2012 Nissan MAXIMA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
107 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 85 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 107 complaints (24.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 15.0% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 9.3% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 7.5% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.7% |
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 | 26 |
| Unknown Or Other | 23 |
| Electrical System | 19 |
| Power Train | 17 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Seats | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 6 |
Air Bags: 26; Unknown Or Other: 23; Electrical System: 19; Power Train: 17; Engine: 11; Steering: 10; Seats: 6; Structure:Body: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 22 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 | 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 |
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
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 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 10432916 · 2011-10-26 (October 26, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC START BUTTON, WHICH THE CONTACT BELIEVED CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. IN ADDITION, WHILE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS INVESTIGATING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,245.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,245 miles reported. Look up ODI 10432916 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10466671 · 2012-07-19 (July 19, 2012)
TODAY I FOUND MY NISSAN MAXIMA 2009 MAKING A REPETITIVE GRINDING SOUND. UPON INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS THE MOTOR FOR THE ADJUSTABLE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. IT IS CURRENTLY STUCK IN THE HIGHEST POSITION AND IT IS EXTREMELY CLUMSY TO DRIVE AND BLOCKS VISION TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN RESEARCHING THE REPAIR I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY COMMON EVENT AND FEEL A RECALL IS IN ORDER. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE FREQUENT NATURE OF THIS REPAIR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,117 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466671 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10509925 · 2013-04-29 (April 29, 2013)
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INTERMITTENTLY (A LOT!) DOES NOT HAVE AN AIRBAG FOR 130+ POUND PERSON, BUT DOES HAVE AIRBAG FOR 80LB CHILD. HAVE HAD TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES, NISSAN REPORTS THAT THIS IS WITHIN THEIR SPECIFICATIONS; THEY HAVE DISMISSED THE COMPLAINT. I HAVE FURTHER REPORTED TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMPLAINT #11108041, BUT SINCE I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A YEAR NOW, I DO NOT FEEL CONFIDENT IN THEIR "HELP". *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10510978 · 2013-05-07 (May 7, 2013)
WHEN ANY ADULT SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHO IS NOT HEAVY WILL NOT ENABLE THE AIRBAG. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IS HOW IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE BUT THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN ANY OTHER CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10532278 · 2013-07-28 (July 28, 2013)
AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN A 200 LB ADULT IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT MORE OFTEN THEN NOT. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE IF SOMEONE IS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10532278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10533667 · 2013-08-05 (August 5, 2013)
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TURNS OFF WHEN EITHER WHEN MY HUSBAND WHICH IS 230LBS AND MYSELF 132 LB AND SOME OTHER PASSENGERS. REPORTED THIS TO NISSAN BROUGHT THE CAR IN. THE SAY ITS WORKING FINE. EVEN WHEN I HAVE VIDEO THAT THE AIRBAG HAS CLICKED OFF FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10533667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10549026 · 2013-10-23 (October 23, 2013)
I WAS DRIVING SOUTH OF THE NJ TURNPIKE I HEARD A LOUD BOOM SOUND AND VIBRATIONS ON THE ACCELERATOR I LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW DEBRIS AND A CLOUD OF SMOKE. SMELLS OF SOMETHING BURNING ALSO THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF MY CAR. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED PULLING OVER FROM THE MIDDLE LANE AS I'M PULLING OVER ALMOST CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT THE CAR WENT DEAD EVERYTHING JUST BLEW OUT COAST OFF TO THE SHOULDER ALMOST KILLING MYSELF AND OTHERS. I IMMEDIATELY RUSHED OUT OF THE CAR AND STARTED RUNNI…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10549026 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10550745 · 2013-11-04 (November 4, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE OPEN DOOR WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH ALL FOUR DOORS WERE CLOSED SECURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH WAS ENGAGED IT FAILED TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND THE INTERIOR AUTOMATIC DOORS WOULD ONLY UNLOCK MANUALLY. IN ADDITION, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,995 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550745 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.