2013 Nissan Maxima Problems & Owner Complaints

Power Train 24

“The transmission is failing in my car it doesn't want to go. stalling out shuttering,jerking.”
NHTSA complaint #11501392, 2022

“a recall and class action lawsuit was issued for the 2013 altima but not the 2013 maxima. they have the same cvt transmission, my cvt transmission on my maxima just went out. Both the maxima and the altima should have been included in these recalls if they have the exact same CVT transmission”
NHTSA complaint #11486654, 2022

“I WAS TRAVELING FROM HOUSTON, TX TO DALLAS, TX MIDDAY ON MAY 1, 2021. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES OUTSIDE OF DALLAS ON I-45 TRAVELING 75 MPH WHEN I SUDDENLY FELT A SPUTTER AND THEN THE SPEED INSTANTLY DECREASED FROM 75 MPH TO 20 MPH ON A BUSY MAJOR INTERSTATE. I WAS ALMOST HIT TWICE AS I TRIED TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE WITH CARS TRAVELING UPWARDS OF 75+ MPH, BLOWING AND HONING AND CURSING ME. I MADE IT OFF THE INTERSTATE AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER MAKING SEVERAL CALLS FOR HELP, I WAS INSTRUCTED BY A MECHANIC TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND RESTART THE CAR AND TRY TO ACCELERATE WHILE ON THE FEEDER.…”
NHTSA complaint #11415064, 2021

Air Bags 16 1 crash 1 injury

“NO 'TAKATA RECALL' AT THIS MOMENT BUT I WAS INJURED BECAUSE AIRBAG FAILED IN MY CHEST”
NHTSA complaint #11071660, 2018 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“WHEN TRANSPORTING SOME ADULT PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT REMAINS ON THROUGHOUT THE TRIP. THIS WOULD SEEM TO ME TO INDICATE THAT IN THE EVENT OF A FRONT-END COLLISION, THE AIRBAG WOULD FAIL TO DEPLOY BECAUSE IT IS OFF. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE SITUATION. NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND. I REMAIN CONCERNED BECAUSE THE LIGHT STILL REMAINS ON WITH ADULT PASSENGERS WEIGHING BETWEEN 110 AND 155 POUNDS. THIS ISSUE WAS OBSERVED WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND WHILE IT WAS MOVING. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE I PURCHA…”
NHTSA complaint #11043908, 2017

“WHEN TRANSPORTING SOME ADULT PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT REMAINS ON THROUGHOUT THE TRIP. THIS WOULD SEEM TO ME TO INDICATE THAT IN THE EVENT OF A FRONT-END COLLISION, THE AIRBAG WOULD FAIL TO DEPLOY BECAUSE IT IS OFF. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE SITUATION (PERHAPS BECAUSE THE MECHANICS WEIGH MORE THAN MY WIFE); NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND. I REMAIN CONCERNED BECAUSE THE LIGHT STILL REMAINS ON WITH OTHER LIGHT ADULT PASSENGERS.”
NHTSA complaint #11043403, 2017

Exterior Lighting 9

“I have a 2013 Nissan Maxima in my headlights are horrible when they are on dim you cannot see in front of you so bad that it's liable to cause a bad wreck I have to ride with my headlights on bright and it's not much better I have replaced the bulbs in both headlights twice it has not improved anything I think it is a very dangerous thing in could call someone to get hurt because no one can see I've not been pulled over by the police or anything but I have to ride with my headlights on bright and I know it blinds people sometimes I think there needs to be a recall because I have a lot of frien…”
NHTSA complaint #11706145, 2025

“1. Both headlights on dim are so dim that you cannot drive safely, they do not project in front of the car far enough to see at night, dawn or dusk. I am concerned if other cars I meet can even see me approaching. My flashlight shines brighter and farther. I have replaced the bulbs for the dim lights and it did no good. 2. Drove to California and was in west Texas after dark, could not see the road after dark. 3. My relative is a mechanic and he has confirmed the defective illumination with my dim lights. 4. It has not been confirmed by any officials such as insurance or police. 5. I noticed t…”
NHTSA complaint #11555842, 2022

“The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving at night, the driver’s, and passenger's side headlights were very dim, failing to properly illuminate the roadway, causing a visibility hazard for the driver. The contact stated that the light bulbs were replaced but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 120,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11527029, 2020

Unknown Or Other 8 1 fire

“AFTER ABOUT 1 MILE OF DRIVING, THERE WAS A SMALL EXPLOSION HEARD UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE DIRECTLY UNDER THE SHIFT CONSOLE. FIRE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE SHIFT CONSOLE. BURNED UP CENTER SHIFTER CONSOLE AND CARPET SURROUNDING AREA. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10577460, 2014 · fire

“a recall and class action lawsuit was issued for the 2013 altima but not the 2013 maxima. they have the same cvt transmission, my cvt transmission on my maxima just went out. Both the maxima and the altima should have been included in these recalls if they have the exact same CVT transmission”
NHTSA complaint #11486654, 2022

“THE VEHICLE WAS IN A PARKED POSITION AT MY HOME. WENT AND STARTED VEHICLE AND FROM PARK TO DRIVE IT HESITATED BEFORE IT STARTS TO MOVE.”
NHTSA complaint #11408653, 2021

Engine 4

“The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart on the third attempt however the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine, the crankshaft, and the cylinder heads needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 7,500. The VIN was not available.”
NHTSA complaint #11582321, 2024

“The transmission is failing in my car it doesn't want to go. stalling out shuttering,jerking.”
NHTSA complaint #11501392, 2022

“I WAS STOPPING FOR GAS TO HEAD BACK TO WORK, THEN I REALIZED THAT A CLOUD OF SMOKE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE.”
NHTSA complaint #11257806, 2018

Electrical System 2 1 fire

“AFTER ABOUT 1 MILE OF DRIVING, THERE WAS A SMALL EXPLOSION HEARD UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE DIRECTLY UNDER THE SHIFT CONSOLE. FIRE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE SHIFT CONSOLE. BURNED UP CENTER SHIFTER CONSOLE AND CARPET SURROUNDING AREA. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10577460, 2014 · fire

“S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER FROM CONSTITUENT RE COPY OF LETTER ADDRESSED TO CARLOS GHOSN, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF NISSAN MOTOR COMPANY, LTD NOTIFYING THE COMPANY OF A MAJOR AUTOMOTIVE DEFECT WITH NISSAN'S 2013 MAXIMA. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HESITATE, AS IF IT WERE GOING TO LOSE POWER, AFTER RETRIEVING IT FROM THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR FLOW METER AND ENGINE AIR FILT…”
NHTSA complaint #10805747, 2015

Service Brakes 2

“MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPPED ON IT'S OWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I DIDN'T PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL OR ANYTHING. I HAD TO GET OUT OF MY CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC & WAIT ON A TOW. THE MECHANIC SHOP SAID THAT IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE CAR TO DO THAT.”
NHTSA complaint #11160752, 2018

“IN DECEMBER OF 2016 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THIS OCCURRED OVER THE COURSE OF 3 DAYS, AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT HAS A SERVICE HISTORY RECORD. THEY INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WERE BOTH LEAKING, AND THEY WERE GOING TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR WAS RELEASED TO ME APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK LATER. UPON DRIVING THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING AT MY HOME THE SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 1 WEEK AND DROVE IT 300 MILES, AND THEY…”
NHTSA complaint #11067229, 2016

Structure 2

“WATER BUILD UP AND SWISHING BACK AND FORTH IN MY REAR DOOR, HAVE TO KEEP REMOVING THE RUBBER SEAL AND DRAINING THE WATER....WILL CAUSE EROSION, POOR GAS MILEAGE DUE TO WEIGHT OF THE WATER...”
NHTSA complaint #11208952, 2019

“I WAS SITTING IN MY CAR MOTOR OFF DURING LUNCH. I HEARD A HUGE EXPLOSION LIKE A GUNSHOT AND I THOUGHT I GOT SHOT. I WAS SHOCKED AND STARTLED I RAN OUT OF THE CAR. I INSPECTED MYSELF AND I LOOKED AROUND AND I WALKED UP TO MY CAR AND NOTICED THAT MY SUNROOF WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED. I CALLED NINE-ONE-ONE A POLICE OFFICER ARRIVED AND THE POLICE OFFICER SAID THAT MY SUNROOF EXPLODED.”
NHTSA complaint #11065411, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 1

“WATER BUILD UP AND SWISHING BACK AND FORTH IN MY REAR DOOR, HAVE TO KEEP REMOVING THE RUBBER SEAL AND DRAINING THE WATER....WILL CAUSE EROSION, POOR GAS MILEAGE DUE TO WEIGHT OF THE WATER...”
NHTSA complaint #11208952, 2019

Fuel/Propulsion System 1

“I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2017 WITH 39997 MILES ON IT. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE GAS STATION THE PUMP SHUT OFF EVERY 6 CENTS. THE PLACE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE CAR WAS SOLD "AS IS' AND A WEEK HAD PASSED. I DIDN'T TAKE THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY . I REFINANCED THE VEHICLE IN 2018. SHORTLY AFTER THAT I RECEIVED I LETTER IN THE MAIL FROM NISSAN OF A WARRANTY POLICY ENHANCEMENT WHICH WAS FOR COMPLETE EVAP TUBE BLOCKAGE. READING FURTHER THE LETTER DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT MY CAR WAS DOING. SO I TAKE THE CAR TO PISCHKE MOTORS NISSAN FOR REP…”
NHTSA complaint #11185531, 2017

Steering 1

“MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME 09/21/18 WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD BROKE. THE PIECE THAT BROKE SCREWS INTO THE RACK AND HAS A BALL SWIVEL IN IT AND THEN SCREWS INTO THE ACTUAL TIE ROD END. THE PIECE AT THE BREAK LOOKS AS IF IT WAS BROKEN PART WAY THROUGH DUE TO THE METAL BEING DARKER IN THAT AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND HAD JUST COMPLETED A LEFT HAND TURN ON A RUAL BLACKTOP ROAD. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS IS A PART THAT JUST SHOULD NOT FAIL AS IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ARE MADE FROM A CHROME VANADIUM ALLOY WHICH MAKES THEM JUST ABOUT INDESTRUCTIBLE UNDER NORMAL USE AND CONDITIONS…”
NHTSA complaint #11130858, 2018

Visibility/Wiper 1

“EXPLODING SUNROOF. WHILE DRIVING (ABOUT 65 MPH) ON INTERSTATE IN HOUSTON, SUNROOF/MOONROOF EXPLODED. 6:45AM ON FRIDAY NOV 17, 2017”
NHTSA complaint #11046956, 2017