KnownCarProblems2012 Nissan Maxima Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 107 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Maxima, most often about the air bags (25% of complaints, typically around 30,500 miles). It is 12th of 24 Maxima model years by number of complaints.
Complaints107
Recalls0
Crashes reported6
Fires reported2
Injuries reported7
Most common 2012 Nissan Maxima problems
Air bags
27 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 30,500 miles. Parts named most often: sensor.
Vehicle indicates that the passenger side air bag is on when seat is vacant; off with seat is occupied. The problem does not occur every time, but is a frequent problem. The dealer claims to be unable to diagnose the problem and has deemed the vehicle safe to drive.
Whenever someone sits on the front passenger seat the warning light comes on indicating that if something happen (accident) the airbag will not deploy. All the people I have tested are over 120 lbs. I brought this problem to pinnacle Nissan in scottsdale, az but they didn't do anything to fix it saying there's nothing…
Other or unspecified
23 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 58,000 miles.
The sunroof exploded spontaneously. I was sitting in evening rush hour traffic, at an almost stand still. The inside roof panel/cover was pulled back, but the sunroof itself was not opened. I had turned the A/C on and off a few times because although it wasn't very hot outside (upper 70s), I was making a business call…
My sunroof shattered on sunday, june 03 at 12pm while I was driving east bound towards chicago on 290 highway. I was driving at 60mph on the highway and all the sudden I heard a loud pop noise and my sunroof glass shattered. The road was clear and there weren't many cars around me. Luckily, I wasn't injured. I have…
Electrical
20 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 54,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument panel.
2012 Maxima s with door lock/unlock problem. Noticed it about a month ago. Key fob wouldn't lock/unlock the doors. Then about a week later the door lock/unlock button started working sporadically. A few days ago when dropping my daughter off for school she had trouble opening the back door to get out. Not only is this…
On dec 12, 107 my 2012 Maxima had a side airbag sensor replaced (dealer replaced air bag control unit fp-number 98820-9n09c). The airbag light on the passenger side would not go off after the car started. The warning light stayed on regardless if the car was still or moving or whether there was a passenger in the car…
Transmission
18 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Vehicle would not accelerate moving from a stopped position on city road with a 45 mile per hour speed limit. Also sluggish on a turn. Would accelerate slowly then jump to a higher acceleration. Was advised by dealer to not drive it and bring in. Was found to have 3 kill codes which meant it needed a new transmission…
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Maxima. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle decelerated and accelerated. The vehicle was shut off and restarted, but the failure recurred. The contact called dave wright Nissan at [phone] (located at 999 boyson rd, hiawatha, ia 52233) and was informed to bring the vehicle in…
Engine
13 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 43,000 miles.
While driving my 2012 Nissan Maxima, I was slowing to a stop at an intersection. The car unexpectedly stalled due to a problem with the power steering pump. I was luckily able to push the brakes and emergency brake to get the vehicle to stop. After stopping, I restarted the car, and was without power steering after…
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Maxima. While driving various speeds, the contact noticed an abnormal smell of antifreeze coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 33,000.
Steering
10 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles.
While driving my 2012 Nissan Maxima, I was slowing to a stop at an intersection. The car unexpectedly stalled due to a problem with the power steering pump. I was luckily able to push the brakes and emergency brake to get the vehicle to stop. After stopping, I restarted the car, and was without power steering after…
I was driving on rt41 near chicago in the middle lane at 65mph and tried to change the lane to get into left lane from middle lane, right then when I turned the steering slight left to change lane, it felt like the steering of my car got locked. My car was inches away from colliding into concrete barricade, I had to…
Body and structure
6 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: body.
Me and my wife were traveling northbound in our 2012 Nissan Maxima around 30mph on western avenue in chicago when suddenly a ford focus 2007 that ran a stop sign traveling east bound on rosemont avenue t-boned US on driver's side. As our car was moving at a significant speed it stopped after crashing into a fire…
Air bags failed to deploy. I was involved in an accident that caused substantial front end damage. I was traveling westbound in the flow of traffic on highway 84 at approximately 30 MPH. The vehicle in front of me slammed on brakes and came to a sudden stop. I applied my brakes but was unable to avoid impacting the…
Seats
6 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 35,000 miles.
The driver seat of my '12 Maxima moves upon acceleration and deceleration. I've read many forums and groups and this seems to be a prevalent issue. Sreious injury could result cause you don't know if the seat will break causing loss of control. Nissan is aware of the issue yet doesn't seem to care. The dealer is also…
Driver seat rocks back and forth during acceleration and stopping. Nissan says that it is not a problem and there is nothing they can do. Was told it was because that the seat has so many moving parts it can be loose.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Nissan Maxima recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2012 Nissan Maxima
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Nissan Maxima?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (27 complaints, typically around 30,500 miles); other or unspecified (23 complaints, typically around 58,000 miles); electrical (20 complaints, typically around 54,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Maxima have?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2012 Nissan Maxima. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Nissan Maxima?
- It is 12th of 24 Maxima model years by number of complaints, with 107 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.