2011 NISSAN MAXIMA Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Nissan Maxima. This model year has 106 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Airbag Malfunctions.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2011 Nissan Maxima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Airbag Malfunctions
Transmission / Drivetrain
Uncategorized Issues
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Nissan Maxima. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag Malfunctions | 23 | 3 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 22 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 14 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 14 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 12 | 2 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 9 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Nissan Maxima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 106 most recent complaints
My steering failed completely while driving, making it nearly impossible to turn.
Airbag warning came on. I took to dealership for diagnostic. There was malfunction with the passenger airbag. Seat coushin needed to be replaced so the “normal” wear and tear airbag would no longer be an issue. Nissan stated this is not a safety concern and all expenses were out …
The transmission is slipping it’s a cvt and they’re known for being the worst transmissions. I was entering the highway on a on ramp and I could no longer accelerate past 55 I was near flooring it and you can hear the engine working but the rpm’s are all over the odometer going f…
We are the original owners of a 2011 Nissan Maxima. The dashboard material is deteriorating, creating a sticky and shiny patch across the base of the windshield which is distracting and highly reflective creating glare from the sun and bright lights impeding the ability to safely…
Cvt transmission jerking , engine is always idling hard sometimes wants to even shut off , accelerating sometimes takes a lil while to respond , rack and pinion assembly faulty I would like for nissan to fix my car or get a lump sum check for all faulty errors these cars have
Dashboard is melting which is making it extremely sticky but the worst part is that it is causing a visibility issues while driving. The glare is really bad.
Hi I bought car Nissan maxima 2011 transmission not working well when I driving I stopped at the traffic after that car does not move forward
Passenger seat airbag sensor has failed
My dashboard has been melted for some time now and it’s a safety hazard. When I drive at night, the light reflects on the dashboard and it makes it difficult to see, which is very dangerous with my kids in the car. I thought I could clean the dashboard but it’s very sticky. Appar…
Transmission failed on my vehicle at 40,000 miles while I was in the middle of traffic. My car stopped accelerating without warning and I nearly got into an accident
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTING. COASTAL NISSAN (8519 OCEAN HWY, PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC 29585) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF TH…
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING, BECOMING STICKY AND EMITTING TERRIBLE ODOR; SURELY THAT IS PROBABLY HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH AS IT IS A SICKENING SMELL. WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED AS IT IS AN ODOR THAT IN UNBEARABLE FOR DRIVING LONG DISTANCE.
ON THE NIGHT OF FEBRUARY 16, MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA WHEN SHE CAME TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, SHE MOVED HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD NOT MOVE. SHE APPLIED HER …
MY CAR IS VERY RELIABLE UNTIL NOW WITH ONLY 105,000 MILES? MY PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT SEPTEMBER 2020 WHEN I STARTED TO HEAR MY CAR MAKE A ROUGH SOUND SUDDENLY, LIKE A WINDING NOISE WHEN I ACCELERATE AND WHEN I LET OFF THE GAS AS WELL. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL I TOOK IT TO A …
MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 113,500 MILES AND STARTED LOSING POWER AND COASTING, THE SPEED WOULD FLUCTUATE AND SOMETHING SOUNDS LOOSE IN THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO LITHIA NISSAN IN FRESNO CA ON BLACKSTONE AND THEY TOLD ME THE CVT BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED THEREBY CAUSING THE CAR TO NEED …
THIS IS MY THIRD NISSAN MAXIMA AND THEY ALL HAD THE SAME IDSUE WITH THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. SET OFF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND MAKES CAR HESITATE WHEN ACCERLERATING. MY MOM OWNS A 2013 MAXIMA 45000 MILES AND HAS THE SAME ISSUE WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.
IT'S HOT IN FLORIDA AND MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING
I NOTICED THE CAMERA NOT WORKING WHEN I WAS BACKING INTO MY GARAGE AFTER WORK. THEN AGAIN THE NEXT DAY WHEN I WAS BACKING INTO MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK. IT COMES AND GO NOW. I'M NOT SURE WHY IT STARTED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LANDERA NISSAN DEALER, LOCATED AT: 371 E. GOODMAN RD, SOUTH HAVEN, MS 38671 WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS RE…
THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT SENSOR FAILED, I WAS IN A AUTO ACCIDENT THAT REQUIRED MY FRONT BUMPER, AC CONDESOR AND RADIATOR TO BR REPLACED. AFTER GETTING IT FIXED I NOTICED MY SEATBELT LIGHT WAS BLINKING, I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WOULD GO AWAY. I GOT IT SCANNED TURNS OUT THE PASSENGER OCCUP…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2011 Nissan Maxima.
Recalls for 2011 Nissan Maxima
0 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2011 Nissan Maxima. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
No recall campaigns found for this model year in the current data. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls directly for the latest information.
2011 Nissan Maxima — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2011 Nissan Maxima reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2011 Nissan Maxima has 106 NHTSA owner complaints, 5 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Airbag Malfunctions (23 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Nissan Maxima?▾
#1: Airbag Malfunctions (23 complaints). #2: Transmission / Drivetrain (22 complaints). #3: Uncategorized Issues (14 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 Nissan Maxima?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2011 Nissan Maxima?▾
The 2011 Nissan Maxima has 5 crash-related complaints and 1 fire reports out of 106 total NHTSA complaints. 15 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2011 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?▾
No NHTSA recall campaigns were found for the 2011 Nissan Maxima in the current data. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.
Should I buy a 2011 Nissan Maxima?▾
The 2011 Nissan Maxima has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Airbag Malfunctions issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Maxima reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2011 Nissan Maxima
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.