Problems · NHTSA complaints
2012 Nissan Maxima problems
Owners filed 107 complaints about the 2012 Nissan Maxima with NHTSA between Oct 2011 and Jan 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (27).
Complaints
107
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags27
- Electrical system20
- Power train18
- Engine11
- Steering10
- Structure6
- Seats6
- Visibility4
- Service brakes2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Equipment1
- Exterior lighting1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
1
6
17
6
15
7
19
13
4
6
5
4
1
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
27 reports5 crashes1 fire
“Passenger airbag notifi action blinks and will not show it is activated to function in a crash. Airbag has never worked. Also driver seat belt keeps releasing without being pushed to open. Seat belt issue just began Dec 2023”
Electrical system
20 reports
“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.”
Power train
18 reports
“2012 Nissan Maxima with 94,000 miles began hesitating upon accelerating and jerking on [XXX]. Vehicle diagnosed at Don Franklin Nissan in Glasgow, KY with bad transmission. Transmission replaced. Then on [XXX], while driving vehicle, a loud noise from front passenger tire, traction light come on, pulled to side and found wheel side ways and upon investigation, Ball Joint had come part damaging axle and wheel. Found no bolt for ball joint in place. Towed back to Don Franklin Nissan in Glasgow, KY.”
Engine
11 reports1 fire
“The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop immediately and started shuddering. The oil warning light, ABS, coolant temperature, and the ESP warning light were illuminated. Additionally, the driver's side window failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.”
Steering
10 reports
“I PICKED MY CAR UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP AFTER GETTING A STATE INSPECTION, OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. THEY SAID THEY TOPPED OFF ALL THE FLUIDS. AS I BACKED OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE AND PULLED FORWARD I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT. I TRIED ADJUSTING IT A FEW TIMES, BUT AS I APPROACHED THE LIGHT AND TRIED TO TURN RIGHT I HAD TO GO OUT WIDE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT. I WAS AFRAID AT THE NEXT TWO LIGHTS. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT, AND AFTER STRUGGLING I MANAGED TO TURN AND GET THE CAR TO MY HUSBAND TO LOOK AT. HE TEST DRIVE IT AND SAID IT WAS NO POWER STEERING. WE TOLD THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND OF COURSE IT IS NOTHING THEY DID, THE POWER STEERING PUMP JUST WENT OUT. I THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST OR ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN IT WENT OUT, BECAUSE I READ ABOUT SOME CRASHING. IT STILL WAS A SCARY EXPERIENCE. MY CAR ONLY HAS 79,882 MILES ON IT. WHY WOULD THE POWER STEERING GO OUT AT THIS MILEAGE. NOW THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $1,000. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURE IT A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED AND PAID FOR BY THEM.”
Structure
6 reports3 crashes
“Since 2018 to present day. I been having difficulties with the visibility from my front windshield at sunny days. The dashboard has this sticky substance that make the dashboard really shinny, and reflect the sun light on the windshield, blocking the view and make it hard to see the road and vehicles. I had to use sunglasses to block this issue, but in some cases this will not improved and can make it worst. I had couple of near miss, and I have to stop driving my car at times to avoid this issue.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.