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2012 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 99.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

85 reports with mileage · 22 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

20 reports
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246,450 miles · Jan 16, 2026
Electrical System

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Nissan Maxima. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. The contact stated that the mileage on the title was not available. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 150,000. The vehicle was taken for Texas State …

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Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Nissan Maxima. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. The contact stated that the mileage on the title was not available. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 150,000. The vehicle was taken for Texas State Inspection and the VIN was entered on the Inspection Station website and the mileage of 246,450 was displayed.

NHTSA ODI #11711387

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2023
Electrical System

Green wire burn throughout the entire wiring harness..From alternator to engine fuse box and also to inside fuse box.. Bypassing the blown fuses and/or relays!!

NHTSA ODI #11519613

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2022
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

On June 9, 2022 @8:50am I was driving my Nissan Maxima to work and as I was at the stop light waiting to go through the intersection, the car shut off completely cutting off all power. I have push button and no electric was working. My jumper cables were in the trunk but I could not access them because the trunk would not operat…

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On June 9, 2022 @8:50am I was driving my Nissan Maxima to work and as I was at the stop light waiting to go through the intersection, the car shut off completely cutting off all power. I have push button and no electric was working. My jumper cables were in the trunk but I could not access them because the trunk would not operate without power. Without power my hazards did not even work so I could not let traffic flow know that I was in distress. My car almost was hit 3 separate times because of a faulty part or system built by Nissan needs to get their stuff together and quit putting people in danger. I’m scared to drive it now because it could shut off as I am in the act of driving and that could be catastrophic not only for me but for other innocent people. I will be contacting Nissan and they will be fixing this properly! The car was finally jump started and I was able to drive the rest of the way to work. Let’s see if it starts when I have to leave work? So not cool.

NHTSA ODI #11468421

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2022
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

Pressing door lock/unlock button on the door handles fails to lock/unlock all doors consistently. Rear door locks respond intermittently or not at all. Driver door often takes four button pushes to get it to unlock. Although it hasn't happened to me, I've heard other drivers mention difficulty getting into the gas cap (it loc…

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Pressing door lock/unlock button on the door handles fails to lock/unlock all doors consistently. Rear door locks respond intermittently or not at all. Driver door often takes four button pushes to get it to unlock. Although it hasn't happened to me, I've heard other drivers mention difficulty getting into the gas cap (it locks when driver's door is locked). This issue has occurred in the last 6 months.

NHTSA ODI #11459459

179,000 miles · May 24, 2020
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

I HAD AN A.C. COMPRESSOR ISSUE 3 YEARS AGO AND HAD IT REPLACED BY TROPHY NISSAN MESQUITE,TEXAS IN 2017. NOW 3 YEARS LATER MAY OF 2020 MY COMPRESSOR HAS LOCKED UP AGAIN. IT WAS WORKING FINE UNTIL A WEEK AGO WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK IT WAS GREAT BUT AFTER MY SHIFT WAS DONE AND I CAME OUT TO GO HOME MY A.C.COMPRESSOR WASN'T WOR…

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I HAD AN A.C. COMPRESSOR ISSUE 3 YEARS AGO AND HAD IT REPLACED BY TROPHY NISSAN MESQUITE,TEXAS IN 2017. NOW 3 YEARS LATER MAY OF 2020 MY COMPRESSOR HAS LOCKED UP AGAIN. IT WAS WORKING FINE UNTIL A WEEK AGO WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK IT WAS GREAT BUT AFTER MY SHIFT WAS DONE AND I CAME OUT TO GO HOME MY A.C.COMPRESSOR WASN'T WORKING.SO I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WERE ANY NISSAN RECALLS WITH A.C. COMPRESSOR ISSUES ON MY MAXIMA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11325719

50,000 miles · Nov 19, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

CAR WILL NOT START, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, KEY FOB LIGHT IS ON, BRAKE IS STIFF. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME NISSAN HAD THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #11280976

50,000 miles · Nov 18, 2019
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

THE CAR STREERING WHEEL WONT MOVE AND THE CAR WONT START.

NHTSA ODI #11280945

50,000 miles · May 24, 2019
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONED AND THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM GAUGE DID NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILL GATTON NISSAN (235 CENTURY BLVD, BRISTOL, TN) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONED AND THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM GAUGE DID NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILL GATTON NISSAN (235 CENTURY BLVD, BRISTOL, TN) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #11209671

50,582 miles · Oct 2, 2018
Air BagsElectrical System

ON DEC 12, 107 MY 2012 MAXIMA HAD A SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR REPLACED (DEALER REPLACED AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT FP-NUMBER 98820-9N09C). THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NOT GO OFF AFTER THE CAR STARTED. THE WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON REGARDLESS IF THE CAR WAS STILL OR MOVING OR WHETHER THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR OR NOT. I…

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ON DEC 12, 107 MY 2012 MAXIMA HAD A SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR REPLACED (DEALER REPLACED AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT FP-NUMBER 98820-9N09C). THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NOT GO OFF AFTER THE CAR STARTED. THE WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON REGARDLESS IF THE CAR WAS STILL OR MOVING OR WHETHER THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR OR NOT. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018 THE EXACT SAME WARNING LIGHT RETURNED WHICH MAKES ME THINK THAT THERE IS A LARGER AIRBAG PROBLEM AT HAND.

NHTSA ODI #11132920

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

1)MY INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT OUT SOME YEARS AGO THAT DISPLAYS WARNING OR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. IT FLASHES OFF AND ON PERIODICALLY AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO NISSAN SEVERAL TIMES, BUT DUE TO IT BEING OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WANT DO ANYTING ABOUT IT. SEVERAL CERTIFIED NISSAN DEALERS SERVICE DEPT. STATED THAT SHOUL…

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1)MY INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT OUT SOME YEARS AGO THAT DISPLAYS WARNING OR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. IT FLASHES OFF AND ON PERIODICALLY AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO NISSAN SEVERAL TIMES, BUT DUE TO IT BEING OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WANT DO ANYTING ABOUT IT. SEVERAL CERTIFIED NISSAN DEALERS SERVICE DEPT. STATED THAT SHOULD NOT BE GOING OUT. 2) I HAVE HAD BATTERY ISSUES WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF PURCHASING THE CAR BACK IN NOV. 2011, SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY ALL THEY DID WAS REPLACE THE BATTERY. SINCE THEN EVERY YEAR OR TWO YEARS I HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THE BATTERY UNTIL HEAR RECENTLY JULY 2018. THIS WILL BE THE 4 OR 5 TIME REPLACING THIS BATTERY WITHIN THE 6 YEARS OF OWNIG THIS CAR. EVERYTIME I TATKE IT TO ONE OF NISSAN SERVICE CENTER THERE EXPLANATION IS THE TEXAS HEAT DRAINS THE BATTERY. THAT EXCUSE DOES NOT MAKE ANY SINCE TO ME.

NHTSA ODI #11113255

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.