2017 Nissan Maxima Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
69/100
#5 most-complained of 14 Maxima years
The 2017 Nissan Maxima has 103 NHTSA complaints, a Complaint Index of 69, and ranks 5th worst out of 14 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Airbags and Structure & Body issues each account for 17% of complaints, with 4 recalls on file, mostly for brakes and airbags.
- Complaints
- 103
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 7 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 7 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 25
- 21 city / 30 hwy
Top 2017 Nissan Maxima problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Other25 (24%)
- Airbags18 (17%)
- Structure & Body18 (17%)
- Electrical System13 (13%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires13 (13%)
- Brakes12 (12%)
- Transmission & Powertrain11 (11%)
- Engine10 (10%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras10 (10%)
- Seat Belts4 (4%)
What owners report
- Airbags fail to deploy in low- to moderate-speed frontal or side-impact crashes, sometimes resulting in facial or neck injuries.
- ABS actuator brake fluid leaks reportedly ignite fires, in one case while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied.
- Emergency braking triggers all four wheels to lock up as the ABS and brake assist fail to engage properly.
- Steering reportedly disconnects suddenly at highway speed, causing loss of control.
- Quarter panel moldings detach at highway speed, described as a loose-fitting design flaw that can fly off during driving or car washes.
- The CVT transmission shudders and slips at low speeds after tens of thousands of miles, even with recommended service performed.
2017 Nissan Maxima recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V807000Nov 8, 2019Brakes391,479 vehiclesPark Outside
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and determined to not need a repair, under recall number 18V-601. In addition, this recall expands the previous population. The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.
Risk: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS actuator, free of charge. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available, currently expected to be during summer 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: If the ABS warning light remains illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.
- NHTSA 18V601000Sep 7, 2018Brakes215,124 vehiclesPark Outside
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Nissan Murano, 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2017-2018 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2017 Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.
Risk: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number on the ABS actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: When brake fluid has leaked onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp will remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up. If this occurs, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.
- NHTSA 16V636000Sep 2, 2016Brakes120,329 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 19, 2016 and equipped with Intelligent Cruise Control, 2015-2017 Murano vehicles manufactured August 22, 2014, to August 19, 2016 and equipped with Intelligent Cruise Control, and 2015-2016 Murano Hybrid vehicles manufactured August 22, 2014, to July 19, 2016. The affected vehicles have Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps that may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal electrical circuit board.
Risk: A brake fluid leak onto the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ABS Actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 12, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: When brake fluid has leaked onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp will remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up. If this occurs, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.
2017 Nissan Maxima fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 30 MPG
- Combined
- 25 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,200
- 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.
2017 compared with other Maxima years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Nissan Maxima reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2017 Maxima has a Complaint Index of 69 and ranks 5th worst out of 14 model years, giving it a Caution verdict relative to other Maxima years.
- What is the top problem area for the 2017 Nissan Maxima?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 17% of complaints, tied with Structure & Body issues, also at 17%.
- Does the 2017 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2017 Maxima, three involving the ABS actuator/brakes and one involving airbag control module reprogramming.
- What mileage do problems typically show up on the 2017 Nissan Maxima?
- The median mileage at failure across all reported problems is 27,907.5 miles, though individual problem areas vary, with suspension issues appearing as early as a median of 16,435.5 miles.
- How does the 2017 Maxima compare to other years?
- The 2017 model (Complaint Index 69) ranks better than 2010 (100), 2016 (92), and 2011 (85), but worse than 2018 (38) and 2019 (31), which are rated Good.