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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

What owners actually said

107 reports
80,000 miles · Jan 20, 2017
Visibility

I WAS DRIVING DOWN 231 HIGHWAY SOUTH WHEN MY SUNROOF EXPLODED FROM INSIDE OUT GLASS WENT EVERYWHERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10946765

70,000 miles · Oct 25, 2016
Air BagsCrashFireInjury

THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO OPEN IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THE FRONT BUMPER WAS SMASHED AND MY DAUGHTER COULD HAVE PREVENTED INJURIES IF THE AIRBAGS HAD OPEN. I HAVE LOST TRUST IN NISSAN AND THIS CRUSHED MY FAITH IN THEIR PRODUCTS! !!!

NHTSA ODI #10918882

46,000 miles · Aug 4, 2016
Air Bags

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, MEANING AIRBAG IS OFF, WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND THE CAR IS IN MOTION; THE LIGHT ALSO RANDOMLY COMES ON WHEN NO ONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT, THEN IT GOES OFF FOR A WHILE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR AND I KEEP CHECKING FOR A RECALL. I TALKED TO…

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THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, MEANING AIRBAG IS OFF, WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND THE CAR IS IN MOTION; THE LIGHT ALSO RANDOMLY COMES ON WHEN NO ONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT, THEN IT GOES OFF FOR A WHILE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR AND I KEEP CHECKING FOR A RECALL. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID A RECALL WOULD BE COMING OUT IN MARCH 2016, BUT IT'S JULY AND THERE IS STILL NO RECALL. I AM ASTOUNDED THAT I AM PUT IN A POSITION TO HAVE AN ADULT CHILD OF MINE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT RIDING WITH ME WHEN THEY WOULD NOT BE PROTECTED BY THE AIRBAGS THAT I TRUSTED NISSAN TO PROVIDE AND KEEP IN OPERATIONAL CONDITION IN MY CAR. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET.

NHTSA ODI #10893295

36,000 miles · Jun 15, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHENEVER A 120 LBS PASSENGER OCCUPIED THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHENEVER A 120 LBS PASSENGER OCCUPIED THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ODI #10874335

66,000 miles · Jun 6, 2016
Electrical System

I HAVE REPLACED THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FIVE TIMES SINCE OCT 2105, THE 1ST TIME WAS ABLE TO GET SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE ANY WARNING LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON THE DASH BOARD, NOW I DON'T A WEEK BEFORE THE WARNING LIGHT APPEARS AND CAR STALLS OUT, I HAVE CLEANED THE COMPONENTS AROUND THE SENSOR AS WELL AS BOUGHT THE DEALER SENSOR FOR O…

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I HAVE REPLACED THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FIVE TIMES SINCE OCT 2105, THE 1ST TIME WAS ABLE TO GET SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE ANY WARNING LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON THE DASH BOARD, NOW I DON'T A WEEK BEFORE THE WARNING LIGHT APPEARS AND CAR STALLS OUT, I HAVE CLEANED THE COMPONENTS AROUND THE SENSOR AS WELL AS BOUGHT THE DEALER SENSOR FOR OVER $200 STILL NO DIFFERENCE, NO ONE I HAVE IT TO CAN LOCATE THE ISSUE

NHTSA ODI #10872655

300 miles · Jun 1, 2016
Air Bags

THERE IS A NEW RECALL FOR AIRBAG SENSER MISINTERPRETING THE WEIGHT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IN MANY NISSAN MODELS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR, MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL - BUT I HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN MY WIFE, WHO IS AROUND 130 LBS, SITS IN THE SEAT, ABOUT HALF OF THE TIME THE AIRBAG LI…

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THERE IS A NEW RECALL FOR AIRBAG SENSER MISINTERPRETING THE WEIGHT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IN MANY NISSAN MODELS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR, MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL - BUT I HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN MY WIFE, WHO IS AROUND 130 LBS, SITS IN THE SEAT, ABOUT HALF OF THE TIME THE AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE AIRBAG IS DISABLED. SHE ALWAYS SITS ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE SEAT. SPEED OR DRIVING ENVIRONMENT DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE ISSUE. I HAVE DISCUSSED THE ISSUE WITH TWO NISSAN DEALERSHIPS, AND THE ISSUE STILL OCCURS. THE FIRST DENIED THEY COULD HELP BECAUSE IT WASNT CURRENTLY HAPPENING WHEN I HAD IT AT THE SHOP. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP RECALIBRATED THE SENSOR AND IT THAT BROUGHT THE FREQUENCY DOWN SLIGHTLY TO THE CURRENT 50% I AM FRUSTRATES THAT MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL AND FEEL LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OTHER MODEL YEARS, SUCH AS MINE.

NHTSA ODI #10871832

Mileage unknown · May 11, 2016
Air BagsSeatsSuspension

TAKATA RECALL!! THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT IS ON WITH OR WITHOUT A PERSON IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVERS SIDE CHAIR ROCKS WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THE FRONT END MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN PRESSING ON THE BREAKS.

NHTSA ODI #10864394

52,000 miles · May 10, 2016
Air Bags

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS OFF AND ON WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS IN THE SEAT. AND THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE STATIONARY AND IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI #10864292

90,000 miles · May 2, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE VEHICLE OR WHEN INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE ' NO KEY' WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE VEHICLE OR WHEN INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE ' NO KEY' WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10862459

61,000 miles · Apr 26, 2016
Unknown Or Other

THE SUNROOF EXPLODED SPONTANEOUSLY. I WAS SITTING IN EVENING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AT AN ALMOST STAND STILL. THE INSIDE ROOF PANEL/COVER WAS PULLED BACK, BUT THE SUNROOF ITSELF WAS NOT OPENED. I HAD TURNED THE A/C ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES BECAUSE ALTHOUGH IT WASN'T VERY HOT OUTSIDE (UPPER 70S), I WAS MAKING A BUSINESS CALL OVER TH…

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THE SUNROOF EXPLODED SPONTANEOUSLY. I WAS SITTING IN EVENING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AT AN ALMOST STAND STILL. THE INSIDE ROOF PANEL/COVER WAS PULLED BACK, BUT THE SUNROOF ITSELF WAS NOT OPENED. I HAD TURNED THE A/C ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES BECAUSE ALTHOUGH IT WASN'T VERY HOT OUTSIDE (UPPER 70S), I WAS MAKING A BUSINESS CALL OVER THE CAR'S BLUETOOTH SYSTEM, AND HAD ROLLED THE WINDOWS UP IN ORDER TO HEAR THE CALL CLEARLY. AFTER THE CAR GOT COLD, I TURNED THE AIR OFF. BEFORE I COULD OPEN THE WINDOWS, SO THE CAR COULD WARM BACK UP INSIDE, THERE WAS A LARGE "BOOM" AND SUBSEQUENTLY GLASS FROM THE SUNROOF BEGAN FALLING DOWN INTO THE CENTER CONSOLE.

NHTSA ODI #10861458

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.