← New search

2016 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 99.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

73 reports with mileage · 69 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports4 fire reports7 injury reports

Steering complaints

9 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2024
Electrical SystemSteering

2016 nissan, noticed while stuck in traffic on highway on rainy day the vehicle seemed to want to loose power and battery light was coming on. I was able to exit highway an make it home. Later that night while at laundry mat headed to get food the car wouldn't accelerate eventually died an wouldn't start. Next day go to get it t…

Read full complaint

2016 nissan, noticed while stuck in traffic on highway on rainy day the vehicle seemed to want to loose power and battery light was coming on. I was able to exit highway an make it home. Later that night while at laundry mat headed to get food the car wouldn't accelerate eventually died an wouldn't start. Next day go to get it towed yet started no problem acceleration was fine alternator voltage was normal range. Few weeks later battery was dead which I have replaced. Alternator voltage still reads normal. I get about 20 minutes driving and battery light pops on eventually soon power steering and traction control goes out then car will die. If leave it few hrs 2-4hr an come back is fine. But can't drive 20min before it is a problem again. Has caused serious finacial strain and still paying for vehicle close to loosing employment it dies everyday then I have to pay for ride home and to go back to get it later. Have gotting stuck in intersection car just stops working. People have almost crashed into me because i cant get it off the road. Electrical or software computer problem somewhere.

NHTSA ODI #11597107

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2021
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainSteering

October 25, 2021 At 4:30 PM. After waiting for the light to turn green, I enter the Clear Lake Park making a left a right and left turn into the park. While turning left that’s when I notice a decreased in power, and an exclamation symbo, but the car kept advancing very smooth!! But when I tried to park the vehicle it started…

Read full complaint

October 25, 2021 At 4:30 PM. After waiting for the light to turn green, I enter the Clear Lake Park making a left a right and left turn into the park. While turning left that’s when I notice a decreased in power, and an exclamation symbo, but the car kept advancing very smooth!! But when I tried to park the vehicle it started shaking, vibrating with a roaring sound, it felt like even the tires ware going to get off the rims!! Making a lot of noice!! I had difficulty steering and parking between two spaces hit the concrete barrier twice or tree times, at that time the steering wheel was to hard to control. I turn the car off on parked I was puzzled, for what happened. After five or ten minutes I start the car again place it on reverse then on drive the car was moving very, very, slow with the gas paddle to the floor. Advance to the other side by the Community Center, as I turn left to park, the car started shaking again the steering wheel was very, very hard to control turning left but the force of the tires ware moving right. I was holding on to the steering wheel trying to park again at this time the car completely die on me. By then it was almost 5:00 PM. I called my insurance to request roadside assistance, and a wrecker service that didn’t arrived. After one hour and half a driver came to help to start the battery, he attempted to start the battery twice. This happened after one of my sons had tried two times too. Finally the car starts again, after dealing with it for 4 hours. Drove it for a quarter of a block and died again. The wrecker service came the next day to drive the car to Clear Lake Nissan, they kept the car for two days and supposedly didn’t find anything wrong with it. If this problem had happened on Nassau, road probably I would had been killed. Today the 29th of October, After doing some errands and returning home a symbol of a transmission came on the dashboard while the car was loosing power it hardly made it up to my driveway

NHTSA ODI #11438721

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2021
Electrical SystemSteeringVehicle Speed Control

I was driving and it all of a sudden shut off on me without warning causing safety issues because I was involved the middle of traffic

NHTSA ODI #11436954

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2020
Service BrakesSteeringWheels

THE TIRE MAINTENANCE NOTIFICATION STAYS ON AFTER THE TIRES HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ROTATED BY A TIRE SHOP AND RESET ON DASHBOARD AND IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT BEEN DOING THIS COMPLAINT MADE TO DEALERSHIP NO RESPONSE AND NOW RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON MY CAR. IT DOES IT WHILE DRIVING THE PULLING TO THE RIGHT A…

Read full complaint

THE TIRE MAINTENANCE NOTIFICATION STAYS ON AFTER THE TIRES HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ROTATED BY A TIRE SHOP AND RESET ON DASHBOARD AND IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT BEEN DOING THIS COMPLAINT MADE TO DEALERSHIP NO RESPONSE AND NOW RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON MY CAR. IT DOES IT WHILE DRIVING THE PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND THE TIRE MAINTENANCE STAYS ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11326956

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2019
Steering

THE WHEEL IS TURN SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT SO IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S PERFECTLY STRAIGHT BUT IN REALITY IT'S NOT. NOW DO YOU SEE I HAVE PUT THE MARKS(THIS IS WHERE I'M NOTICING UNALIGNMENT) IF I PUT THE WHEEL PERFECTLY STRAIGHT THE WHEEL AND STEERING COLUMN PLASTIC WILL NOT BE ALIGNED FROM THE RIGHT SIDE. NOW THE CAR HOLDS ITS LINES, DO…

Read full complaint

THE WHEEL IS TURN SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT SO IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S PERFECTLY STRAIGHT BUT IN REALITY IT'S NOT. NOW DO YOU SEE I HAVE PUT THE MARKS(THIS IS WHERE I'M NOTICING UNALIGNMENT) IF I PUT THE WHEEL PERFECTLY STRAIGHT THE WHEEL AND STEERING COLUMN PLASTIC WILL NOT BE ALIGNED FROM THE RIGHT SIDE. NOW THE CAR HOLDS ITS LINES, DOES NOT PULL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. I'M JUST WONDERING IF IT'S MECHANICAL OR PLASTIC COVER WENT OFF A BIT OR IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT ALL THE TIME. KINDA STRANGE TO NOTICE. ITS REALLY DANGEROUS SOMETIMES CAUSE I AM TRYING TO MAKE IT STRAIGHT AND I FIND MY SELF GOING SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT. I TOLD MY DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS AND ALL HE RESPONDED ... OH WELL NO MORE PERFECTION THESE DAYS. NOT PROFESSIONAL THOUGH I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MAXIMA'S FOR A WHILE NOW I HAVE NEVER FOUND A SINGLE IMPERFECTION LIKE THIS.

NHTSA ODI #11184724

11,066 miles · Jul 26, 2017
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT, WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE COAST THE VEHICLE OUT OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE FOLLO…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT, WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE COAST THE VEHICLE OUT OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE STEERING WHEEL RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTION. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO COLONIAL NISSAN STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS PHONE NUMBER: (781-352-008) TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT WAS NOT FINALIZED. THE VIN INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,066.

NHTSA ODI #11010716

12,961 miles · Jul 12, 2017
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WRESTLED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE ONCOMING BARRIER. LECKNER NISSAN OF ELLICOTT CITY, MARYLAND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND HELD THE VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS. THE DEALER …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WRESTLED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE ONCOMING BARRIER. LECKNER NISSAN OF ELLICOTT CITY, MARYLAND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND HELD THE VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD DUPLICATE THE FAILURE THE FIRST WEEK. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE STEERING PUMP DURING THE SECOND WEEK AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY A FEE FOR THE POWER STEERING FLUSH THAT WAS CONDUCTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,961.

NHTSA ODI #11004887

34 miles · Mar 2, 2017
SteeringWheels

STEERING/STRAIGHT LINE TRACKING ON THIS NISSAN MAXIMA SV (PURCHASED 06/28/2016) IS HORRIBLY UNPREDICTABLE FROM IT'S DATE OF PURCHASE. DRIVER REQUIRED TO BE HYPERSENSITIVE TO CORRECTING TRACKING/LINE DIRECTION OF AFOREMENTIONED VEHICLE. NATURAL TENDENCY OF FRONT WHEELS ARE TO CAREEN TO LEFT AND RIGHT ABRUPTLY AND DANGEROUSLY WI…

Read full complaint

STEERING/STRAIGHT LINE TRACKING ON THIS NISSAN MAXIMA SV (PURCHASED 06/28/2016) IS HORRIBLY UNPREDICTABLE FROM IT'S DATE OF PURCHASE. DRIVER REQUIRED TO BE HYPERSENSITIVE TO CORRECTING TRACKING/LINE DIRECTION OF AFOREMENTIONED VEHICLE. NATURAL TENDENCY OF FRONT WHEELS ARE TO CAREEN TO LEFT AND RIGHT ABRUPTLY AND DANGEROUSLY WITH THE RESULT BEING TO MOVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE OR DRIFT QUICKLY OUTSIDE OF PAINTED LANE LINES. CONSTANT AND INORDINATE ATTENTION IS NEEDED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR HIGHER. IN MOTION, HIGHWAY, STRAIGHT PATHS.

NHTSA ODI #10958267

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2016
EngineSteeringStructure

FRONT BUMPER CLIP BROKEN CAR STALLS WHEN DRIVING UP AN INCLINE AT LOW SPEEDS. CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN DRIVING. ALIGNMENT WAS CHECKED, BUT WAS FINE ACCORDING TO A NISSAN DEALER TECHNICIAN. THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMED TO MOMENTARILY LOCK WHEN MAKING A SWIFT AND SHARP LEFT TURN.

NHTSA ODI #10926795

Official recalls

8

19V807000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Nov 8, 2019

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and determined to not need a repair, under recall number 18V-601. In addition, this recall expands the previous population. The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS actuator, free of charge. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available, currently expected to be during summer 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: If the ABS warning light remains illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.

18V601000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Sep 7, 2018

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Nissan Murano, 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2017-2018 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2017 Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number on the ABS actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: When brake fluid has leaked onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp will remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up. If this occurs, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.

16V911000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Dec 19, 2016

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima vehicles manufactured January 3, 2013, to July 29, 2013, 2015-2016 Rogue vehicles manufactured October 14, 2014, to August 12, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured June 4, 2015, to August 19, 2015. An incorrect Occupant Classification System (OCS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have been installed in the front passenger seat. The incorrect ECU and seat combination may misclassify the front passenger seat occupant.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant is misclassified, the air bag may deploy incorrectly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ECU and update the OCS software free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

16V636000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Sep 2, 2016

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 19, 2016 and equipped with Intelligent Cruise Control, 2015-2017 Murano vehicles manufactured August 22, 2014, to August 19, 2016 and equipped with Intelligent Cruise Control, and 2015-2016 Murano Hybrid vehicles manufactured August 22, 2014, to July 19, 2016. The affected vehicles have Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps that may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal electrical circuit board.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A brake fluid leak onto the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ABS Actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 12, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: When brake fluid has leaked onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp will remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up. If this occurs, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.

16V244000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Apr 26, 2016

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

16V193000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Apr 7, 2016

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 Murano vehicles manufactured December 17, 2015, to February 11, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to February 12, 2016 and equipped with an antilock braking system (ABS) and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC). The ABS actuator may have a damaged O-ring that may result in a lack of brake fluid pressure.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ABS actuator, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 16, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

15V733000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper

Nov 5, 2015

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2015 Altima and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured October 6, 2015, to October 7, 2015. The affected vehicles have front brake calipers whose mounting bolts may not be properly tightened.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the bolts were not properly tightened, the caliper may detach and reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will check the brake caliper mounting bolts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 14, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

15V486000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Aug 4, 2015

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) notified the agency on July 31, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2016 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 18, 2015. On October 14, 2015, Nissan expanded the recall to cover an additional 41,388 vehicles, including certain model year 2013-2015 Altima 3.5 vehicles equipped with a V6 engine manufactured March 30, 2012, to August 18, 2015 as well as the vehicles covered by the July 31, 2015 notification. In the affected vehicles, due to an improperly installed o-ring that may not have been seated correctly at the time of assembly, fuel may leak during a crash from the area where the fuel sending unit attaches to the fuel tank.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If fuel leaks from between the fuel sending unit and the tank, it may increase the risk of a fire in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer ring between the fuel tank and the fuel sending unit. The recall began on September 28, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

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

1

EA19002 · Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure

Opened Jul 29, 2019 · Closed Jun 16, 2025

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:rear

On July 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened EA19002 to investigate instances of alleged rear lower control arm failures in 2013-2018 Nissan Altima and 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima vehicles. At the time the investigation was opened ODI had 91 consumer complaints alleging rear lower control arm failures in the subject vehicles.ODI was concerned about these complaints because many of them alleged an increased steering effort or loss of vehicle control.At the time these complaints were received, ODI was also aware of a proactive service campaign addressing 2013 Nissan Altima in salt-belt states for a similar concern. Since opening the investigation, ODI has confirmed, based on consumer complaints, warranty data, and testing conducted by Nissan and ODI, that owners of the subject vehicles are experiencing a corroded bushing at one of three mounting points of the control arm to the rear subframe.ODI has also confirmed that drivers become aware of the problem because of sound and abnormal vibrations. In addition, the failure mileage is typically over 113,000 miles at the time of failure.In conjunction with Nissan and VRTC, ODI participated in testing to assess the potential safety consequence of a bushing failure.It was found the Vehicle Dynamic Control system allows the driver to maintain vehicle control in the event of a bushing failure.With between 7 to 13 years of field exposure, ODI is aware of only one low speed crash allegation describing minor contact with another vehicle’s trailer hitch. Nissan acknowledges that a crack can develop in affected control arms due to stress loading from normal use and that salts commonly used for roadway snow and ice treatment may result in corrosion that exacerbates the progression of the crack.Nissan implemented a design change in January of 2018 to improve the durability of the lower control arm.Affected vehicles have either been repaired with the countermeasure part under a customer satisfaction campaign or been provided a warranty extension from 3 years/36,000 miles to 10 year/unlimited mileage. Through testing and analysis of the information obtained to date, ODI has not identified a defect representing an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety involving corrosion of the subject rear lower control arm at this time.With a declining trend of reports and Nissan’s actions to implement a countermeasure and extended warranty coverage, further investigation of the issue does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov. A detailed discussion of the investigation and related complaint numbers can be viewed in the attached closing report.