Short answer
Among Nissan Maxima model years through 2024, 2000, 2008, 2011 and 6 more years have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2016 has the most (8). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Nissan Maxima: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 23 (2000–2023)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 22
- Fewest recalls
- 2000, 2008, 2011 and 6 more years (0)
- Most recalls
- 2016 (8)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (9)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2016, 2017, 2018 and 4 more years
Nissan Maxima Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2022 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2021 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2020 | 1 | 5 stars | Visibility |
| 2019 | 1 | Not rated | Back over prevention |
| 2018 | 2 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2017 | 4 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bags |
| 2016 | 8 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2014 | 0 | 4 stars | None on record |
| 2013 | 0 | 4 stars | None on record |
| 2012 | 0 | 4 stars | None on record |
| 2011 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2010 | 1 | Not rated | Suspension |
| 2009 | 1 | Not rated | Suspension |
| 2008 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2007 | 1 | Not rated | Steering |
| 2006 | 2 | Not rated | Seats, Suspension |
| 2005 | 2 | Not rated | Child seat, Seats |
| 2004 | 2 | Not rated | Seats, Visibility |
| 2003 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2002 | 6 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Power train |
| 2001 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Suspension |
| 2000 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20230 recalls
- 20220 recalls
- 20210 recalls
- 20201 recall
- 20191 recall
- 20182 recalls
- 20174 recalls
- 20168 recalls
- 20140 recalls
- 20130 recalls
- 20120 recalls
- 20110 recalls
- 20101 recall
- 20091 recall
- 20080 recalls
- 20071 recall
- 20062 recalls
- 20052 recalls
- 20042 recalls
- 20033 recalls
- 20026 recalls
- 20013 recalls
- 20000 recalls
Nissan Maxima: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Nissan Maxima recalls are air bags (9), service brakes, hydraulic (9), suspension (5), seats (3) and back over prevention (2). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 10 of these 23 model years, and 2016, 2017, 2018 and 4 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Nissan Maxima Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Nissan Maxima?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2000, 2008, 2011 and 6 more years are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Nissan Maxima model years have the most recalls?
2016 has the most, with 8 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Maxima", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy