Nissan Maxima Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 435 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Nissan Maxima across 21 model years. The 2000 model year has the most (72). The words owners use most often: “service engine” (8% of reports).
- 435engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 23%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Service engine: mentioned in 35 of 435 complaints (8%)
- Position sensor: mentioned in 27 of 435 complaints (6%)
- Timing chain: mentioned in 26 of 435 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Nissan Maxima at $1,550, and half of them between $880 and $2,300.
Based on 38 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2000–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 305 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 435 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 10 a fire, 1 an injury.
Nissan Maxima engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Maxima | 1 | 33% | 72,600 |
| 2018 Maxima | 1 | 3% | 90,000 |
| 2016 Maxima | 2 | 1% | 133,870 |
| 2012 Maxima | 2 | 2% | 94,623 |
| 2011 Maxima | 2 | 2% | 45,850 |
| 2010 Maxima | 3 | 1% | 2,975 |
| 2009 Maxima | 4 | 1% | 70,750 |
| 2008 Maxima | 2 | 3% | 3,877 |
| 2007 Maxima | 6 | 5% | 26,901 |
| 2006 Maxima | 24 | 4% | 84,000 |
| 2005 Maxima | 40 | 4% | 80,000 |
| 2004 Maxima | 70 | 5% | 68,759 |
| 2003 Maxima | 54 | 26% | 86,000 |
| 2002 Maxima | 30 | 15% | 64,000 |
| 2001 Maxima | 28 | 16% | 75,000 |
| 2000 Maxima | 72 | 20% | 58,000 |
| 1999 Maxima | 38 | 23% | 93,000 |
| 1998 Maxima | 5 | 4% | 69,000 |
| 1997 Maxima | 12 | 12% | 84,000 |
| 1996 Maxima | 17 | 18% | 117,500 |
| 1995 Maxima | 22 | 14% | 11,750 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling
Model years: 2002, 2003
Problem: 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.
Risk: This could cause the "service engine soon" warning light to come on, create a no start condition, cause reduced engine power, or cause the engine to stop running without warning during vehicle operation, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Camshaft position sensor(s), and in some cases, the variable timing control sensor(s). Vehicles involved in a previous recall campaign, 01v357, are also included in this new campaign. The replacement sensors used in that campaign are also affected. Owner notification began on december 22, 2003. Owners should contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261 or infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while his son was driving at 20 MPH, the vehicle began to jerk and was shaking. The vehicle felt as though the brake pedal was being depressed. The oil light was flashing. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was…
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…
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…
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the engine, transmission, spark plugs, battery, and brakes were previously replaced by an independent mechanic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Nissan Maximas have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 435 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Nissan Maxima. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Nissan Maxima engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Nissan Maxima?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,550 (half paid between $880 and $2,300), from 38 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Nissan Maxima?
The most frequent phrase is “service engine”, in 35 of 435 complaints, followed by “position sensor” (27).
Other Nissan Maxima problems
- Power Train problems (2,384)
- Electrical System problems (794)
- Steering problems (502)
- Air Bags problems (469)
- Engine problems (374)
- Suspension problems (321)
- Structure problems (315)
- Tires problems (243)
See all Nissan Maxima problems.