YearToAvoid

2021 Nissan Maxima Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

8/100

#13 most-complained of 14 Maxima years

The 2021 Nissan Maxima has 3 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 8 out of 100 — #13 highest of 14 Maxima model years. The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 33% of the total).

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

Top 2021 Nissan Maxima problems

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

  1. Electrical System1 (33%)
  2. Engine1 (33%)
  3. Other1 (33%)
  4. Structure & Body1 (33%)
2021 Nissan Maxima complaints: complaints filed per month2Apr 2021Jun 2021Apr 2024
4 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2021 to Apr 2024; peak Jun 2021 (2).

2021 Nissan Maxima recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2021 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.

2021 compared with other Maxima years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Good3118124
2020Good4622124
2021No verdict83024
2022Best235024
2023No verdict01024

All Nissan Maxima years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Nissan Maxima a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Nissan Maxima ranks #13 of 14 among Maxima model years (Complaint Index 8/100). It has 3 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Nissan Maxima?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (1 complaints), engine (1 complaints), and structure & body (1 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 36,350 miles.
Does the 2021 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2021 Nissan Maxima in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Nissan Maxima?
EPA rates the 2021 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.