Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Sentra vs Nissan Maxima
How the Nissan Sentra 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 Sentra vs Nissan Maxima: Over 10 years, the Sentra averaged 116 complaints per year and had 25 recalls, while the Maxima averaged 49 complaints per year and had 16 recalls. The Sentra also had 99 crash-related complaints versus 34 for the Maxima. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Sentra or Nissan Maxima more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Sentra
The Nissan Sentra is a compact sedan that has averaged about 116 complaints per year over the past decade, with 25 recalls. Owners frequently report electrical glitches, transmission delays, and forward collision warnings that trigger without cause. While many issues are annoying rather than dangerous, the volume of complaints suggests a higher likelihood of needing repairs.
Nissan Maxima
The Nissan Maxima is a larger sedan with about 49 complaints per year and 16 recalls over the same period. Power train problems like stalling and jerking, along with air bag concerns, appear in owner reports. The lower complaint rate may indicate fewer problems overall, but the issues that do arise can be serious.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Sentra | Nissan Maxima |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,162 | 486 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 25 | 16 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 99 | 34 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 116.2 | 48.6 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 79 | 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 Sentra
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM259
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER226
- 03POWER TRAIN210
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE183
- 05STEERING165
Owners report static and cutouts when using Apple CarPlay, making phone calls hard to hear. Others describe early engine and electrical malfunctions at low mileage, which can leave you stranded.
A common complaint is delayed acceleration after idling, creating a safety risk when merging or pulling out. Some also mention engine and transmission problems at relatively low miles.
Drivers experience intermittent dashboard warnings and error codes that dealers struggle to fix, sometimes replacing parts without solving the issue. This can undermine trust in the safety system.
Reports include fluid leaks leaving spots on the garage floor and door locks that fail, trapping occupants inside. These defects are frustrating and can lead to costly repairs.
“I am submitting a vehicle defect complaint pursuant to 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 regarding a potential safety related defect involving engine, electrical, and powertrain systems. The vehicle experienced early engine and electrical malfunction at relatively low mi…”
“When my iPhone is connected to Apple CarPlay in my vehicle, a loud static sound occurs during phone calls, and music playing. This static causes the audio to cut in and out, making conversations unintelligible. Because of this, I am unable to safely use the h…”
Nissan Maxima
- 01POWER TRAIN95
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER88
- 03AIR BAGS75
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM63
- 05SERVICE BRAKES52
Owners describe abnormal engine noises, jerking, and stalling while driving, sometimes without warning lights. This can be dangerous if it happens in traffic.
Complaints include collision sensors that malfunction and cause the car to brake unexpectedly while reversing. In one crash, the air bag deployed so forcefully it broke the windshield and injured the driver.
Drivers report headlight system errors where the driver-side headlight flickers or goes out, reducing visibility at night. This intermittent issue can be hard to diagnose.
A panoramic sunroof lining that droops and blocks the rear view, even at low mileage, is a reported problem. Dealers may be reluctant to fix it under warranty.
“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 Sentra — 25 recalls
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 2025 Sentra vehicles. The driver's seat frame may not be fully secured to the outer side of the seat track. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 207, "Seating Systems,"…
The risk: An unsecured driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's side lower seat frame assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 1, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Sentra vehicles. The windshield glass may have visible air bubbles, which can obscure the driver's visibility. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 205, "Glazing Mat…
The risk: Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PMA58…
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…
Nissan Maxima — 16 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 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 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 Sentra or Nissan Maxima: which should you buy?
The Nissan Maxima has fewer complaints per year (about 49 vs. 116 for the Sentra) and fewer recalls (16 vs. 25). In practice, this means you are less likely to face frequent repair visits with the Maxima, though both have notable safety-related complaints.
Key differences
- The Sentra has more than double the annual complaint rate of the Maxima, with electrical and power train issues being most common.
- Maxima owners report stalling and air bag malfunctions, which are potentially more severe than the Sentra's infotainment and acceleration delays.
- The Sentra has 25 recalls versus 16 for the Maxima, covering areas like air bags, seats, and door latches.
- Both cars have forward collision or sensor complaints, but the Sentra's are more frequent and often tied to dashboard errors.
- Check for delayed acceleration when pressing the gas after idling; this is a common power train complaint.
- Test the infotainment system with Apple CarPlay for static or cutouts during calls and music.
- Listen for abnormal engine noises and feel for jerking or stalling during a test drive.
- Inspect the panoramic sunroof lining for drooping and test the headlights for flickering or errors.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic, focusing on transmission and electrical systems.
- During the test drive, accelerate from a stop to check for hesitation or delay.
- Test all electronics: infotainment, headlights, door locks, and sunroof (if equipped).
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and whether any recurring issues have been 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 Sentra | Nissan Maxima |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 20 | 1 |
| 2022 | 81 | 5 |
| 2021 | 132 | 3 |
| 2020 | 205 | 21 |
| 2019 | 222 | 18 |
| 2018 | 185 | 36 |
| 2017 | 230 | 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 Sentra or Nissan Maxima in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Sentra vs Nissan Maxima
- Nissan Sentra total complaints
- 1,162
- Nissan Maxima total complaints
- 486
- Nissan Sentra total recalls
- 25
- Nissan Maxima total recalls
- 16
- Nissan Sentra avg complaints/year
- 116.2
- Nissan Maxima avg complaints/year
- 48.6
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Maxima
- Nissan Sentra top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Nissan Maxima top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN