YearToAvoid

2016 Nissan Maxima Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 33 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Nissan Maxima, 23% of its 142 total complaints for the year. No related recalls are on file, and median mileage at failure was 62,500 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
33
23% of 142
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
62,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of acceleration while driving, sometimes on the highway, forcing them to pull over or coast to a stop.
  • Several describe hard shuddering or jerking when the CVT hesitates then suddenly re-engages power.
  • Some report the car stalling or shutting off completely at speed, occasionally followed by a no-start condition tied to electrical or battery issues.
  • A few describe the vehicle entering limp mode after hitting a bump or railroad tracks, dropping to a crawl speed of about 6 mph.
  • Others note jerking or slipping when shifting from a stop or between first and second gear.

When 2016 Nissan Maxima transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 9, 2015, latest Aug 7, 2025.

2016 Nissan Maxima transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Dec 2015May 2020Mar 2021Oct 2021Sep 2022Aug 2023Aug 2024
33 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2015 to Aug 2025; peak May 2020 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2016 Nissan Maxima

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Maxima model year

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

  1. 2005777 (82%)
  2. 2006393 (68%)
  3. 200716 (12%)
  4. 20088 (10%)
  5. 200911 (3%)
  6. 201015 (5%)
  7. 201122 (21%)
  8. 201218 (17%)
  9. 201324 (39%)
  10. 201422 (23%)
  11. 20150 (0%)
  12. 201633 (23%)
  13. 201711 (11%)
  14. 20181 (3%)
  15. 20193 (17%)
  16. 20203 (14%)
  17. 20210 (0%)
  18. 20220 (0%)
  19. 20230 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Nissan Maxima transmission reliable?
NHTSA has logged 33 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Maxima, making up 23% of all complaints filed for that model year, with median mileage at failure of 62,500 miles.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2016 Nissan Maxima?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the 2016 Nissan Maxima's transmission or powertrain.
What transmission problems do 2016 Maxima owners report?
Owners describe sudden loss of acceleration, shuddering or jerking during shifts, stalling at speed, and limp-mode activation after hitting bumps.
Have any crashes or injuries been linked to the 2016 Maxima transmission complaints?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries among the 33 Transmission & Powertrain complaints filed for the 2016 Maxima.

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.