How Long Do Nissan Maxima Last? (Miles & Years)

The Maxima is Nissan’s flagship sedan car in America.

The Maxima has a powerful 3.5L V6 engine which produces 300 hp, delivering excellent performance and an interesting driving experience.

In this article, we will tell you all you need to know about the longevity of the Nissan Maxima.

Check also our list of common issues with the Nissan Maxima models.

Here is the short answer to how long the Nissan Maxima lasts:

You can expect a Nissan Maxima to last 200,000 miles. An average American drives 15,000 miles per year. Following this standard translates to 13.5 years of problem-free performance before you need to carry out major repairs on the vehicle.

How Many Miles Can You Expect from a Nissan Maxima?

During its lifetime, you can expect approximately 200,000 miles from the Nissan Maxima with no serious issue.

Several Maxima owners’ forums reveal this vehicle can last longer than 200,000 miles based on our research.

In fact, an owner on RepairPal says that his Nissan Maxima gave him over 300,000 miles in 13 years of ownership. Interestingly, the owner said that he experienced no major issues such as transmission failure.

To get the best mileage from your vehicle in its lifespan, there are a lot of factors involved. The most important is the maintenance and the driving habit of the driver.

If you drive your Maxima consciously and keep up to date with manufacturer-recommended maintenance and servicing, you will probably get more than 200k miles from the vehicle.

How Soon Should You Expect Rust on a Nissan Maxima?

According to the owners of the Nissan Maxima, some rust appears on the model after about three years of ownership.

The Nissan Maxima’s component most prone to rust is the floorboard. In fact, the floorboard rust caused a class-action lawsuit against Nissan for their 2004-2008 models of the Maxima.

Other Maxima parts susceptible to rust include the wheel well, exhaust manifold, bumper area, and the hood.

The Nissan Maxima has been around since 1985, so the amount of rust depends on the model year.

However, this is subject to a wide range of factors, such as location.

If you live in a region where the roads are salted, your Maxima might rust faster. You can wash your car regularly and use after-market rust-proofing products to delay or prevent corrosion.

How Long Does Nissan Maxima Last Compared to Similar Cars?

In this section, we compare the Maxima’s longevity with its competitors:

Nissan Maxima vs Chevrolet Impala

The Chevrolet Impala and the Nissan Maxima can both last about 200,000 miles with regular maintenance.

However, considering that the Maxima is a performance-biased car, aggressive driving habits may shave off some years from its longevity.

According to RepairPal, the Chevrolet Impala costs an average of $568 yearly maintenance, while the Nissan Maxima will cost an average of $540 annually, which means they have almost similar maintenance costs. 

Please also read our article about how long the Chevrolet Impala lasts.

Nissan Maxima vs Toyota Avalon

The Toyota Avalon is the largest sedan offering from Toyota. Like the Maxima, it can reach and exceed 200,000 miles without any major issues.

RepairPal data suggests that the Toyota Avalon cost less to maintain at an average of $463 a year compared to the Maxima’s $540.

In terms of reliability, RepairPal rates the Maxima 3.5/5 and scores the Avalon 4.0/5.0, making the Avalon more reliable than the Maxima.

Make sure to also read our article about how long the Toyota Avalon lasts.

Nissan Maxima vs Ford Taurus

Based on miles covered, the Nissan Maxima and the Ford Taurus stand on the same level. Both vehicles can cover an average of 200,000 miles in a lifespan.

RepairPal rates the Ford Taurus 4.0 out of 5, giving it a higher reliability rating than the Nissan Maxima. This suggests that the Taurus is more reliable than Maxima.

Based on the cost of maintenance, the Maxima is $157 cheaper to maintain than the Explorer. Approximately, the Maxima cost $540 to maintain while the Taurus costs $697.

Also read our article about how long Ford vehicles usually last.

How Reliable Is a Nissan Maxima?

According to Repairpal, the Maxima is above average on reliability, with a rating of 3.5 out of 5.0.

The 2020 Nissan Maxima was rated 89 (Great) out of J.D. Power’s 100-Point Score for quality and reliability.

Over the past 10 years, the quality and reliability score of the Nissan Maxima ranges between 79 to 89 on J.D. Power.

The Maxima stands out as one of the top choices for full-size sedans as shown by customers’ rating of the 2020 Sedan on J.D. Power.

The Best and Worst Years for Nissan Maxima

Based on our research, the best model year of the Maxima is 2015 as it had the lowest number of customer complaints.

Models between 2017 and 2020 years are also good options with low numbers of complaints.

According to CarComplaints.com, the worst years for the Nissan Maxima are 2004, 2005, and 2006.

For these three years, a lot of people complained about transmission problems, which typically jerked during shifting. The transmission problem occurs at an average mileage of 107,000 miles and it cost approximately $2,500 to fix it.

These model years also have the infamous rusting floorboard problem. A combination of rust problems and transmission problems make the 2004 to 2008 models the worst years for Nissan Maxima.

You should also be reading our article which talks about How Long Do Nissan Altimas Last?

What About Recalls for These Models?

The Maxima has been recalled 32 times, with the 2002 and 2016 model years having the highest number of recalls.

Below is the full list of recalls from 1985 to 2020:

• 1985: 2 recalls
• 1986: 2 recalls
• 1987: 1 recall
• 1988: 1 recall
• 1989: 4 recalls
• 1990: 4 recalls
• 1991: 4 recalls
• 1992: 5 recalls
• 1993: 6 recalls
• 1994: 5 recalls
• 1995: 5 recalls
• 1996: 2 recalls
• 1997: 5 recalls
• 1998: 6 recalls
• 1999: 4 recalls
• 2000: 3 recalls
• 2001: 6 recalls
• 2002: 8 recalls
• 2003: 3 recalls
• 2004: 2 recalls
• 2005: 2 recalls
• 2006: 2 recalls
• 2007: 1 recall
• 2008: 2 recalls
• 2009: 1 recall
• 2010: 1 recall
• 2011: 0 recall
• 2012: 0 recalls
• 2013: 0 recalls
• 2014: 0 recalls
• 2015: 0 recalls
• 2016: 8 recalls
• 2017: 4 recalls
• 2018: 2 recalls
• 2019: 1 recall
• 2020: 0 recalls

Nissan Maxima Model Year List

Here is a list of the Nissan Maxima model years:

• 1985 Nissan Maxima
• 1986 Nissan Maxima
• 1987 Nissan Maxima
• 1988 Nissan Maxima
• 1989 Nissan Maxima
• 1990 Nissan Maxima
• 1991 Nissan Maxima
• 1992 Nissan Maxima
• 1993 Nissan Maxima
• 1994 Nissan Maxima
• 1995 Nissan Maxima
• 1996 Nissan Maxima
• 1997 Nissan Maxima
• 1998 Nissan Maxima
• 1999 Nissan Maxima
• 2000 Nissan Maxima
• 2001 Nissan Maxima
• 2002 Nissan Maxima
• 2003 Nissan Maxima
• 2004 Nissan Maxima
• 2005 Nissan Maxima
• 2006 Nissan Maxima
• 2007 Nissan Maxima
• 2008 Nissan Maxima
• 2009 Nissan Maxima
• 2010 Nissan Maxima
• 2011 Nissan Maxima
• 2012 Nissan Maxima
• 2013 Nissan Maxima
• 2014 Nissan Maxima
• 2016 Nissan Maxima
• 2017 Nissan Maxima
• 2018 Nissan Maxima
• 2019 Nissan Maxima
• 2020 Nissan Maxima

Are Nissan Maxima Expensive to maintain?

On average, the cost of maintenance of a Nissan Maxima is $540 annually, according to RepairPal.

We can argue that the Maxima is cheaper to maintain compared to an average of $590 for mid-size cars and $652 for all vehicle models.

You may also like to read our article about Nissan & Datsun Differences

Below are some common repairs on the Nissan Maxima and their respective cost:

• Ignition Timing Adjustment: $44-$55
• Timing Belt Tensioner Replacement: $451-$566
• Neutral Safety Switch Replacement: $186-$202
• Windshield Wiper Arm Replacement: $99-$106
• Battery Cable Replacement: $367-$416
• Window Regulator Replacement: $297-$323

How Long Do the Brakes Last?

Nissan Maxima brake pads can last between 30,000 to 70,000 miles. The longevity of your brakes depends primarily on your driving habit and the environment.

If you drive more within the city and you are used to applying brakes heavily e.g., in stop-and-go traffic, the brake might wear faster.

How Long Do the Tires Last?

Tires on the Nissan Maxima can last between 50,000 and 60,000 miles if properly maintained.

Proper tire maintenance includes checking your tire air pressure regularly, regular wheel alignment, and tire rotation.

Factors such as road conditions, driving, and braking habits contribute to how long your tires will last.

How Long Do the Transmissions Last?

The transmission in the Nissan Maxima can last up to 200,000 miles.

However, proper servicing is paramount to keep the transmission system in a good shape.

How Long Do the Spark Plugs Last?

The Maxima uses special spark plugs that do not require replacement as frequently as others may.

The Nissan Maxima spark plugs can last up to 100,000 miles before replacement.

What About Insurance Costs?

According to finder.com, it costs an average of $211.40 a month or $2,536.80 a year to insure a 2021 Nissan Maxima.

Note that insurance rates depend on several factors, including the provider, your age, driving history, and location.

Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Nissan Maxima

Here are tips to prolong the life of your Nissan Maxima:

• Drive cautiously and at the recommended speed
• Keep up to date with maintenance and fluid changes
• Avoid modifications that can affect engine performance
• Wash the vehicle regularly, particularly after driving over salt and snow to prevent corrosion
• Keep fluids topped up regularly

Resources

Nissan Maxima Recall | CarCompliant

Top 10 Consumer Rated Sedan | J.D. Power

Nissan Maxima Reliability Rating: Based on the Cost, Frequency, and Severity of Actual Repairs | RepairPal

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