Most common 2013 Nissan Maxima problems
Share of the 62 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 2013 Nissan Maxima owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 24 →
a recall and class action lawsuit was issued for the 2013 altima but not the 2013 maxima. they have the same cvt transmission, my cvt transmission on my maxima just went out. Both the maxima and the altima should have been included in these recalls if they have the exact same CVT transmission
My mother and I were driving to lunch on the highway and I noticed the car was driving very sporadically. If I pushed on the accelerator it would stick and then it would just bolt out full speed, on more than one occasion we almost hit another vehicle and a barrier. I couldn't control the care. We tried to drive slow, but the car would accelerate very fast when it detected the next gear. We were terrified we drove straight to the dealer. They informed us that the transmission was out. This car has less than 100K miles on it and I purchased it brand new. It was extremely dangerous. Clearly something is wrong with the transmissions that nissans are putting in. If, you look online you see others with the same experience, with even less mileage. To make matters worse I had to pay out of pocket because the extended warranty had expired. This car is not safe. …
Air bags
Passenger side airbag turns on and off with a passenger (weighing over 120 lbs.) seated with the seat belt fastened and the vehicle is in motion. The airbag shows off at times when the vehicle is first started if the passenger is already seated with their seatbelt fastened. Even taking the seatbelt off and getting up does not seem to make the light go off. Our Nissan service center explained to me that Nissan north America is aware of this particular problem, but since no resolution/fix has been determined, there is nothing they can do. The service department also verified that if the passenger airbag light is on, the airbag will not work! The service department said that I should not allow anyone in the passenger seat until the problem is fixed. …
When transporting some adult passengers in the front passenger seat, the "passenger airbag off" light remains on throughout the trip. This would seem to me to indicate that in the event of a front-end collision, the airbag would fail to deploy because it is off. I brought my car in to the dealer, who was unable to replicate the situation (perhaps because the mechanics weigh more than my wife); no problem could be found. I remain concerned because the light still remains on with other light adult passengers.
Lights
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving at night, the driver's, and passenger's side headlights were very dim, failing to properly illuminate the roadway, causing a visibility hazard for the driver. The contact stated that the light bulbs were replaced but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 120,000.
I have a 2013 Nissan Maxima in my headlights are horrible when they are on dim you cannot see in front of you so bad that it's liable to cause a bad wreck I have to ride with my headlights on bright and it's not much better I have replaced the bulbs in both headlights twice it has not improved anything I think it is a very dangerous thing in could call someone to get hurt because no one can see I've not been pulled over by the police or anything but I have to ride with my headlights on bright and I know it blinds people sometimes I think there needs to be a recall because I have a lot of friends that have Nissans and they have the same problem
2013 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 2013 Nissan Maxima a good car?
Based on 62 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Maxima rates better than average: 54% 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 2013 Nissan Maxima?
The transmission & drivetrain — 24 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (16) and lights (9).
How many recalls does the 2013 Nissan Maxima have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2013 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 2013 Nissan Maxima problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 62,000 miles; 33% 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.