Eighth generation (A36)
2017 Nissan Maxima
The most reported problem on the 2017 Nissan Maxima is airbag, with 18 complaints, usually around 28,000 miles.
- 103owner complaints
- 4recalls
- 7involved a crash
- 29,963median miles at failure
Newest report Jul 25, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Problem sheets
No single problem on the 2017 Nissan Maxima has enough owner reports for a sheet of its own yet. The counts below still cover every complaint on file.
Is the 2017 Nissan Maxima reliable?
The 2017 Nissan Maxima has 103 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, below the median of 178 for 2017 sedans on this site. Of the 6 Maxima model years since 2014, it has the 2nd most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2016 and 2018
- Complaints ease off across these three model years. Counted per year on the road, the 2016 draws 13, the 2017 10 and the 2018 4.
- Top problem
- No problem dominates. The largest, airbag, covers 18 of the 103 complaints (17%), and brake wear is next with 10 (one complaint can fall under more than one problem, so these overlap). A quarter of the 8 owners who gave a mileage for airbag saw it by about 24,000 miles, and half by about 28,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 11 of the 103 complaints (11%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 7 reports mention a crash, 2 mention a fire and 7 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 3 of 7, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- 4 recalls are on file, but no problem here has enough reports to set against them.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2019 at 21 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 10. So far in 2026, 6 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: airbag warning light or recall, 18 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
103 complaints is 2.6 times fewer than the median 2017 model on this site and 1.7 times fewer than the median 2017 sedan. Among the 2 Maxima model years here it ranks 2nd for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2017 Nissan Maxima
Nissan filed 215 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2017 Nissan Maxima. 15 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Airbag warning light or recall 2 bulletins · 18 complaints
DTC B00A0-00 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored, AND OCS zero point reset cannot be performed,
DTC B00A0-00 STORED
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 1 bulletin · 10 complaints
NISSAN; DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING The APPLIED VEHICLES and CLAIMS INFORMATION sections have been revised. No other changes have been made.
Suspension noise, struts or alignment 4 bulletins · 7 complaints
Rear Lower Suspension Link Warranty Extension Dealer Notification In October 2019, Nissan launched a Voluntary Service Campaign (P9324) on MY2013 Nissan Altima vehicles registered in high road-salt-usage states (Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, ...
2013-2018 ALTIMA AND 2016-2018 MAXIMA; REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK IF YOU CONFIRM The customer experiences a knocking or rattling noise from the rear of the vehicle, Or The rear wheel and tire assemblies have a large amount of positive camber. ACTION Replace both rear lower links.
2 more on this problem
CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION
2016-2017 MAXIMA AND ALTIMA; POP/CLUNK NOISE FROM REAR WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS This bulletin applies to SR trim level Altima vehicles. IF YOU CONFIRM A pop or clunk noise from the rear of the vehicle, especially when driving over bumps, AND The rear suspention connecting rod nuts are found to be loose on the left and/or right side.
Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 2 bulletins · 7 complaints
WHEEL BEARING COLLISION DAMAGE
SERVICE INFORMATION The appearance of painted alloy wheels can be damaged if acidic cleaners are used. DO NOT use Chrome Wheel Cleaner on Painted Wheels. Many chrome wheel cleaners have acidic ingredients.
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 2 bulletins · 5 complaints
AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING APPLIED SYSTEMS: Vehicles equipped with a lane camera (see Figure 1) SERVICE INFORMATION If the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) warning light or is blinking (but not illuminated steadily) or the customer states it is blinking, and there are no related DTCs, inspect the ...
AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING
Seat belt or seat problems 4 bulletins · 5 complaints
2016-2017 MAXIMA; FRONT SEAT FINISHER LOOSE IF YOU CONFIRM The seat cushion outer finisher is loose and will not stay snapped into place. ACTION Replace the affected ?seat cushion outer finisher? and the ?seat cushion inner finisher? with those listed in the Parts Information.
2016-2017 MAXIMA; NOISE HEARD WHEN LEANING BACK IN A FRONT SEAT Nissan brand grease is now specified in Step 13 of the SERVICE PROCEDURE and listed in the PARTS INFORMATION. No other changes have been made. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
2 more on this problem
2016-2017 MAXIMA; NOISE HEARD WHEN LEANING BACK IN A FRONT SEAT Discard previous versions of this bulletin.
2016-2017 MAXIMA; NOISE HEARD WHEN LEANING BACK IN A FRONT SEAT IF YOU CONFIRM A creaking or squeak type noise is heard when sitting in either front seat and leaning back into the lower portion of the seatback.
Complaints filed by year
21 complaints came in 2019, 2.1 times the year before. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Rear suspension control arm failure. Closed jun 16, 2025.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2017 Nissan Maxima
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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 and remedy
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.
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 and remedy
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.
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 and remedy
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.
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 Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
All 4 recalls on the 2017 Nissan Maxima, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2017 Nissan Maxima?
Airbag, with 18 of the 103 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 28,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2017 Nissan Maxima problems start?
Of the 49 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 15,000 miles and half by about 30,000.
Is the 2017 Nissan Maxima better or worse than the 2016 and 2018?
Counted per year on the road, the 2017 has fewer complaints than the 2016 and more complaints than the 2018: 10 a year against 13 and 4.
How many 2017 Nissan Maxima complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
11 of them (11%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for airbag on the 2017 Nissan Maxima?
Yes, NHTSA lists a recall on the same system: 16V-244. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.