2016 Nissan Maxima Reliability
The 2016 Nissan Maxima has 142 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and electrical system. Compared with nearby Maxima model years (2014–2018), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Maxima's typical year, while the 2018 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
142
NHTSA owner complaints
8
Recall campaigns
10
Complaints citing a crash
4
Complaints citing a fire
2016 Nissan Maxima complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 model year, filed between 2015 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 33 | 23% |
| Electrical system | 31 | 22% |
| Unknown or other | 27 | 19% |
| Service brakes | 21 | 15% |
| Engine | 18 | 13% |
| Air bags | 14 | 10% |
| Speed control / throttle | 14 | 10% |
| Steering | 9 | 6% |
2016 Nissan Maxima recalls
8 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2016 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15V486000 | Aug 4, 2015 | Fuel system | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) notified the agency on July 31, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2016 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 18, 2015. On October 14, 2015, Nissan expanded the recall to cover an… |
| 15V733000 | Nov 5, 2015 | Service brakes — foundation components / disc / caliper | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2015 Altima and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured October 6, 2015, to October 7, 2015. The affected vehicles have front brake calipers whose mounting bolts may not be properly tightened. |
| 16V193000 | Apr 7, 2016 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 Murano vehicles manufactured December 17, 2015, to February 11, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to February 12, 2016 and equipped with an antilock braking… |
| 16V244000 | Apr 26, 2016 | Air bags — sensor / occupant classification | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and… |
| 16V636000 | Sep 2, 2016 | Service brakes — 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… |
| 16V911000 | Dec 19, 2016 | Air bags — sensor / occupant classification | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima vehicles manufactured January 3, 2013, to July 29, 2013, 2015-2016 Rogue vehicles manufactured October 14, 2014, to August 12, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured… |
| 18V601000 | Sep 7, 2018 | Service brakes — 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…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
| 19V807000 | Nov 8, 2019 | Service brakes — 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…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
How the 2016 compares with nearby Maxima years
Verdicts compare these Maxima model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 96 | 0 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | Air bags | Too few reports |
| 2016 (this page) | 142 | 8 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2017 | 106 | 4 | Unknown or other | Avoid |
| 2018 | 36 | 2 | Unknown or other | Better year |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2016 Nissan Maxima
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 8 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2016 Nissan Maxima can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2016 Nissan Maxima reliability FAQ
Is the 2016 Nissan Maxima reliable?
The 2016 Nissan Maxima has 142 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and electrical system. Compared with nearby Maxima model years (2014–2018), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Maxima's typical year, while the 2018 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2016 Nissan Maxima problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Nissan Maxima are powertrain / transmission (33), electrical system (31), unknown or other (27), service brakes (21). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2016 Nissan Maxima have recalls?
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2016 Nissan Maxima, including 15V486000 (fuel system) and 15V733000 (service brakes — foundation components / disc / caliper). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2016 Nissan Maxima compare with the 2015 and 2017 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2015 has 1 complaint and 0 recalls (too few reports); the 2017 has 106 complaints and 4 recalls (avoid). The 2016 has 142 complaints and 8 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2016 Nissan Maxima?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Nissan Maxima research
Other Nissan Maxima model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2016 Maxima, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.