2013 Nissan Maxima — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $8,000–$13,000. There are 2 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.
Deciding between model years? Compare the 13 Nissan Maxima years we've written up →
Kestrel Take
A quick, comfortable near-luxury sedan bolted to Nissan's CVT. The VQ35 V6 is a strong engine that will outlast the transmission. Price the car as though a CVT replacement is coming; if it never does, you got a bargain.
What we checked
Reconciled against public records, 2026-09-25
NHTSA holds 62 owner complaints for the 2013 Nissan Maxima, and no recall campaigns.
A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 39% of them are about one thing — the transmission and drivetrain. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.
Looked at and set aside: airbags (16) — 16 airbag complaints on file, almost always a recall matter rather than a repair bill; have a dealer check this VIN for open airbag campaigns and confirm any were performed; the lights (9) — 9 lighting complaints on file; real, but usually a bulb or a housing rather than a reason to walk.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2013 Nissan Maxima
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
The V6 puts real torque through a belt-and-pulley transmission. Shudder, whine, and slipping between 90k and 130k miles.
Repair cost (estimate): $4,000-$5,500 — around 52% of what this car is typically worth
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (24).
Hills and spirited driving cook the fluid and trigger reduced power.
Repair cost (estimate): $150 service to $5,500 — around 52% of what this car is typically worth
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (24), the engine (4).
A rattle at cold start on higher-mileage engines.
Repair cost (estimate): $1,500-$2,800 — about 27% of what this car is typically worth
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (4).
Bushings and links wear on this sporty-tuned chassis.
Repair cost (estimate): $300-$900
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Shudder from a stop or RPM flare
- ✗No CVT fluid service
- ✗Cold-start rattle
- ✗Sport-driven with high mileage
Good Signs
- ✓CVT fluid changed at 30k with NS-3
- ✓Documented CVT replacement with warranty
- ✓Under 90k miles, highway-driven
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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