2018 Nissan MAXIMA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
36,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 36 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 33.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
Unknown Or Other: 8; Service Brakes: 7; Electrical System: 5; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 3; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 14 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2018: 1; 2019: 15; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 4; 2025: 2; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 11071638 · 2018-02-07 (February 7, 2018)
DRIVING A RENTED NISSAN MAXIMA I ENCOUNTERED AN ISSUE I AM CONCERNED WITH. WHILE CHANGING A RADIO STATION I ACCIDENTALLY HIT SOMETHING THAT BROUGHT UP A MENU. TRYING TO GET BACK TO THE ORIGINAL SCREEN I FOUND MYSELF ON THE ONGOING LANE. WE SHOULD NOT BE LOOKING AT A SCREEN WHEN DRIVING. IT SHOULD NOT EXIST. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THESE UNNECESSARY DEVICES IN CARS THAT CAR COMPANIES PUSH TO MAKE A SALE. I FIND IT A VERY DANGEROUS DISTRACTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11071638 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11193892 · 2019-04-04 (April 4, 2019)
I WAS DRIVING IN THE RIGHT LANE ON A FOUR LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH GOOD DRIVING CONDITIONS AND A 70 MPH SPEED LIMIT. THE CAR WAS AN ENTERPRISE RENTAL. ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL USES THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKES TO MAINTAIN A SAFE DISTANCE TO THE CAR AHEAD. IT IS DONE BY SENSING THE DISTANCE TO THE CAR AHEAD AT ABOUT 5 CAR LENGTHS THEN ADJUSTING THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKES AS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THIS SPACING AND AVOID A REAR END COLLISION. THE FAULT IS SEEN IN CHANGING LANES. THE CRUISE WAS SET AT 70 MPH AND MY CAR APPROACHED A CAR AHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11193892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11195893 · 2019-04-12 (April 12, 2019)
BRAKE SYSTEM SENSORS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WARRING LIGHT APPEARS ON DASH AND READS: FRONT RADAR UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 26,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11195893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11209488 · 2019-05-23 (May 23, 2019)
WARNING: UNAVAILABLE FRONT RADAR OBSTRUCTION APPEARS ON TH DISPLAY ALONG WITH A LOUD BEEP.
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11209488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11222054 · 2019-06-24 (June 24, 2019)
I RENTED A NISSAN MAXIMA 2018 FOR A ROAD TRIP. UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T HAVE THE RENTER CAR INSURANCE COVERAGE I DECIDED TO GO WITH MY INSURANCE. HOWEVER, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESS WAY AND I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WITH NO KNOWN EXPLANATION. I WAS DEVASTATED. THERE WERE GLASS FLYING ALL OVER ME AND MY FRIEND WHO WAS WITH ME AT THE TIME. I FEEL LIKE THE CAR WAS A DEFECTIVE CAR AND UNSAFE CAR! THEY ARE NOW MAKING ME RELIABLE IN ALL THE DAMAGE COST TO A VEHICLE THAT I HAD NO CONTROL OVER. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 11 miles reported. Look up ODI 11222054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11230486 · 2019-07-09 (July 9, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE BRAKED SUDDENLY. HAWKINSON NISSAN (5513 MILLER CIRCLE DR, MATTESON, IL 60443, [phone removed]) AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,098.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,098 miles reported. Look up ODI 11230486 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11234708 · 2019-07-25 (July 25, 2019)
THE SEATBELT LATCH ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS. THE SEATBELT TWISTS WHEN LATCHED. THIS MAKES USING A CHILD CAR SEAT UNSAFE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11234708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11240459 · 2019-07-29 (July 29, 2019)
AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING FAILURE WHILE MOVING ON A DAILY BASIS AT 39,000 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11240459 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V654000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Reported: 2019-09-12 (September 12, 2019)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V807000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Reported: 2019-11-08 (November 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗