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: Over 10 years, the Maxima averaged 48.8 complaints per year and the Pathfinder 77.4, with both having 16 recalls and 0 deaths. The Maxima reported 35 crash-related complaints and 32 injuries; the Pathfinder reported 27 crash-related complaints and 22 injuries. 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 is a large sedan that averages about 49 complaints per year over the past decade, with 16 recalls and no reported deaths. Owner complaints cluster around the power train, air bags, and electrical system, often describing stalling, shifter problems, and air bags that fail to deploy. The pattern suggests a car that can be pleasant to drive but may demand attention to transmission, electrical, and safety-system issues as it ages.
Nissan Pathfinder
The Nissan Pathfinder is a three-row SUV that averages about 77 complaints per year, with 16 recalls and no reported deaths. Complaints concentrate on the engine, brakes, electrical system, and power train, with reports of stalling, brake-system warnings, and sunroof shattering. The higher complaint rate and engine/brake focus mean a used Pathfinder deserves a thorough mechanical and safety check.
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 | 488 Better | 774 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 | 16 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 35 | 27 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 48.8 Better | 77.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 32 | 22 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
- 01POWER TRAIN97
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER88
- 03AIR BAGS75
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM63
- 05SERVICE BRAKES53
Owners report abnormal engine sounds, jerking, and stalling while driving, sometimes with no warning lights. Another complaint describes the gear shifter failing to shift into park and the vehicle suddenly accelerating. These issues matter because they can leave a driver stranded or cause a loss of control.
Complaints include air bags not deploying in a crash, as well as a collision sensor that caused the vehicle to brake on its own while reversing. Non-deployment can increase injury risk, and unintended braking can surprise a driver in tight spaces.
Owners describe the instrument panel dimming intermittently and stalling with no warning lights. Electrical gremlins like these are hard to diagnose and can affect basic visibility and reliability.
Brake-related complaints appear among the top categories, and recalls cover antilock/traction control issues. Buyers should test the brakes carefully and check for any warning lights.
“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…”
“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while her husband was attempting to park and turn off the vehicle, the gear shifter failed to shift into park, the STOP button failed to respond, and the vehicle suddenly accelerated, crashed into…”
Nissan Pathfinder
- 01ENGINE186
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER176
- 03SERVICE BRAKES142
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM128
- 05POWER TRAIN110
Owners report a lean-running condition, failed emissions tests because the oxygen sensor monitor will not set, and stalling in traffic. These problems can prevent passing emissions, cause sudden loss of power, and lead to expensive diagnostics.
Complaints describe repeated ABS, traction control, and forward collision warning lights, even after brake system repairs. A recall covers brake caliper issues. Brake and driver-assist faults matter because they affect stopping and collision avoidance.
Owners report doors locking inadvertently with the key fob inside, and the car stalling and dying in active traffic. Electrical failures like these can trap occupants or create dangerous breakdowns.
Complaints include jerking, shuddering, and shaking while accelerating, followed by sudden loss of acceleration and braking. This pattern points to transmission or drivetrain problems that can be costly and unsafe.
“On April 7, 2025, the dealership attempted to sell me a vehicle that was experiencing an engine condition running too lean. I declined that vehicle due to safety concerns. On April 8, 2025, the salesperson contacted me again and stated that a different vehicl…”
“I own a 2020 Nissan Pathfinder with approximately 55,000 miles. The vehicle repeatedly failed Indiana emissions testing because the oxygen sensor monitor would not set to “ready,” despite multiple complete drive cycles and no check‑engine light or stored faul…”
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 — 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…
Nissan Pathfinder — 16 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 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…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 Pathfinder vehicles. Insufficient welds may allow the secondary hood latch retainer bracket to detach from the front bumper assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard n…
The risk: A detached secondary hood latch may allow the hood to open if the primary hood latch is not engaged, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the secondary hood latch bracket as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 17, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for thi…
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-…
Buyer analysis
Nissan Maxima or Nissan Pathfinder: which should you buy?
The Nissan Maxima has fewer issues per year, about 49 complaints annually versus about 77 for the Pathfinder. In practice, that means a used Maxima may have a lower rate of reported problems, but both vehicles have serious safety-related complaints and recalls. The Pathfinder's higher complaint volume and engine/brake focus suggest it needs more careful inspection.
Key differences
- The Pathfinder has about 77 complaints per year versus about 49 for the Maxima, so the Maxima has a lower reported complaint rate.
- Maxima complaints often involve power train stalling, shifter failure, and air bag non-deployment, while Pathfinder complaints more often involve engine lean conditions, emissions failures, and brake-system warnings.
- Both have 16 recalls, but the Pathfinder's recalls include brake caliper, seat belt pretensioner, and hood latch issues, while the Maxima's include glass, camera, and antilock brake issues.
- The Pathfinder reports more crash-related complaints (27) than the Maxima (35), but the Maxima has more reported injuries (32) than the Pathfinder (22).
- During a test drive, listen for abnormal engine sounds and feel for jerking or stalling, especially at low speeds or when shifting into park.
- Check that the instrument panel lights up consistently and that no air bag or brake warning lights stay on after starting.
- Ask for emissions test results and scan for oxygen sensor monitor readiness, since owners report repeated failures without a check-engine light.
- Test the brakes and driver-assist features for warning lights, and check for any history of ABS or forward collision repairs.
Before you buy
- Run a vehicle identification number (VIN) check for open recalls on both models and confirm they were fixed.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds, stop-and-go traffic, and parking maneuvers to feel for stalling, jerking, or brake issues.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the transmission, engine, brakes, and electrical system, and scan for stored fault codes.
- For the Pathfinder, specifically ask for emissions readiness and oxygen sensor monitor status; for the Maxima, check air bag and instrument panel operation.
- Review the owner's complaint history on NHTSA for the exact model year you are considering, as patterns can vary by year.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 104 |
| 2022 | 5 | 135 |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020 | 22 | 53 |
| 2019 | 18 | 76 |
| 2018 | 36 | 77 |
| 2017 | 103 | 186 |
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
- 488
- Nissan Pathfinder total complaints
- 774
- Nissan Maxima total recalls
- 16
- Nissan Pathfinder total recalls
- 16
- Nissan Maxima avg complaints/year
- 48.8
- Nissan Pathfinder avg complaints/year
- 77.4
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Maxima
- Nissan Maxima top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Nissan Pathfinder top complaint area
- ENGINE