2011 Nissan MAXIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
106 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
67,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 64 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 106 complaints (21.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 22 | 20.8% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 8.5% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 23 |
| Power Train | 21 |
| Unknown Or Other | 14 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Structure:Body | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
Air Bags: 23; Power Train: 21; Unknown Or Other: 14; Electrical System: 12; Engine: 12; Steering: 9; Structure:Body: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 42 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2011: 3; 2012: 5; 2013: 3; 2014: 12; 2015: 11; 2016: 10; 2017: 13; 2018: 15; 2019: 9; 2020: 9; 2021: 6; 2022: 3; 2023: 4; 2024: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 22 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10399619 · 2011-05-09 (May 9, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE ALSO WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION CODE WAS RESET. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE DAY LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THEY WERE RECEIVING VARIOUS DIFFERENT CODES FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO INSTALL A BUTTON IN THE VEHICLE TO HELP RECO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10399619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10585696 · 2014-04-30 (April 30, 2014)
TRANSMISSION: THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON INDICATOR WAS ON SO I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE. WHEN I RECEIVED THE DIAGNOSIS I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR IS JUST 3YRS OLD AND HAS 98K MILES. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 75K MILES. THE TOTAL COST OF THE RE-MANUFACTURED 3.5 TRANSMISSION WOULD BE $3589. 2003-2010 MODELS HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE 3.0 TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF THE SAME ISSUE. THE 2011 AND NEWER MODELS AREN'T COVERED CITING THAT IT'S NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. 98,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10585696 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556370 · 2013-12-17 (December 17, 2013)
STEERING LOCKED..CAR WILL NOT START. I HAVE TO PAYING FOR GETTING THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. LUCKILY, I AM UNDER 36,000 MILES SO COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT WILL NOT COVER EXPENSE FOR TOWING THE CAR. I READ THIS IS VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH NISSAN MAXIMA AND FEEL THAT COMPANY SHOULD OWN RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 34,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10668289 · 2014-12-26 (December 26, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,400. MAILED OUT 01/13/15*LJ
Owner-reported narrative. 55,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10668289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10456538 · 2012-04-26 (April 26, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO AVOID A CRASH AND THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ACCELERATION ABILITY WAS DISABLED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE VEHICLE. TEN MINUTES LATER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE F…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456538 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10552867 · 2013-11-19 (November 19, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT BULB HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,567.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552867 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10652911 · 2014-11-05 (November 5, 2014)
CAR PERIODICALLY GOES COMPLETELY DEAD EVEN WHEN IT IS TURNED OFF AND IN PARK POSITION . KEY LIGHT KEEPS ON BLINKING AND EVENTUALLY NOTHING WORKS. I HAVE TO GET ANOTHER CAR TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY FOR AT LEAST 3 MIN. THIS IS THE 3RD OCCURRENCE AND SECOND BATTERY. BROUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10652911 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10947036 · 2017-01-23 (January 23, 2017)
VEHICLE IS PARKED AND ENGINE WONT START. HAD A 2009 MAXIMA THAT ALSO HAD THE SAME ISSUES. CHECKED BATTERY AND IT IS FINE BUT CAR WONT START. I HAVE JUMPSTARTED IT AND THAT HAS TURNED THE CAR BACK ON BUT AFTER A FEW MONTHS I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS LAST TIME MY CAR DID NOT START , NOT EVEN WITH A JUMP START.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10947036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10669779 · 2015-01-02 (January 2, 2015)
I PURCHASED MY 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA BRAND NEW IN MAY OF 2011. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED MY CAR, THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED ME THAT MY ENGINE MOUNT WAS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED MY WARRANTY COMPANY AND FOUND OUT THE PARTICULAR PIECE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED WASN'T COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. I WAS FACING A $1000.00+ REPAIR BILL. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I HAVE STILL NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR MY ENGINE MOUNT. I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW, ON A BRAND NEW CAR, CAN AN ENGINE MOUNT BE DAMAGED TO THE POINT OF NEEDING REPAIR AND THEN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10669779 at NHTSA ↗