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2011 Nissan Maxima problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
41% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2011 Nissan Maxima are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Better than 51% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 26 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 31%).
Does the 2011 Nissan Maxima have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 33 of 80 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Maxima concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (41%), and the largest group is filed under power train (22). For comparison, the 2010 scores 14% and the 2012 scores 41%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2011 compares with other Nissan Maxima years
Of the 8 Nissan Maxima years with enough complaints to score, the 2011 is the 3rd-worst on engine and transmission share (41%). The worst is the 2013 (73%), the best the 2018 (9%). By volume, the 2011 drew 106 complaints (33 drivetrain), against 275 for the 2010 and 107 for the 2012.
Nissan Maxima years to avoid and best years →
2010 Maxima problems · 2011 · 2012 Maxima problems · 2013 Maxima problems · 2014 Maxima problems · 2016 Maxima problems · 2017 Maxima problems · 2018 Maxima problems
The rest of the picture on the 2011 Nissan Maxima
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2011 Nissan Maxima said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 33 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Checking one particular 2011 Nissan Maxima? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2011 Nissan Maxima have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 33 of 80 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Maxima concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (41%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Nissan Maxima?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2011 Nissan Maxima is air bags: 23 of 106 complaints (22%) name it, followed by power train (22) and engine (12). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 41% of the relevant total.
Is the 2011 Nissan Maxima reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 41% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is better than 51% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Nissan Maxima years we score, it ranks 3rd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2011 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2011 Nissan Maxima.
Which Nissan Maxima years are better?
Among the Nissan Maxima years we track, the 2018 (9%), the 2010 (14%) and the 2017 (23%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2011 (41%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/nissan-maxima
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.