CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2011 Nissan Maxima is a good reliable vehicle overall. There's a slight trend of transmission failure just before 100,000 miles, but not widespread enough to be a major concern. Beware of Maximas from 2009-2010, and 2004-2006 though.

The 2009-2010 Maxima has an expensive problem where the steering lock prevents the car from starting, & costs upwards of $1,000 to fix.

Nissan Maximas from 2004-2006 have a widespread transmission defect, but judging from our complaint data, Nissan fixed the transmission problem starting with the 2007 model.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
52,364 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Nissan Maxima miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2011 Nissan Maxima Owner Comments

problem #14

Aug 012022

Maxima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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 drive. The dashboard is also cracking and releasing small parts of black dashboard material throughout the car and the passengers. Online research shows this problem has been reported by many Nissan vehicle owners, at our most recent Nissan service appointment, we asked for assistance to have the part replaced and was told we would have to call Nissan directly to request the repair as it was not a recall item. We called Nissan's Consumer Affairs and was told there is no support from Nissan to provide assistance and any repair we desired would be at our own cost. Additionally, in our online research there are pending class action lawsuits for this part to be replaced by the manufacturer. There is potential health hazards to the exposure of the deteriorating dashboard. We have NOT contacted our insurance company for a complaint or repair at this time. It was first noticed about 1 year ago while I was cleaning the car as the duster stuck to the dash in that area and we are now getting to the issue as it continues to further deteriorate.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #13

May 012020

Maxima

  • 40,000 miles
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.

- Winston Salem, NC, USA

problem #12

Mar 032021

Maxima

  • 113,000 miles
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 a whole new transmission at $5738.96. The car was in motion.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #11

Sep 212018

Maxima

  • 51,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My dash has been starting to melt the last two years and now the shine from the melting dash on the windshield makes it very hard to see thur windshield with the shine that is on

- Theodore, AL, USA

problem #10

Apr 092020

Maxima 6-cyl

  • miles
My dashboard is melting. It's extremely sticky and I if I touch it, or put something on it, black stuff gets everywhere.

- Moncks Corner, SC, USA

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problem #9

Aug 012019

Maxima

  • miles
The dash board is melting down and when the sun hits the sticky dash board it causes a glare in the windshield to where it makes it hard for you to see.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #8

Aug 102019

Maxima

  • 140,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Trasmition

- La Puente, CA, USA

problem #7

Jun 182019

Maxima

  • miles
Takata recall steering wheel lock mechanism will not let me start car after buying numerous parts

- Hayti, MO, USA

problem #6

Jun 142019

Maxima

  • 100,400 miles
I was driving down 240 in memphis and my sun roof exploded. It's the panorama sunroof. I wasn't near an over pass or near anything that could have hit it. It was extremely loud. It sounded like a shot gun blast or something. I swerved and almost wrecked but thankfully did not. I have done research and seen where over a hundred people have complained of the same thing happening with their Nissan and apparently it's because of the tempered glass they use and the amount of pressure.

- Cordova, TN, USA

problem #5

Feb 112018

Maxima

  • 132,000 miles
While driving 70 mph on I10, 20 miles East of beaumont Texas, my panoramic sunroof exploded on its own. There was no collision with any road debris, nor were we in the vicinity or impacted from anything falling from an overpass. The traffic was heavy and as a result of the explosion, I was forced to get to an exit covered in shards of glass. This glass explosion created a very unsafe condition not only for my immediate family, but for the other innocent people that was in the immediate area. I was able to get to the side shoulder to gain my exposure then drove to an off ramp. I took pictures and cleaned the broken shards from my wife, my two cats and myself first and foremost. We all had glass cuts, but did not need any sutures. I then cleaned up the remaining broken glass from the seats, floor etc... and piled the broken shards into a pile on the vehicle roof. I took a picture of this pile to show how much glass covered us in relation to how much glass exploded over the innocent vehicles behind me at the actual time of explosion. I called progressive insurance to not only report the incident, but to file a claim. They gave me claim number 184507967. Whereas I was on a business trip and did not live in the immediate area, I did not have the luxury of parking the vehicle in a garage and getting a rental until resolution of the claim. I drove with no protection from the 35 degree weather and drizzle to the closest home depot and purchased materials to fabricate my own insulated roof in the parking lot. At the time, I had no clue what had potentially hair my car, but deep inside, knew nothing had. When I pulled over immediately after the incident, I thought it was odd that the glass was shaped with an outward mushroom shape as if explosion came from inside out. After continued research, it is unacceptable that this is an ongoing issue with no manufacturer responsibility.

- Lebanon, ME, USA

problem #4

Nov 012017

Maxima

  • 68,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Dashboard is sticky or melting

- Longwood, FL, USA

problem #3

Apr 042017

Maxima

  • miles
The dashboard of the vehicle has started getting sticky and shiny in some places. The dashboard scratches and deteriorates easily. In some cases, the sun and/or lights reflect off of the dash board and glare on the windshield making it difficult to see.

- Ocean Springs, MS, USA

problem #2

Feb 072017

Maxima

  • miles
Panoramic sunroof explosion. I was driving on interstate and heard a loud bang sounded like a shot gun which scared the crap out of me. My sunroof exploded and the glass started falling in my car after sunroof started to cave in.

- Hoover, AL, USA

problem #1

Jan 092016

Maxima

  • 88,700 miles
While driving home from work tonight on a remote stretch of highway my panoramic sunroof suddenly exploded out of nowhere. I was driving about 50 mph and the outside temperature was about 45-50 degrees so I also had the heater on inside. I had the sunshade open but the tilting portion of the roof closed. Nothing out of the ordinary and there was no traffic near me that could have caused any debris to hit the roof. All of a sudden the loudest bang, initially scaring me so bad I almost lost control of the vehicle and then glass was flying around everywhere. It was so loud I thought at first I had a blowout for split second until then the glass hit me and the wind starting coming in from the gaping hole in the roof. It literally sounded like a gunshot or cannon went off in my car. Luckily none of the glass injured me and even more luckily my daughter was not with me as she would have been hit by the flying glass. I had to close the sunshade and drive home the remaining distance at a much slower speed but luckily did so without incident. I took several pictures once safely home, and as you can see it appears as if the glass bubbled up, almost like from inside air pressure causing the explosion. My first thoughts are that maybe the cold air outside and warm air inside? it is the front panel that opens that has the damage and the rear panel is fully intact. This was an intense experience that I hope to never have happen to anyone else.

- Sahuarita, AZ, USA

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