Everything You Need To Know Before Buying A Nissan Maxima

Aug 20, 2023

The luxurious and powerful Nissan Maxima has been in production for over 40 years, but the sedan does have some issues you need to be aware of.

The Nissan Maxima is historically one of the company's most popular models. It survived the transition from the Datsun brand change and has been a household name to millions around the world. The name "Maxima" implies luxury and power, and this full-sized sedan has lived up to it. It's known for its powerful engine, great performance, and a captivating exterior design.

The Maxima model technically came out in 1981 as the Datsun Maxima. It was the official successor for the Datsun 810 and dubbed as the 810 Maxima in the United States. It held the Datsun name until the brand phased out and became replaced by Nissan completely in 1985. Smyrna, Tennessee was home to the first assembly line built in the United States and where it began production of the 2004 models. Every unit manufactured before then was an import from Oppama, Japan.

The Maxima marketing strategy was to be a more luxurious version of the Nissan Altima. The two cars shared a ton of similarities, but the Maxima was almost like a big brother. It came stocked with a bigger motor, more horsepower, and all around more options.

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Related: Here's Why We Love The 2022 Nissan Maxima

In total, there were eight generations of the Maxima. The first model made an appearance in 1981 and the final model will appear in 2023. Nissan has released an official statement about phasing out the model completely. When the last unit rolls off the assembly line, it will be the end of a 42-year-long streak. The company said the reason for this change was to use more of their time and resources on their line of electric cars. Maxima fans do have some hope for the future, as Nissan has hinted that the current decision to discontinue the Maxima does not mean the Maxima nameplate won't be making a return.

The Maxima has a long history of bridging the gap between performance and function. It's a car that can hold its own at the drag strip, then pick up the kids from school afterward. Since its creation, it has been a reliable option for a used car. The ones that aren't necessarily in good shape still make for fun project cars.

Related: 10 Nissans That Make Great Project Cars

Every vehicle is bound to have something that results in a breakdown on the road, even the ones known for their reliability. The Maxima is no exception. During the four decades it has been in production, it has run into its fair share of problems. Some issues are worse than others, but any mechanical failure that repeats itself can become rather problematic.

The most concerning issue customers have faced with the Maxima is transmission failure. This issue occurred the most in models made between 2004 and 2006. The transmission would begin to fail close to the 100k mark. Customers complained that their car would jerk when it shifted. They also reported a rough transition between gears, engine stalling, and sluggish acceleration. All of these symptoms would lead to a total failure of the transmission. When the final failure happened, there was no warranty to protect the customer. When contacted about the issue, Nissan would only advise that a total transmission replacement would fix it. On average, this would cost their customers up to $3,000 dollars at the time. This makes it the most costly issue the Maxima had.

Certain year models also had a common problem with faulty brakes. This is particularly concerning due to how dangerous this can be. In 2015, many units had recalls for their brake systems not being improperly installed. After 100k miles, they would detach from the vehicle unexpectedly. The systems were also not filled with the right amount of brake fluid on the assembly line, which caused longer stopping distances.

One of the longest running issues Nissan had trouble with was ignition coil failure. This affected cars made in 1995 all the way to 2009. Some customers reported to have this problem at only 50k miles, but it was more prevalent at 130k. One ignition coil would become defected, and it would start to damage the other coils as well. Like most issues, it is better to fix this as soon as possible to keep the cost of repair from getting any higher.

There are other issues that are less common and less expensive to fix. As time went on, some cars would develop oil leaks. Units made between 1995 and 2013 were prone to power steering pump leaks after 130k miles. In some cases, fluid would drip onto other components of the car and impact the overall performance. It would dominantly influence the control arm bushings and cause them to rapidly deteriorate and fail. Other common issues included trouble with the air conditioning systems, electronic steering column locks, and faulty wiring in the front seat harness.

The Maxima has seen its fair share of ups and downs. Some models come with red flags, while others would make a great addition to the garage. The biggest year models to avoid are in the 2004-2006 range due to transmission failure. Any model made between 1995 and 2013 is bound to have mechanical problems as well. For those who love the sporty appeal of the Maxima, the models made from 2009 to 2014 are not ideal. During that time, Nissan didn't do a good job of capturing the four-door sports car feel. They let the Maxima slip into a more comfortable and boring sedan aesthetic.

The current and final generation of the Maxima stand at the top of the list. They have received awards every year for their safety features since 2016. Buyers looking for an older, reliable car could consider the 2004 to 2006 models, as long as they don't have the troublesome CVT in them. The manual transmissions for those years had fewer issues and created an engaging experience for the driver.

Nathan started writing for HotCars in 2022. Growing up in Alabama, he has always had a passion for cars that lead him to work in several fields in the Automotive Industry. He left his last job manufacturing trash trucks to pursue a career as a writer.