Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 20% | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2019 | 4 | 22% | 70,000 miles |
| 2018 | 2 | 6% | 90,000 miles |
| 2017 | 8 | 8% | 60,000 miles |
| 2016 | 20 | 14% | 54,000 miles |
| 2014 | 9 | 9% | 56,000 miles |
| 2013 | 4 | 6% | 105,000 miles |
| 2012 | 13 | 12% | 43,000 miles |
| 2011 | 14 | 13% | 67,000 miles |
| 2010 | 23 | 8% | 58,000 miles |
| 2009 | 22 | 6% | 82,000 miles |
| 2008 | 7 | 9% | 86,000 miles |
| 2007 | 24 | 19% | 79,000 miles |
| 2006 | 71 | 12% | 90,000 miles |
| 2005 | 101 | 11% | 90,000 miles |
| 2004 | 121 | 8% | 84,000 miles |
| 2003 | 96 | 47% | 101,000 miles |
| 2002 | 47 | 23% | 98,000 miles |
| 2001 | 35 | 20% | 87,000 miles |
| 2000 | 81 | 23% | 60,000 miles |
| 1999 | 40 | 24% | 95,000 miles |
| 1998 | 7 | 6% | 148,000 miles |
| 1997 | 14 | 14% | 93,000 miles |
| 1996 | 18 | 19% | 115,000 miles |
| 1995 | 22 | 14% | 12,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the oil level warning light illuminated and the vehicle started smoking under the hood. The contact checked the oil level and notice there was no oil in the engine. The contact added engine oil however, the smoking continued. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact stated that the spark plugs and intake gasket were replaced; however, the vehicle continued to smoke and the oil level remained low. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the engine needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 70,000.
I purchased my 2019 Nissan Maxima [redacted] from Hyundai of Pineville I'm Charlotte NC. Over the past months including after purchase which I made Hyundai aware. The vehicle has an ongoing noise coming from I side the front hood of the vehicle. It sounds as of a pan etc... is hitting something, at times in slow motion there is a whining noise coming from the car, when just sitting in driver seat and pressing gas pedal when the car idle down after pressing the gas pedal there is a thump noise. The original owner of the vehicle traded the vehicle at Hyundai and appears they were from out of state is where the vehicle is from. So I have not received no recall etc... info also the prior owner, I keep getting stuff with there name.
While driving on I-75 in Atlanta about a month ago, my 2017 Nissan Maxima suddenly stopped accelerating. The engine was revving, but the car wouldn't respond when I pressed the gas. It was unexpected and dangerous in fast-moving highway traffic. The same issue happened again on July 22, 2024, while I was driving on I-85. Both times, the car lost acceleration without warning in the moment. Before these incidents, I noticed occasional hesitation from a stop and delayed acceleration, but nothing as extreme as losing power at highway speeds. I took the car to a Nissan dealership, and they pulled a P17F1 code related to the CVT transmission. Nissan has acknowledged this issue by extending the warranty for transmission repairs in other models, but they told me my vehicle is not covered. This failure creates a serious safety risk and should not be ignored.
The vehicle experienced a no start condition and was towed to a dealership. The dealership performed major engine and timing repairs without authorization and kept the vehicle for nearly four months. After the repairs, the vehicle still cranks but will not start, requires jump starts, and now has new electrical issues and a nonfunctional A/C system.The safety risk is that the vehicle can fail to start unexpectedly, stall, or lose electrical power, which could leave occupants stranded in unsafe conditions. The issue has been reproduced and confirmed by the dealership, but they were unable to diagnose or repair it. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership and a warranty company.There were no warning lights before the failure. The symptoms began immediately before the vehicle was towed and have continued after the dealership's repairs.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while approaching a stop light, the vehicle started jerking. The contact pulled over and the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the crank shaft was replaced. On another occasion while at a stop light, the contact became aware of smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact attempted to accelerate; however, the vehicle failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. While driving back to the residence, there was smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 100,406.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the front collision detection sensor light illuminated and warned that the system was not functional. Additionally, the contact stated that the lug nuts on all four wheels were swollen and could not be removed without damaging them. The contact also stated that the oil pan was leaking. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where the contact was informed that the failure was a known issue. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 167,334.
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power. The contact stated he was able to pull over and was only able to restart the vehicle by shifting the gear shifter into neutral(N). The contact stated that the vehicle was operating while in neutral(N), however, while driving the vehicle failed to exceed 5 MPH despite depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the engine was revving abnormally. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure occurred on various occasions while driving at various speeds. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure and was informed that there were no known recalls related to the failure. The contact was informed to schedule an appointment for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer, Napleton St. Louis Nissan (10964 Page Ave., St. Louis, MO 63132) where the mechanic replaced the crankshaft and camshaft; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and diagnosed with and intelligent power distributor module (IPDM) failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,500. The VIN was not available.
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling
On certain passenger vehicles, the circuit board for the crank position sensor or cam position sensor May have an improper solder joint due to solder deformation caused by heat stress accelerated by the existence of flux residue during the soldering process.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Camshaft position sensor(s), and in some cases, the variable timing control sensor(s).
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Maxima years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2004 (121), 2005 (101), 2003 (96), 2000 (81) and 2006 (71) model years. Engine complaints make up 8% of all complaints for the 2004.
Is there a recall for Nissan Maxima engine problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 03V-455 (engine and engine cooling, Nov 17, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Nissan Maxima engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles; 20% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine (85 mentions), followed by the exhaust system › emission control (41).
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.