Nissan Maxima — the 13 years we've written up
2010–2023, side by side: what goes wrong on each, what the fix costs, and what they typically ask. 8 of the 13 carry a high-severity issue.
What this page is
These are the 13 Nissan Maxima model years Kestrel has done the homework on — not every year Nissan built one. A year that isn't listed here isn't a year we're warning you off; it's one we haven't written up yet. Ranking a whole model run would mean telling you about years we've never looked at.
Nissan Maxima by year
How many owner complaints NHTSA holds. A big number usually means a lot were sold; the shape matters more than the total.
Year by year
Xtronic CVT — same unit as every eighth-generation Maxima, and the reason the warranty matters — $250–$400 for a fluid service; $3,500–$5,500 for a replacement CVT out of warranty
Xtronic CVT — unchanged from the years that filed complaints about it — $250–$400 for a fluid service; $3,500–$5,500 for a replacement CVT
Xtronic CVT — the four-figure risk on every Maxima of this generation — $250–$400 for a fluid service; $3,500–$5,500 for a replacement CVT
Forward-collision warning light on a clear road, 'DAS Malfunction', and a car that brakes or loses power on its own — $0–$300 for a radar clean and recalibration; $900–$1,800 for a replacement radar sensor; $200–$600 for a wiring or ground repair
Automatic emergency braking that stops the car with nothing ahead; ABS light after a sensor fault — $0–$300 for a radar clean and recalibration; $900–$1,800 for a replacement radar sensor; $150–$400 for a wheel-speed sensor
ABS actuator can leak brake fluid onto its circuit board and start a fire (recall 19V807) — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed
ABS actuator can leak brake fluid onto its circuit board and catch fire — three recalls, the last a full replacement — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed
Xtronic CVT failure — $4,000-$5,500
CVT reliability — $3,500-$5,000
Xtronic CVT failure — $4,000-$5,500
CVT surges at speed, throws P1778, and stops pulling — on a year outside Nissan's extended coverage — $3,000–$5,000
CVT slips, surges and quits — and 2011 is outside Nissan's extended CVT warranty — $3,000–$5,000
Electronic steering column lock fails — car will not start, yellow key light, towed to a dealer — $700–$1,400 at a dealer for the lock unit; $50–$250 for an ESCL bypass at an independent shop
5 of these 13 have no high-severity issue in our write-up. That means we didn't find an expensive recurring fault — not that one cannot exist on the specific vehicle you're looking at.
Looking at one in particular?
This page covers the Nissan Maxima in general. The Kestrel report covers the one you're looking at — the asking price against the market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
Get My Verdict — $7.99Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for that year.
Known issues 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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