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2016 Nissan Maxima problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
39% of relevant owner complaints on the 2016 Nissan Maxima are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 54% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 23 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 33%).
Does the 2016 Nissan Maxima have transmission problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 47 of 119 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Nissan Maxima concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (39%), and the largest group is filed under power train (33). For comparison, the 2017 scores 23%. 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 2016 compares with other Nissan Maxima years
Of the 8 Nissan Maxima years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 4th-best on engine and transmission share (39%). The worst is the 2013 (73%), the best the 2018 (9%). By volume, the 2016 drew 142 complaints (47 drivetrain), against 1 for the 2015 and 103 for the 2017.
Nissan Maxima years to avoid and best years →
2010 Maxima problems · 2011 Maxima problems · 2012 Maxima problems · 2013 Maxima problems · 2014 Maxima problems · 2016 · 2017 Maxima problems · 2018 Maxima problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Nissan Maxima
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 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 47 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Nissan Maxima fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Nissan Maxima involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 8 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) notified the agency on July 31, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2016 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 18, 2015. On October 14, 2015, Nissan expanded the recall to cover an additional 41,388 vehicles, including certain model year 2013-2015 Altima 3.5 vehicles equipped with a V6 engine manufactured March 30, 2012, to August 18, 2015…
Risk: If fuel leaks from between the fuel sending unit and the tank, it may increase the risk of a fire in the event of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer ring between the fuel tank and the fuel sending unit. The recall began on September 28, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
7 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 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 2016 Nissan Maxima have transmission problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 47 of 119 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Nissan Maxima concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (39%). 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 2016 Nissan Maxima?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Nissan Maxima is power train: 33 of 142 complaints (23%) name it, followed by electrical system (31) and service brakes (21). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2016 Nissan Maxima reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 39% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 54% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Nissan Maxima years we score, it ranks 4th-best. 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 2016 Nissan Maxima?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Nissan Maxima involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 8 in total: 15V486000 (fuel system, gasoline). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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 2016 (39%). 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.