YearToAvoid

2011 Nissan Maxima Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

85/100

#3 most-complained of 14 Maxima years

The 2011 Nissan Maxima ranks 3rd worst of 14 model years, with a Complaint Index of 85 and 106 NHTSA complaints, mostly tied to airbags, transmission, and engine issues. It carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Maxima years.

Complaints
106
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
5 / 1
Injuries / deaths
15 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
22
19 city / 26 hwy

Top 2011 Nissan Maxima problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags23 (22%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain22 (21%)
  3. Engine18 (17%)
  4. Other16 (15%)
  5. Electrical System14 (13%)
  6. Structure & Body12 (11%)
  7. Steering9 (8%)
  8. Brakes7 (7%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers7 (7%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (5%)

What owners report

  • Passenger-side airbags sometimes fail to deploy or activate only after being driven many miles with a passenger seated, leaving front occupants unprotected in a crash.
  • Some drivers report the steering wheel becoming loose and unresponsive, making it hard to control speed and direction during a crash event.
  • Owners describe the push-button start failing to shut the engine off, forcing them to let the car run until it ran out of gas.
  • The key locking security feature has failed, leaving the ignition key trapped inside the vehicle and requiring outside help to get in.
  • The dashboard coating has been reported to break down, becoming sticky and reflective, which causes glare on the windshield and reduces visibility while driving.
  • A seat belt reportedly produced smoke and left burn marks on clothing after being removed.
2011 Nissan Maxima complaints: complaints filed per quarter102011 Q12013 Q22015 Q12016 Q32018 Q12019 Q42022 Q12024 Q2
136 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q1 to 2026 Q1; peak 2018 Q1 (10).

2011 Nissan Maxima recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2011 Nissan Maxima fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,650
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.

2011 compared with other Maxima years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid100275022
2011Avoid85106022
2012Avoid77107022
2013Caution5462022

All Nissan Maxima years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Nissan Maxima reliable?
Compared to other Maxima model years, the 2011 ranks 3rd worst out of 14 years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 85 and 106 NHTSA complaints, earning an Avoid verdict.
What is the biggest problem with the 2011 Nissan Maxima?
Airbags are the top complaint area, making up 22% of complaints (23 cases) and linked to 3 crashes, with a median failure mileage of 26,022 miles.
Does the 2011 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2011 Maxima.
How does the 2011 Maxima compare to the 2010 and 2012 Maxima?
The 2010 Maxima has a higher Complaint Index of 100 with 275 complaints, while the 2012 has 107 complaints and an index of 77; both also carry Avoid verdicts, similar to the 2011.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Nissan Maxima?
The EPA rates the 2011 Maxima at 22 mpg combined (19 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,650.

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.