tear airbag would no longer be an issue. Nissan stated this is not a safety concern and all expenses were out of pocket.
Tl* the contact owned a 2011 Nissan Maxima. While driving 35 MPH, another vehicle stopped suddenly in front of the contact's vehicle. The incident caused the contact's vehicle to crash into a pole. The air bags deployed and caused the contact to sustain two broken wrists, a broken right leg, cracked sternum, massive swelling in right cheek, bruised left shoulder and arm, and lacerations near the eye. Medical attention was received and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a storage space and deemed as destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 14,051. Updated 09/11/14 the consumer feels the safety and structure of the vehicle from the firewall forward lacked reinforcement to absorb the impact. Updated 1/13/2015
Transmission & drivetrain all 22 →
The transmission is slipping it's a cvt and they're known for being the worst transmissions. I was entering the highway on a on ramp and I could no longer accelerate past 55 I was near flooring it and you can hear the engine working but the rpm's are all over the odometer going from 3k-6.5k over and over. The problem has not been diagnosed professionally. The vehicle has not been inspected professionally.There were no lights on the dash when this began happening and nothing occurred that led up to that situation it was just a normal drive for me and now this happens every other day.
Cvt transmission jerking , engine is always idling hard sometimes wants to even shut off , accelerating sometimes takes a lil while to respond , rack and pinion assembly faulty I would like for nissan to fix my car or get a lump sum check for all faulty errors these cars have
Engine & cooling
Cvt transmission jerking , engine is always idling hard sometimes wants to even shut off , accelerating sometimes takes a lil while to respond , rack and pinion assembly faulty I would like for nissan to fix my car or get a lump sum check for all faulty errors these cars have
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Nissan Maxima. The contact noticed hot air blowing through the vents when the air conditioner was activated. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle more than twice, but the failure still occurred. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to sheridan Nissan (114 s dupont hwy, new castle, de 19720, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the compressor was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,000.
2011 Nissan Maxima engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | CVT | FWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Nissan Maxima a good car?
Based on 106 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Maxima rates average: 33% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Maxima at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Nissan Maxima?
The air bags — 23 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (22) and engine & cooling (14).
How many recalls does the 2011 Nissan Maxima have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2011 Nissan Maxima. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Maxima?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2019 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2009, 2010, 2004, 2005 and 2006. See the full Nissan Maxima years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Nissan Maxima problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 36% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.