IllustrationSUN ROOF , WHISTLES SO LOUDLY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 65, DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Maxima years →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
300–25K
1325–50K
1350–75K
975–100K
7100–150K
1150K+
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
What owners actually said
142 reportsTHE 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…
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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.
WHEN I TURN MY HEAT UP , MY CAR SMELLS OF GASOLINE.. I HAVE SPOKE WITH ONES I KNOW WHO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, ARE WE THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE THE PROBLEM.. PLEASE SPEAK ON THIS...THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING IN MOTION HIGHWAY OR CITY STREETS..THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVERY SINCE I OWNED THIS CAR. I WAS TOLD ITS MY IMAGINATION,
CRUISE CONTROL DROPS OUT WHILE ENGAGED UNDER ALL ROAD/WEATHER CONDITIONS. DASHBOARD INDICATION "FRONT RADAR UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION" SEEMS WELL DOCUMENTED ONLINE FOR SEVERAL OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES. SYSTEM WILL RESET ITSELF AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, BUT ALSO DROPS OUT AND IS NON-FUNCTIONAL INTERMITENTLY, ESSENTIALLY MAKING TH…
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CRUISE CONTROL DROPS OUT WHILE ENGAGED UNDER ALL ROAD/WEATHER CONDITIONS. DASHBOARD INDICATION "FRONT RADAR UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION" SEEMS WELL DOCUMENTED ONLINE FOR SEVERAL OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES. SYSTEM WILL RESET ITSELF AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, BUT ALSO DROPS OUT AND IS NON-FUNCTIONAL INTERMITENTLY, ESSENTIALLY MAKING THE TRACKING CRUISE CONTROL INOPERABLE.
PASSENGER HEADLAMP FAIL, TOOK TO NISSAN, THEY CLAIM THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE FAIL. I FEEL LIKE MY FAMILIES LIFE IS NOW AT STAKE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V601000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BUENA PARK NISSAN (6501 AUTO CENTER DR, BUENA PARK, CA 90621, (714) 509-5480) WAS CONTA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V601000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BUENA PARK NISSAN (6501 AUTO CENTER DR, BUENA PARK, CA 90621, (714) 509-5480) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS BENT INWARD AND THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SHOULDER AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED SHOULDE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS BENT INWARD AND THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SHOULDER AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED SHOULDER, BACK, AND KNEE INJURIES. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR BODY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 33669624. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. *DT *DT*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW TRIM WAS SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWIN CITY NISSAN (3247 ALCOA HWY, ALCOA, TN 37701, (865) 970-4132) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW TRIM WAS SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWIN CITY NISSAN (3247 ALCOA HWY, ALCOA, TN 37701, (865) 970-4132) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE PUMP LEAKED BRAKE FLUID ONTO A CIRCUIT BOARD, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL FIRE WHICH CAUSED MY CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE BEING TOTALED OUT . THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY FOR ABOUT 12 HOURS IN FRONT OF HOME. WHILE ON FIRE THE VEHICLE STARTED ITSELF UP WITHOUT ANYONE BEING IN THE VEHICLE.
VEHICLE HEADLAMP FAILED ACCORDING TO THE NISSAN DEALER WE TOOK IT TO. THEY CLAIMED THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE FAIL. NOW I'M FREAKED OUT TO DRIVE CAR THINKING ABOUT WHAT IF THE OTHER FAILS COMPLETELY. THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO FIX IT. ITS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A WRECK IF THE HEADLAMPS FAIL ON BOTH SIDES. THEY…
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VEHICLE HEADLAMP FAILED ACCORDING TO THE NISSAN DEALER WE TOOK IT TO. THEY CLAIMED THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE FAIL. NOW I'M FREAKED OUT TO DRIVE CAR THINKING ABOUT WHAT IF THE OTHER FAILS COMPLETELY. THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO FIX IT. ITS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A WRECK IF THE HEADLAMPS FAIL ON BOTH SIDES. THEY ARE PUTTING MYSELF AND DAUGHTER AT RISK.
Official recalls
819V807000 · 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
1EA19002 · 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.