YearToAvoid

2007 Nissan Maxima Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2007 Nissan Maxima has 129 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 50, ranking 10th out of 19 model years and earning a Caution verdict. Engine and body/structure issues each make up 27% of complaints, with brakes at 20%.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
50/100
#10 of 19 Maxima years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
129
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
4
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
3
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2019
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
19 city / 25 hwy
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0

Top 2007 Nissan Maxima problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine35 (27%)
  2. Structure & Body35 (27%)
  3. Brakes26 (20%)
  4. Airbags18 (14%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain16 (12%)
  6. Other9 (7%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (6%)
  8. Steering7 (5%)
  9. Fuel System6 (5%)
  10. Electrical System5 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Brakes reportedly failed to hold or the car surged unexpectedly after being put in drive, leading to loss of control in one case at 23,000 miles.
  • Owners describe the vehicle losing engine power in cold weather, sometimes traced to a rear wheel sensor issue.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in a frontal crash at 90,000 miles, resulting in injury.
  • The engine bucked at highway speeds and stalled multiple times, with dealers pointing to the camshaft.
  • Owners report steering and vehicle-wide shaking at various speeds tied to tire balance problems, along with at least one tire blowout at highway speed.
  • The service engine soon light came on shortly after purchase, in one case linked only to a loose gas cap.
2007 Nissan Maxima complaints: complaints filed per quarter122007 Q12009 Q32011 Q22012 Q42014 Q32016 Q12017 Q42019 Q4
129 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2007 Q1 to 2023 Q3; peak 2015 Q2 (12).

2007 Nissan Maxima recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 06V402000Oct 23, 2006Steering9,506 vehicles

    Steering:column locking:anti-theft device

    Certain passenger vehicles equipped with an 'intelligent key' fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114, "theft protection." during an inspection of some vehicles at the assembly plant, it was found that the steering wheel was locked with the ignition knob in the "off" position but the vehicle transmission not being in the "park" position.

    Risk: If the key is turned to the "off" position without the transmission being in the "park" position, it is possible that the steering wheel can lock when turned to the right.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the steering wheel lock assembly free of charge. The recall began on december 18, 2006. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

2007 Nissan Maxima fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
25 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2007 compared with other Maxima years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid100948221
2006Avoid89576221
2007Caution50129121
2008Good4479021
2009Avoid94339122

All Nissan Maxima years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2007 Nissan Maxima reliable?
NHTSA lists 129 complaints for the 2007 Maxima with a complaint index of 50, giving it a Caution verdict. That places it 10th out of 19 Maxima model years, better than 2005, 2006, and several other years rated Avoid.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Nissan Maxima?
Engine complaints make up 27% of reports (median failure mileage 85,000), Structure & Body issues also make up 27% (median 92,240 miles), and Brakes account for 20% (median 56,000 miles).
Does the 2007 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (campaign 06V402000) covers a steering wheel lock assembly tied to the intelligent key system. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2007 Maxima compare to other years?
Its complaint index of 50 is lower than 2005 (100), 2006 (89), and 2009 (94), all rated Avoid, but higher than 2008 (44), which is rated Good.
What is the fuel economy of the 2007 Nissan Maxima?
EPA rates it at 21 mpg combined (19 city / 25 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.