Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Maxima vs Nissan Pathfinder
How the Nissan Maxima and Nissan Pathfinder compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Nissan Maxima vs Nissan Pathfinder: The Maxima has 18.5 complaints per year and 8 recalls, with brake failure and air bag non-deployment risks. The Pathfinder has 16.7 complaints per year and 3 recalls, with premature brake wear and camera failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Maxima or Nissan Pathfinder more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Maxima
The Nissan Maxima, a full-size sedan, shows a higher complaint rate at 18.5 per year over 10 years, with 8 recalls. Owners report issues like a drooping panoramic sunroof lining, rear noises, and brake failure where the pedal goes to the floor. The pattern suggests potential concerns with build quality and brake reliability.
Nissan Pathfinder
The Nissan Pathfinder, a midsize SUV, has a slightly lower complaint rate of 16.7 per year and only 3 recalls. Common complaints include premature rear brake wear, a failed Around View Monitor camera system, and engine-related issues like fuel pump replacement. The data points to recurring problems with brakes and electronics.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Maxima | Nissan Pathfinder |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 185 | 167 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 | 3 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 13 | 8 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 18.5 | 16.7 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 13 | 3 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 Maxima
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER43
- 02STRUCTURE27
- 03SERVICE BRAKES24
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21
- 05AIR BAGS21
Owners report a panoramic sunroof lining that droops and hangs, blocking the view, and a rear noise that dealerships often refuse to fix. These issues can be frustrating and costly to address.
Complaints include a rear noise and a crash where air bags failed to deploy, causing the driver's face to hit the steering wheel. This raises concerns about structural integrity and safety system reliability.
Owners describe the brake pedal going to the floor without stopping the vehicle, and smoke from under the hood. Brake failure is a critical safety risk that demands immediate attention.
The headlight system intermittently fails, with the driver-side light turning off and on, and the instrument panel dims randomly. These electrical gremlins can affect visibility and driving confidence.
“On February 10, 2023 I purchased a 2022 Nissan Maxima with a little over 19,000 miles on it. Which has a warranty for up to 104,000 miles. Currently at a little over 25,000 miles. Maybe a week later I noticed a noise coming from the rear, so I informed the Fi…”
“Panoramic sunroof lining started to droop and hang on the back portion of the panoramic roof blocking my view before the car reached 2,000 miles. Dealership refuses to fix stating they would have a Nissan representative look at it and make the repair stating…”
Nissan Pathfinder
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER45
- 02SERVICE BRAKES32
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM30
- 04ENGINE28
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM22
The Around View Monitor (backup camera) fails due to a defective control unit, and the panoramic sunroof drains leak water into the cabin. Both issues are common and expensive to repair.
Premature rear brake pad and rotor wear occurs as early as 16,000 miles, far below the expected 30-70k miles. This suggests a design or control issue that leads to frequent brake replacements.
The AVM system failure is echoed here, along with a forward detection sensor problem that required replacement. Electrical faults can disable safety features like cruise control.
The fuel pump was replaced, and intelligent cruise control turned off unexpectedly while driving. Engine and drivetrain issues can cause loss of power or unexpected behavior.
“The Around View Monitor (AVM) system failed. The rear backup camera image no longer functions properly due to a failed AVM control unit. The vehicle is a 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum equipped with Nissan’s camera-based surround view and backup camera syste…”
“Vehicle Year: 2023 Make: Nissan Model: Pathfinder Platinum 4WD VIN: [XXX] Mileage: 24,500 Date First Noticed: October 8, 2025 Problem: The panoramic sunroof drain system is defective, causing water to leak into the cabin during rain, dripping from the driver-…”
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 Maxima — 8 recalls
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…
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.
Nissan Pathfinder — 3 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Murano, Pathfinder, and INFINITI QX60 vehicles. One or both front brake caliper assemblies may have reduced strength and could break. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard n…
The risk: A broken front brake caliper can cause a loss of front brake function, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front brake caliper assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 9, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or INFINITI's customer servi…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improper…
The risk: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD10…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The lap belt pretensioner in the left-side front seat belt assembly may be improperly secured, due to a missing rivet. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor V…
The risk: An unsecured lap belt pretensioner will not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the left-side front lap seat belt pretensioner assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. O…
Buyer analysis
Nissan Maxima or Nissan Pathfinder: which should you buy?
The Nissan Pathfinder has fewer complaints per year (16.7 vs 18.5) and fewer recalls (3 vs 8), suggesting slightly better reliability. However, both vehicles have notable issues: the Maxima's brake failure and air bag non-deployment are more severe, while the Pathfinder's premature brake wear and camera failures are common nuisances.
Key differences
- Maxima has more complaints per year (18.5) than Pathfinder (16.7) and more recalls (8 vs 3).
- Maxima owners report brake pedal going to the floor and air bag non-deployment; Pathfinder owners report premature brake wear and camera failures.
- Pathfinder has engine and fuel system complaints (fuel pump replacement); Maxima has structure and unknown/other issues like sunroof drooping.
- Both have electrical problems, but Maxima's headlight and instrument panel dimming differ from Pathfinder's AVM and sensor failures.
- Inspect the panoramic sunroof lining for drooping and check for any rear noises that may indicate structural issues.
- Test the brakes thoroughly at various speeds to ensure the pedal doesn't sink to the floor.
- Check the rear brake pad thickness and rotor condition; premature wear is common.
- Test the Around View Monitor and backup camera for proper function, and look for water stains from sunroof drains.
Before you buy
- Check NHTSA recall status for both vehicles using the VIN.
- Test drive and brake firmly from 40 mph to feel for pedal fade or sinking.
- Inspect the sunroof operation and lining on the Maxima; check sunroof drains on the Pathfinder.
- Verify all camera views (backup, surround) work on the Pathfinder.
- Ask for service records, especially brake replacements on the Pathfinder and any electrical repairs on the Maxima.
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 Maxima | Nissan Pathfinder |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 | 94 |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020 | 21 | 0 |
| 2019 | 18 | 73 |
| 2018 | 36 | 0 |
| 2017 | 101 | 0 |
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 Maxima or Nissan Pathfinder in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Maxima vs Nissan Pathfinder
- Nissan Maxima total complaints
- 185
- Nissan Pathfinder total complaints
- 167
- Nissan Maxima total recalls
- 8
- Nissan Pathfinder total recalls
- 3
- Nissan Maxima avg complaints/year
- 18.5
- Nissan Pathfinder avg complaints/year
- 16.7
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Pathfinder
- Nissan Maxima top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Nissan Pathfinder top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER