2011 Nissan MAXIMA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10378691 · 2011-01-25 (January 25, 2011)
NEW 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS SOMETIMES FAIL TO ACTIVATE AT ALL OR ACTIVATE ONLY AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL (12-15) MILES WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SITUATION HAS OCCURRED ROUTINELY SINCE TAKING DELIVERY OF VEHICLE ON 10/14/10. CONSEQUENTLY, FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS ARE NOT PROTECTED BY THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. ALL PASSENGERS HAVE BEEN ADULTS, RANGING IN SIZE FROM 95 LBS, 5'2" TO 145 LBS, 5'8". HEAVIER PASSENGERS ACTIVATE THE AIRBAGS QUICKER. SELLING DEALER HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE SEAR BOTTOM CUSHION CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10378691 at NHTSA ↗
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 10426924 · 2011-09-23 (September 23, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY WHETHER THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED OR NOT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT NEEDED TO BE "BROKEN IN" BECAUSE THE LEATHER WAS HARD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SUGGESTED THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10426924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10450565 · 2012-03-06 (March 6, 2012)
ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING, I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER WHO PULLED THE OIL PAN AND FOUND PIECES OF THE MAIN CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE OIL PAN. THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVING OK AND THE KNOCK COULD NOT BE HEARD FROM INSIDE THE CAR. NISSAN REPLACED THE SHORT BLOCK ENGINE. HAD I NOT NOTICED THE KNOCK AND TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY SEIZED UP AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND HAD THE FIRST OIL CHANGE AT 3100 MILES BY A NISSAN DEALER AND THE ENGINE FAILED AT APPRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10450565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454225 · 2012-04-05 (April 5, 2012)
WE PURCHASED A 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA IN NOVEMBER 2011 AND HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE STAYING ON WHILE I AM SITTING IN THE SEAT. I WEIGH 115 LBS AND AM 5'1. I GOT NO HELP FROM THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I TALKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER TODAY AND SHE TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE OF MY SIZE THE AIR BAG WOULD DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. I WAS UNHAPPY WITH THAT ANSWER AND SHE TOLD ME SHE HAS DONE ALL SHE COULD DO, THAT I WAS WELCOME …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10454225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454333 · 2012-04-06 (April 6, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY LOCKING SECURITY FEATURE FAILED TO OPERATE BECAUSE THE IGNITION KEY WAS LEFT INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR FOR ENTRANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454333 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 10487868 · 2012-12-10 (December 10, 2012)
THE CAR HAS A PUSH BUTTON START AND COULD NOT BE TURNED-OFF. ALL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES IN THE MANUAL WERE FOLLOWED AND THE CAR COULD NOT BE TURNED-OFF. THE DEAL ACTUALLY LET THE CAR RUN UNTIL IT RAN OUT OF GAS. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THERE WAS ANY ISSUE WITH THE CAR UNTIL I WENT TO TURN IT OFF, THEN THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT-OFF. A DRIVER COULD BE IN NEED OF GAS, OR NEED TO STOP WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND WOULD BE IN A SITUATION WHERE THE CAR WILL NOT STOP RUNNING. THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK WITH THE CAR RUNNING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10487868 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.