Nissan Maxima Engine Problems
Owners have filed 374 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Nissan Maxima across 25 model years. The 2005 model year has the most (61). The words owners use most often: “timing chain” (9% of reports).
- 374engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 11mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 19%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.
- Timing chain: mentioned in 35 of 374 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Nissan Maxima at $2,800, and half of them between $2,450 and $4,900.
Based on 18 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2021), 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 problems happen?
Based on 293 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 374 complaints, 11 mention a crash, 15 a fire, 6 an injury.
Nissan Maxima engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Maxima | 1 | 20% | — |
| 2020 Maxima | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2019 Maxima | 4 | 22% | 43,500 |
| 2018 Maxima | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2017 Maxima | 8 | 8% | 43,908 |
| 2016 Maxima | 18 | 13% | 29,066 |
| 2014 Maxima | 9 | 9% | 56,000 |
| 2013 Maxima | 4 | 6% | 56,277 |
| 2012 Maxima | 11 | 10% | 42,950 |
| 2011 Maxima | 12 | 11% | 67,000 |
| 2010 Maxima | 20 | 7% | 66,475 |
| 2009 Maxima | 18 | 5% | 83,000 |
| 2008 Maxima | 5 | 6% | 86,162 |
| 2007 Maxima | 18 | 14% | 84,500 |
| 2006 Maxima | 47 | 8% | 100,500 |
| 2005 Maxima | 61 | 6% | 93,500 |
| 2004 Maxima | 51 | 4% | 102,000 |
| 2003 Maxima | 43 | 21% | 122,500 |
| 2002 Maxima | 19 | 9% | 136,412 |
| 2001 Maxima | 7 | 4% | 140,000 |
| 2000 Maxima | 9 | 3% | 80,000 |
| 1999 Maxima | 2 | 1% | 130,000 |
| 1998 Maxima | 2 | 2% | 175,882 |
| 1997 Maxima | 2 | 2% | 138,000 |
| 1996 Maxima | 1 | 1% | 100,300 |
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.
I was approaching an exit on 7/23/2026, and all of a sudden my engine light begans flashing very fast! Once I get to the red light at the exit, the engine light stops flashing and the car begins to shake profusely...... When the light turns green, I get on the accelerator and the shaking gets…
The vehicle experienced a noâstart 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 jumpâstarts, and now…
My 2019 Nissan Maxima (approximately 70,000 miles) displayed a hazard warning indicating a vehicle failure and began stalling without warning. The vehicle was brought to Mossy Nissan on May 28, 2025, where it has remained for over 11 days. The dealership has been unable to identify or repair the…
2020 Nissan Maxima SR is experiencing CVT transmission issues that appear substantially similar to the defects described in the Nissan CVT Martinez Class Action involving prior Nissan model years.
I am submitting this as a formal complaint regarding an ongoing and unresolved safety issue with my 2018 Nissan Maxima (VIN: [XXX] ). Despite multiple attempts to have this issue diagnosed and repaired, the problem continues without resolution. The issue occurs after driving for approximately 30…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Nissan Maximas have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 374 owner complaints about engine 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?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Nissan Maxima?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,800 (half paid between $2,450 and $4,900), from 18 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Nissan Maxima?
The most frequent phrase is “timing chain”, in 35 of 374 complaints.
Other Nissan Maxima problems
- Power Train problems (2,384)
- Electrical System problems (794)
- Steering problems (502)
- Air Bags problems (469)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (435)
- Suspension problems (321)
- Structure problems (315)
- Tires problems (243)
See all Nissan Maxima problems.