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2011 Nissan Maxima
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
106 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2011 Nissan Maxima, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Airbags (23) · Electrical system (12) · Steering (9) · Body & structure (9)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Airbags
22%23 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“Airbag warning came on. I took to dealership for diagnostic. There was malfunction with the passenger airbag. Seat coushin needed to be replaced so the “normal” wear a…”
Transmission & drivetrain
21%22 complaints · typically near 90k mi
“Hi I bought car Nissan maxima 2011 transmission not working well when I driving I stopped at the traffic after that car does not move forward”
Engine
11%12 complaints · typically near 90k mi
“THIS IS MY THIRD NISSAN MAXIMA AND THEY ALL HAD THE SAME IDSUE WITH THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. SET OFF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND MAKES CAR HESITATE WHEN ACCERLERATING. MY …”
Electrical system
11%12 complaints
“TAKATA RECALL STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM WILL NOT LET ME START CAR AFTER BUYING NUMEROUS PARTS”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2011 Nissan MAXIMA beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2011? See how every Maxima model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2011 Nissan Maxima against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.