The Nissan Maxima has been a sought-after sedan for its performance potential and this car feels very sporty and fun for its segment. The 2018 Nissan Maxima comes loaded with premium features and materials and also happens to be one of the best performers in the segment but the Maxima also happens to be a very good car when it comes to reliability as it holds a very minimum of 2 recalls and 22 complaints. The price tag of $33,270 puts the Maxima on the higher side in comparison but it justifies itself by topping the table in multiple aspects like drive quality, performance, reliability, and build quality just to name a few. The cars that come close to the maxima in terms of the offerings and pricing are the Toyota Avalon, the Chevrolet Impala, and the Dodge Charger.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Front radar – Multiple users reported that a message was displayed saying “unavailable radar obstruction” even though the roads were clear and this didn’t let the adaptive cruise control work forcing the driver to use the emergency brakes when the car doesn’t slow down on its own. This can lead to a crash if the driver isn’t very alert when using the adaptive cruise control.
- Forward collision system – While trying to accelerate, the vehicle was reported to brake automatically even though the road ahead was clear. This can lead to a crash where the car can get rear-ended.
Safety Problems
- Airbags – The driver suffered a face injury and a back fracture after hitting his head on the steering during a crash as the airbag failed to deploy.
- Seatbelt – The rear seat belt latch was installed reverse making the belt twist when locked in place. This is a safety hazard when the rear child seat is placed.
Exterior Problems
- Sunroof – The contact was driving and for no reason, the sunroof shattered into the cabin without any signs of prior damage.
Recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
8th November 2019 |
19V807000 |
The brake fluid can leak into the ABS pump and ignite |
The brake fluid leak on an electrical circuit board may lead to a fire. |
Dealers will replace the ABS actuator, free of charge. |
|
2 |
12th September 2019 |
19V654000 |
No backup camera display image |
This can lead the driver to rear reverse into other vehicles or objects. |
The reverse camera software will be updated, free of charge. |
Should you buy the 2018 Nissan Maxima?
The Nissan Maxima is considered a sports sedan by the brand as it comes packed with performance-oriented hardware in a four-door layout and it sure does fit that tag with its best in class performance figures but the Nissan stands out in terms of reliability as the complaints and recalls on it are pretty minor and the only aspect of the car that we weren’t completely satisfied with was the CVT transmission which didn’t feel very responsive. However, the Maxima is the best car in this segment as it offers speed and comfort which the other cars fail at. The Toyota Avalon does provide premium quality and comfort with top-notch efficiency but fails to provide a fun drive while the Dodge Charger has muscular looks and sporty performance but lacks refinement and cabin finish. After going through the majority of cars in this segment, it is safe to say that the Maxima is the most fun car to drive and it offers great value. We highly recommend picking the Nissan Maxima and there won’t be any regrets later.
