Nissan Maxima 2016–2023

8th generation (A36) · A36 (Nissan D platform) · 498 complaints, 218 with mileage

When failures happen

What fails, and when

By model year

Which systems, and when

Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 30,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 14.1% of complaints (70 reports, 27 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 30,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,700 and 47,000 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 10.6% of complaints (53 reports, 26 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 42,765 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 13,500 and 80,000 miles.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 10.2% of complaints (51 reports, 19 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 62,500 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 18,000 and 100,000 miles.

The brakes account for 8.4% of complaints (42 reports, 26 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 20,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 9,000 and 30,000 miles.

The airbag system accounts for 7.2% of complaints (36 reports, 19 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 25,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 16,000 and 39,357 miles.

Body structure accounts for 7.0% of complaints (35 reports, 15 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 39,357 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,000 and 60,000 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2016 model year drew the most — 224 complaints — while 2019 drew the fewest at 28. The median year sits at 46.

That makes 2016 an outlier: roughly 4.9 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 10 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.

The campaigns cluster around the hydraulic brake circuit (5), the airbag system (2), visibility equipment (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.

Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.

Reported severity

Of the 498 complaints filed against this generation, 38 reported a crash; 15 reported a fire; 33 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 7.6% of the total.

These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 11,066 and 60,000 miles, with a median of 30,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, problems owners could not categorise and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Problems owners could not categorise in particular shows a median failure mileage of 30,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.

None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.

Documented problems

Recalls (10)

What owners reported

Other generations

• Nissan Maxima 1995–1999
• Nissan Maxima 2000–2003
• Nissan Maxima 2004–2008
• Nissan Maxima 2009–2014