YearToAvoid

2020 Nissan Maxima Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

39/100

#12 most-complained of 19 Maxima years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2020 Nissan Maxima has 22 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 39 out of 100 — #12 highest of 19 Maxima model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is structure & body (6 complaints, 27% of the total). Complaints report 3 crashes and 3 injuries.

Complaints
22
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
24
20 city / 30 hwy

Top 2020 Nissan Maxima problems

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

  1. Structure & Body6 (27%)
  2. Brakes5 (23%)
  3. Collision Avoidance & Cameras5 (23%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain3 (14%)
  5. Airbags2 (9%)
  6. Electrical System2 (9%)
  7. Engine2 (9%)
  8. Other2 (9%)
  9. Fuel System1 (5%)
  10. Lane Departure1 (5%)
2020 Nissan Maxima complaints: complaints filed per month4Jan 2020Dec 2020Aug 2021Nov 2022Mar 2024Feb 2025May 2026
31 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2020 to Sep 2026; peak Apr 2024 (4).

2020 Nissan Maxima recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V570000Sep 22, 2020Visibility & Wipers150 vehicles

    Visibility:glass, side/rear

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima, Maxima and Leaf vehicles. The rear window glass may not remain properly secured to the vehicle.

    Risk: Rear window glass that separates from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the back window glass, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC752.

2020 Nissan Maxima fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
30 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,300
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.

2020 compared with other Maxima years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Good2836225
2019Best2218124
2020Good3922124
2021No verdict63024
2022Best175024

All Nissan Maxima years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Nissan Maxima a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Nissan Maxima ranks #12 of 19 among Maxima model years (Complaint Index 39/100, verdict: Good). It has 22 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Nissan Maxima?
The most reported problem areas are structure & body (6 complaints), brakes (5 complaints), and collision avoidance & cameras (5 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 23,000 miles.
Does the 2020 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2020 Nissan Maxima, most recently reported 2020, covering visibility & wipers.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Nissan Maxima?
EPA rates the 2020 Nissan Maxima at 24 MPG combined (20 city / 30 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,300. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.