AI Damage2021 Nissan Maxima: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Nissan Maxima filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and structure. The maker issued 95 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 95
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 33% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 33% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (33% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 56.
- Structure: 1 complaints (33% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 7.
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (33% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- CVT
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 3 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 56 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Communication | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Air bags | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated that while his son was driving at 20 MPH, the vehicle began to jerk and was shaking. The vehicle felt as though the brake pedal was being depressed. The oil light was flashing. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was a catastrophic engine failure.
No cars on the road anywhere 545 in the morning and the sun roof explodes out of no where. Parts have been ordered and the car is in my possession till the parts come in so no forms to upload as of yet.
Vehicle purchased new with 4 miles then after 100miles, the cd changer does not work and there is a delay in the electronic coolant temperature gauge. The anlog temp gauge is working but the electronic gauge does not come on till 20-30mins of driving.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,806 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 14% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Maxima has 42 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 3, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other…
CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label =…
- 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…
- INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED…
INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED WITH DTC C1A16 OR C2582 IF YOU CONFIRM IMPORTANT: The purpose of ACTION (on the next page) is to give you a…
- DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended
See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored, AND OCS zero point reset cannot be performed…
- April 6, 2023 NTB23-031 Original bulletin published July 22, 2024 NTB23-031A Bulletin no longer active…
April 6, 2023 NTB23-031 Original bulletin published July 22, 2024 NTB23-031A Bulletin no longer active This bulletin is no longer active. Please discard previous versions of NTB23-031.
- DTC B2E01-96 (INTERNAL BATTERY) STORED AS CURRENT IN IVC This bulletin has been amended
See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. SERVICE INFORMATION The APPLIED VEHICLES that come equipped with a factory installed SOS switch, located near the overhead map…
- DTC C1A17-49 OR C2580-49 STORED IN LASER/RADAR This bulletin has been amended
See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- INTELLIGENT KEY INITIALIZATION PROCEDURE STOPS OR WILL NOT CONTINUE This bulletin has been amended
See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
- VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended
See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- CAN COMMUNICATION – NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended
See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- CAN COMMUNICATION CODES – DIAGNOSTIC TIPS AND GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended
See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING This bulletin has been amended
See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
NHTSA lists 95 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Nissan Maxima?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, structure, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: engine failure or replacement (33%), jerking, harsh shifts (33%), won't start (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA lists 95 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2021 Nissan Maxima from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2021 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.