Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Maxima vs Toyota Camry
How the Nissan Maxima and Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry: The Maxima averages about 49 complaints per year with 16 recalls, while the Camry averages about 206 complaints per year with 31 recalls. Both have reported power train and brake issues, but the Maxima has fewer annual complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Maxima or Toyota Camry 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. Owners most often report power train problems like stalling, jerking, and gear shifter failures, plus air bag and electrical issues. The complaint pattern suggests that while the Maxima may be comfortable, some owners face unexpected breakdowns and safety-system concerns.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 206 per year—but it also sells in far greater numbers. The most common complaints involve power train hesitation, engine shuddering, and brake noises, along with complex electronic malfunctions. Despite the higher counts, the Camry's issues are often reported as intermittent and may be addressed by dealers.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Maxima | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 488 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 35 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 48.8 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 32 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
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 stalling, jerking, and sudden acceleration, as well as gear shifters that fail to engage Park. These issues can leave a driver stranded or cause a crash, so a thorough test drive and transmission check are critical.
Some complaints describe air bags not deploying in crashes, and collision sensors that trigger unintended braking. This matters because air bag failures can increase injury risk in a collision.
Drivers note intermittent instrument panel dimming and stalling with no warning lights. Electrical gremlins can be hard to diagnose and may lead to expensive repairs.
There are reports of brake issues, though fewer details are provided in the sample. Any brake problem is a safety concern, so have the braking system inspected by a mechanic.
“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…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners describe ignition keys that get stuck, hesitation, and shuddering with the check engine light on. These symptoms can indicate transmission or engine management problems that may be costly to fix.
Complaints include delayed throttle response and shuddering, sometimes diagnosed as engine issues. A delayed response when accelerating could be a safety risk in traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, and some owners hear clicking or vibrating from the ABS system. Brake problems can affect vehicle control and may require dealer attention.
Multiple systems—stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring—can malfunction at once. Such widespread electrical faults can be distracting and expensive to repair.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
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…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Nissan Maxima or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Nissan Maxima has far fewer complaints per year (about 49) than the Toyota Camry (about 206), but the Camry's higher volume reflects its much larger sales. In practice, the Maxima's lower complaint rate may mean fewer individual owners report problems, but the Camry's issues are often less severe and more likely to be covered by recalls or dealer fixes.
Key differences
- The Maxima has about 49 complaints per year versus about 206 for the Camry, but the Camry sells in much higher numbers, so per-vehicle rates may be closer.
- Maxima owners frequently report stalling and gear shifter failures, while Camry owners more often report hesitation, shuddering, and stuck ignition keys.
- Air bag non-deployment is a specific concern in Maxima complaints, whereas Camry complaints include electronic parking brake failures and ABS noise.
- The Camry has more recalls (31 vs 16), which can mean more free fixes but also more visits to the dealer.
- During a test drive, listen for abnormal engine sounds and check for any jerking or stalling when accelerating or shifting gears.
- Ask if the air bag system has been inspected or repaired, and verify that no open recalls remain for the air bags or collision sensors.
- Test the ignition key removal and ensure it does not stick when the car is in Park; also check for hesitation or shuddering during acceleration.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area and confirm the electronic parking brake engages and disengages properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the transmission, engine, brakes, and electrical systems.
- During the test drive, pay attention to any hesitation, shuddering, unusual noises, or warning lights.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and brake service.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been completed, and if not, factor in the time and cost to have them addressed.
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 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 64 |
| 2022 | 5 | 61 |
| 2021 | 3 | 157 |
| 2020 | 22 | 274 |
| 2019 | 18 | 395 |
| 2018 | 36 | 744 |
| 2017 | 103 | 148 |
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Maxima vs Toyota Camry
- Nissan Maxima total complaints
- 488
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Nissan Maxima total recalls
- 16
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Nissan Maxima avg complaints/year
- 48.8
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Maxima
- Nissan Maxima top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN