YearToAvoid

2011 Nissan Maxima Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 18 engine complaints for the 2011 Nissan Maxima, 17% of that year's 106 total complaints. Owners commonly report engine knocking tied to main bearing failure, at a median 70,500 miles. No related recall is listed for this issue.

Engine complaints
18
17% of 106
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
70,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine develops a knocking noise traced to failure of the No. 1 main crankshaft bearing, sometimes found with metal bearing fragments in the oil pan.
  • Some owners report the engine will not shut off using the push-button start, forcing the vehicle to be left running until it runs out of fuel.
  • Mass air flow sensor problems trigger the check engine light and cause hesitation during acceleration.
  • Owners describe the air conditioner blowing hot air along with intermittent restart failures, though no warning lights appear.
  • A few complaints describe knocking noises that were later attributed to transmission trouble rather than the engine itself.

When 2011 Nissan Maxima engine complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 6, 2012, latest May 5, 2023.

2011 Nissan Maxima engine complaints: complaints filed per month1Mar 2012Dec 2014Sep 2015Aug 2017Oct 2018Mar 2021
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2012 to May 2023; peak Mar 2012 (1).

Engine recalls for the 2011 Nissan Maxima

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Maxima model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201030 (11%)
  2. 201118 (17%)
  3. 201214 (13%)
  4. 20134 (6%)
  5. 201410 (10%)
  6. 20151 (100%)
  7. 201634 (24%)
  8. 201710 (10%)
  9. 20184 (11%)
  10. 20194 (22%)
  11. 20202 (9%)
  12. 20211 (33%)
  13. 20221 (20%)
  14. 20230 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2011 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA lists 18 engine complaints for the 2011 Maxima, which is 17% of the 106 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Nissan Maxima engine?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint area.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2011 Maxima is 70,500 miles.
What is the most reported engine symptom?
Owners most often report a knocking noise linked to the No. 1 main crankshaft bearing, in some cases with metal fragments found in the oil pan.
Have engine complaints caused crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data tied to this engine complaint area for the 2011 Maxima includes 1 crash and 1 injury, with no reported fires.

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.