2018 Nissan Maxima
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Brakes
Brakes leads by volume: 10 of 36 complaints (28%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 103 in 2017 to 36 in 2018.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | vs. 2018 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,100 | 3,100 | 3,100 | 3,250 | 3,250 | |
| Combined MPG | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22 / 30 | 21 / 30 | 21 / 30 | 20 / 30 | 20 / 30 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 363 | 366 | 364 | 378 | 378 | |
| Complaints filed | 142 | 103 | 36 | 18 | 21 | |
| Recalls issued | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 12 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2018 Nissan Maxima have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2018 Nissan Maxima?
Brakes: 10 of 36 NHTSA complaints (28%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Nissan Maxima get?
EPA rates it 25 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Nissan Maxima?
EPA estimates $3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (1)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AV-S7) | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 21 mpg | 30 mpg | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 364 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP · Campaign 19V807000 · Nov 12, 2019
Defect: 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.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · Campaign 19V654000 · Sep 13, 2019
Defect: 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.