RoadVitals

2012 Nissan Maxima Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Mar 2, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
12%
of 107 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Nissan Maxima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Mar 2, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop immediately and started shuddering. The oil warning light, ABS, coolant temperature, and the ESP warning light were illuminated. Additionally, the driver's side window failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.

NHTSA ID
11509824
Incident
Feb 11, 2023
Mileage
122,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 24, 2022
Fire reported

The contact owned a 2012 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that after returning from lunch and parking the vehicle at work, almost three hours later he was informed by someone that the vehicle was on fire. The contact walked outside and saw the engine compartment in flames. The contact stated that the engine compartment was completely burned. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. The fire department filed a fire report. The contact stated that the security cameras showed that no one had tampered with the vehicle before the vehicle caught on fire. The contact stated he was unsure what started the fire, but the hood of the vehicle was completely melted. No one was injured. The contact stated that the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 138,000.

NHTSA ID
11490685
Incident
Oct 13, 2022
Mileage
138,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 9, 2022

On June 9, 2022 @8:50am I was driving my Nissan Maxima to work and as I was at the stop light waiting to go through the intersection, the car shut off completely cutting off all power. I have push button and no electric was working. My jumper cables were in the trunk but I could not access them because the trunk would not operate without power. Without power my hazards did not even work so I could not let traffic flow know that I was in distress. My car almost was hit 3 separate times because of a faulty part or system built by Nissan needs to get their stuff together and quit putting people in danger. I’m scared to drive it now because it could shut off as I am in the act of driving and that could be catastrophic not only for me but for other innocent people. I will be contacting Nissan and they will be fixing this properly! The car was finally jump started and I was able to drive the rest of the way to work. Let’s see if it starts when I have to leave work? So not cool.

NHTSA ID
11468421
Incident
Jun 9, 2022
Engine
Filed Oct 17, 2021

Transmission problems.

NHTSA ID
11437039
Incident
Sep 27, 2021
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 24, 2020

I HAD AN A.C. COMPRESSOR ISSUE 3 YEARS AGO AND HAD IT REPLACED BY TROPHY NISSAN MESQUITE,TEXAS IN 2017. NOW 3 YEARS LATER MAY OF 2020 MY COMPRESSOR HAS LOCKED UP AGAIN. IT WAS WORKING FINE UNTIL A WEEK AGO WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK IT WAS GREAT BUT AFTER MY SHIFT WAS DONE AND I CAME OUT TO GO HOME MY A.C.COMPRESSOR WASN'T WORKING.SO I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WERE ANY NISSAN RECALLS WITH A.C. COMPRESSOR ISSUES ON MY MAXIMA. *TR

NHTSA ID
11325719
Incident
May 11, 2020
Mileage
179,000 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Jun 2, 2019

THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED COOLING WHILE DRIVING. THE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR.(THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE) AAMCO SAID THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL NISSAN ALTIMAS AND MAXIMAS COME IN WITH A BAD COMPRESSOR AND BRAKES. I KNOW AT LEAST FOUR OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY DRIVE ALTIMAS AND MAXIMAS AS WELL.

NHTSA ID
11217322
Incident
Jan 2, 2019
Mileage
100,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 19, 2018

EVERYTIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE THEY'RE A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE IT REACHES 35 MPH. ALSO WHEN I START THE CAR THEY'RE A DIFFERENT IDLING NOISE, I'M NOT SURE HOW IF IT'S THE EXHAUST SYSTEM OR IF THEY'RE A LOOSE BOLT THAT'S CAUSING THIS. WHEN TO NISSAN NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY COULDN'T FIX THE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID
11073546
Incident
Dec 25, 2013
Engine
Filed Feb 16, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TWO OF THE MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10836448
Incident
Dec 16, 2015
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jan 9, 2015

RELEASED BRAKE, STARTED ROLLING FORWARD TO CROSS TRAFFIC, STEP ON ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. NO ENGINE REV OR ANYTHING. PUMPED ACCELERATOR MANY TIMES AND FINALLY ENGINE ENGAGED. NEARLY CAUSING PASSENGER SIDE TO BE HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH BOTH MY WIFE AND MYSELF DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10671314
Incident
May 6, 2014
Mileage
29,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 8, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

NHTSA ID
10643383
Incident
Jul 15, 2014
Mileage
33,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Mar 11, 2014

WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA, I WAS SLOWING TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY STALLED DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO PUSH THE BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. AFTER STOPPING, I RESTARTED THE CAR, AND WAS WITHOUT POWER STEERING AFTER THAT. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, OTHERS REPORTING THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS CRASHES OR WORSE. MY CAR IS OUTSIDE OF NISSAN'S FACTORY WARRANTY, BUT GIVEN THE CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD WITH 43K MILES, IT SEEMS IT IS STILL FAR TO NEW TO BE HAVING A PROBLEM SUCH AS THIS. BASED ON THE COMMENTS ONLINE, IT WOULD BE IN NISSAN'S AND THE PUBLIC'S BEST INTEREST FOR NISSAN TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING MECHANISMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568553
Incident
Mar 8, 2014
Mileage
42,950 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 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 RUNNING ON THE SHOULDER BECAUSE I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY CALLED PULEIOS TOW TRUCK OF NORTH BRUNSWICK NJ WHICH WAS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE THEY TOWED ME OFF THE TURNPIKE I HAD TO PAY $150 OUT OF POCKET FOR THIRD PARTY TOWING THAT I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF NO CONTROL OF AND NO MONEY! NISSAN ROADSIDE SUPERVISOR[XXX]TOLD ME "THAT'S YOUR BILL TO PAY AND SOON AS YOU PAY WE WILL DISPATCH OUR TOW TUCK TO TAKE YOU TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP. WHERE I HAD THE CAR SERVICED." AFTER THE MONEY WAS PAID I STILL HAD TO WAIT ANOTHER 2 1/2HR. AFTER BEING STRANDED FROM QUARTER TO 9AM. JUST HEARTLESS FOR A CUSTOMER WHO WAS ALMOST KILLED ON THE NJ TURNPIKE ALL FROM THERE MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE BATTERY WHICH EXPLODED AND BLEW TWO BIG HOLES IN THE ENGINE. DIAGNOSTIC DONE BY NORTH PLAINFIELD NJ...MY ENGINE IS COMPLETELY BLOWN AND THE CAR IS ONLY 14 MONTHS OLD. NOW HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10549026
Incident
Oct 21, 2013
Mileage
31,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 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.

NHTSA ID
10432916
Incident
Oct 17, 2011
Mileage
10,245 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .