2011 Nissan Maxima: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict
Shopping for a used 2011 Nissan Maxima? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Current data includes 106 complaints, with Airbag Malfunctions as the top reported area.
2011 Nissan Maxima Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA official fuel economy rating for the 2011 Nissan Maxima.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions.
2011 Nissan Maxima Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star ProgramOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
Not Rated10.1% rollover risk
Frontal Crash
Not RatedSide Crash
Not RatedRollover
10.1% probability
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2011 Nissan Maxima has 106 owner complaints, 5 crash-related complaints, and 0 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Airbag Malfunctions. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.
- Make
- Nissan
- Model
- Maxima
- Model year
- 2011
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 106
- Crash-related complaints
- 5
- Safety recall campaigns
- 0
- Top reported component
- Airbag Malfunctions
- Reliability signal
- Severe Issues
- EPA MPG combined
- 22
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 19 / 26
- Fuel type
- Premium Gasoline
- NHTSA rollover rating
- 5/5 stars
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
Most Common 2011 Nissan Maxima Problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Airbag Malfunctions
Transmission / Drivetrain
Uncategorized Issues
Complaint patterns center on Airbag Malfunctions, Transmission / Drivetrain, Uncategorized Issues. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Should You Buy a Used 2011 Nissan Maxima?
The 2011 Nissan Maxima shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
What to Check Before Buying a Used 2011 Nissan Maxima
Inspection Focus
- Inspect airbag system for any warning lights or prior repairs.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for transmission and drivetrain.
- Have a mechanic inspect engine and electrical systems before purchase.
Before You Close the Deal
- Inspect airbag system for any warning lights or prior repairs.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for transmission and drivetrain.
- Have a mechanic inspect engine and electrical systems before purchase.
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2011 Nissan Maxima, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Complaints for the 2011 Nissan Maxima are concentrated in airbag malfunctions and transmission/drivetrain issues. A recurring theme appears to be electrical faults and engine problems, though confidence is low due to limited data.
- Airbag malfunctions account for the highest number of complaints among reported components.
- Transmission and drivetrain issues are the second most reported concern.
- Unintended acceleration complaints are present but relatively few.
- Airbag Malfunctions
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Engine Problems
All 2011 Nissan Maxima Complaints by Category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Nissan Maxima. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| 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.
Real Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Nissan Maxima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
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.
2011 Nissan Maxima Recalls
0 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2011 Nissan Maxima. No recall campaigns are currently listed for this model year in the dataset, but VIN-level recall checks are still essential. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
No recall campaigns found for this model year in the current data. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls directly for the latest information.
2011 Nissan Maxima Buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2011 Nissan Maxima reliable?▾
Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 106 owner complaints, 5 crash-related complaints, and 0 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2011 Nissan Maxima shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
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?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2011 Nissan Maxima, NHTSA complaints include 5 crash-related reports and 1 fire reports out of 106 total complaints. 15 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check 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 shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Airbag Malfunctions during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
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.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2011 Nissan Maxima based on your ownership experience.
Add your rating:
Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Check the Exact Vehicle History Before You Buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.