Verdict
2012 Nissan Maxima: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2012 Nissan Maxima — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for sedan.
Owners filed 107 NHTSA complaints — more complaints than 54% of 2012 sedans. Air Bags leads the reports (23%). No safety recalls on record.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2012 sedans, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
107
Reports to NHTSA, 2012
Safety recalls
0
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
22
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
More complaints than 54% of 2012 sedans
The bar is this car's percentile among 2012 sedans by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Air Bags issues lead owner complaints (23% of 107 reports), followed by electrical system (17%).
+ 7 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 107 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 10918882, ODI 11111390, ODI 11018674, ODI 10662228, ODI 10567728.
Recalls
0 recalls — none issued for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change as NHTSA publishes new campaigns.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
2012 Nissan Maxima 4 DR FWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxima | 3.5L 6-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 19 | 26 | 22 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2012 Nissan Maxima: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2012 Nissan Maxima?
Owners filed 107 NHTSA complaints about the 2012 Nissan Maxima — more complaints than 54% of comparable 2012 sedans, so it sits toward the weaker end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2012 Nissan Maxima?
The most-reported problem areas are Air Bags (23% of complaints) and electrical system (17%).
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Maxima have?
No safety recalls are on record for the 2012 Nissan Maxima as of Jul 2026.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Nissan Maxima get?
The EPA rates the 2012 Nissan Maxima at 22 mpg combined.