Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Altima vs Nissan Maxima
How the Nissan Altima and Nissan Maxima compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Nissan Altima vs Nissan Maxima: The Altima has 1181 complaints over 10 years, while the Maxima has 486. The Altima shows more electrical and powertrain issues, including stalling and gear shifter detachment. The Maxima has air bag and brake concerns. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Altima or Nissan Maxima more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima, a midsize sedan, shows a high volume of owner complaints over the past decade, averaging over 118 per year. The most common issues involve the electrical system, powertrain, and engine, with reports of sudden stalling, dashboard warning lights, and even a vehicle veering into a median. Owners also report transmission problems, such as the gear shifter detaching, and brake issues. This pattern suggests that while the Altima may be affordable, it carries a significant risk of unexpected and potentially dangerous failures.
Nissan Maxima
The Nissan Maxima, a larger sedan, has fewer complaints per year (about 49), but still shows notable issues. The top problem areas are the powertrain, air bags, and electrical system. Owners report abnormal engine noises, stalling, and a collision sensor that causes unintended braking. Air bag deployment at low speed caused injury, and there are electrical gremlins like headlight flickering. While less frequent than the Altima, these issues are serious and could affect safety and reliability.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Altima | Nissan Maxima |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,181 | 486 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 | 16 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 96 | 34 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 118.1 | 48.6 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 73 | 30 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 0 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Nissan Altima
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER237
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM206
- 03POWER TRAIN193
- 04ENGINE157
- 05SERVICE BRAKES148
Owners report sudden stalling while driving, often accompanied by all dashboard lights coming on, and in some cases the car dies in a parking lot. This can happen at highway speeds, creating a dangerous situation.
The gear shifter can detach from its housing, leaving the car stuck in Drive and unable to shift to Park or Reverse. Also, the car may turn off and on while driving, and the engine may rev high on startup with hard shifts.
The engine can stall without warning, even in cold weather, and may fail to restart. This is often linked to electrical issues, as the dashboard lights up with warnings.
Brake-related complaints are common, though specific details are not provided in the sample. Owners likely experience issues with braking performance or warning lights.
“I was driving to work. As I was doing so multiple lights came on my dashboard and it started dinging. At the same time my car immediately shot left so hard into the concrete median barrier at 70 mph. It all happened so fast I was not able to see what lights c…”
“I took my car into the dealer to ask a question. Upon arriving I tried to open the drivers door after I turned the ignition off to exit the car and the drivers door would not open. The service man tried to open it from the outside with the same results. Final…”
Nissan Maxima
- 01POWER TRAIN95
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER88
- 03AIR BAGS75
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM63
- 05SERVICE BRAKES52
Owners report abnormal engine noises, jerking, and stalling at speed, which can be alarming and dangerous. The cause is not always indicated by warning lights.
The collision sensor system can malfunction, causing the vehicle to brake on its own while reversing. In a low-speed crash, the air bag deployed with excessive force, breaking the windshield and injuring the driver.
Headlight errors cause the driver's side headlight to intermittently turn off and on, reducing visibility at night. This can be a safety hazard.
Brake-related complaints are present, but specific details are not given. Owners may experience issues with braking performance or the antilock system.
“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle jerked before stalling in the middle of the road. No warning lights were illuminated. The Police were calle…”
“I purchased my 2019 Nissan Maxima [XXX] from Hyundai of Pineville I'm Charlotte NC. Over the past months including after purchase which I made Hyundai aware. The vehicle has an ongoing noise coming from I side the front hood of the vehicle. It sounds as of a…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Nissan Altima — 22 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima, Sentra, 2025-2026 Frontier, and 2026 Kicks vehicles. The door strikers may have been improperly welded and break, allowing the door to open while moving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Mot…
The risk: A door that opens unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion increases the risk of injury or a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the door strikers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD185 and PMA61. Vehicle Iden…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Altima vehicles. The bolts connecting the electronic power steering unit to the steering rack may loosen, resulting in a loss of steering control or steering lock-up.
The risk: A loss of steering control or steering lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC997.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand…
The risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge.…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand…
The risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge.…
Nissan Maxima — 16 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima, Maxima and Leaf vehicles. The rear window glass may not remain properly secured to the vehicle.
The risk: Rear window glass that separates from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the back window glass, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC752.
The 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. Additio…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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-…
The 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. Additio…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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-…
The 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-60…
The risk: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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 s…
Buyer analysis
Nissan Altima or Nissan Maxima: which should you buy?
The Nissan Maxima has fewer complaints per year (48.6) compared to the Altima (118.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, both vehicles have serious safety-related complaints, so buyers should be cautious and thoroughly inspect any used model.
Key differences
- The Altima has more than double the complaints per year than the Maxima, with electrical and powertrain issues being more prevalent.
- The Altima has reports of the gear shifter detaching and the car veering into a median, while the Maxima has reports of air bag over-deployment and unintended braking.
- The Maxima has a recall for brake hydraulic issues, while the Altima has recalls for door latches and steering rack, among others.
- Both have recalls for backup camera issues, but the Altima also has a tire recall.
- Inspect the transmission and gear shifter for any looseness or signs of detachment.
- Check for any electrical gremlins by testing all dashboard lights and ensuring the car doesn't stall during a test drive.
- Test the collision sensor system by reversing slowly to ensure it doesn't brake unexpectedly.
- Check the headlights for intermittent operation and ensure the air bag system has no warning lights.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission and engine for any unusual noises or jerking.
- Test all electrical features, including lights, dashboard, and infotainment, for proper function.
- During a test drive, simulate emergency braking and check for any unintended braking or stalling.
- Check the condition of the sunroof lining on the Maxima, as it can droop and block the view.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Nissan Altima | Nissan Maxima |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 29 | 1 |
| 2022 | 20 | 5 |
| 2021 | 69 | 3 |
| 2020 | 177 | 21 |
| 2019 | 226 | 18 |
| 2018 | 223 | 36 |
| 2017 | 390 | 103 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Nissan Altima or Nissan Maxima in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Altima vs Nissan Maxima
- Nissan Altima total complaints
- 1,181
- Nissan Maxima total complaints
- 486
- Nissan Altima total recalls
- 22
- Nissan Maxima total recalls
- 16
- Nissan Altima avg complaints/year
- 118.1
- Nissan Maxima avg complaints/year
- 48.6
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Maxima
- Nissan Altima top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Nissan Maxima top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN