YearToAvoid

2016 Nissan Maxima Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 34 Engine complaints for the 2016 Nissan Maxima, 24% of its 142 total complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 54,000 miles. No related recalls are tied to this engine complaint category.

Engine complaints
34
24% of 142
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
54,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe the engine stalling or losing power while driving at highway speed, sometimes with loss of power steering and brakes at the same time.
  • Some report the vehicle unintentionally decelerating or failing to move when the accelerator is pressed after being shifted into drive.
  • Several describe intermittent acceleration failure that could not be duplicated by the dealer during diagnosis.
  • A judder or stutter is reported starting around 23 mph that owners say worsened over time.
  • One owner reports a fire linked to a recall notice they had not yet had a chance to act on before the incident.

When 2016 Nissan Maxima engine complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 9, 2015, latest Jul 12, 2025.

2016 Nissan Maxima engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2015Apr 2018Aug 2020Aug 2021Jan 2023Dec 2023Sep 2024
34 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2015 to Jul 2025; peak Aug 2021 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2016 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 on the 2016 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA lists 34 Engine complaints for the 2016 Maxima, which makes up 24% of the 142 total complaints filed for that model year.
At what mileage do engine problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure among reported engine complaints is 54,000 miles.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Nissan Maxima engine?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint category.
Did the engine issues cause crashes or fires?
NHTSA records show 2 crashes and 1 fire associated with complaints in this area, with no reported injuries.

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.