NHTSA has 62 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Nissan Maxima[1]. The biggest group names the power train, with 24 complaints[2].
Most reported problems
Here are the complaint groups in the stories we read, biggest first.
- Power train. 24 complaints[2]. Owners describe a shake at highway speed that tire work did not cure, the car rolling back when pulling away, and sudden loss of power with the check engine light on. Some say the car would not speed up in traffic and left them stranded.
- Air bags. 16 complaints[5]. Owners describe the passenger air bag light staying on with an adult in the seat, which tells them the bag has switched itself off. Some say the dealer could not find or fix the cause.
- Exterior lighting. 9 complaints[6]. Owners describe low beam headlights that look very dim at night. They say new bulbs changed nothing and some drive with the high beams on to see the road.
- Unknown or other. 8 complaints[7]. These reports do not fit a single component group.
- Engine. 4 complaints[8]. Owners describe the car losing power on the road, stalling, and a cloud of smoke at a gas stop.
- Electrical system. 2 complaints[9].
- Structure. 2 complaints[10].
- Brakes. 2 complaints[11].
Recalls
NHTSA's records show 0 recalls for the 2013 Maxima[12].
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
| Version | City / highway / combined MPG | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| Maxima, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive[3] | 19 / 26 / 22 | $3,750 |
Safety ratings
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD[4] | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 10.1% |
Engine and size
Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.
| Engine | Horsepower |
|---|---|
| 2013 Nissan Maxima with 3.5L 6-cylinder[13] | 290 hp |
How 2013 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 152 | 0 |
| 1996 | 96 | 0 |
| 1997 | 102 | 1 |
| 1998 | 113 | 1 |
| 1999 | 165 | 0 |
| 2000 | 360 | 0 |
| 2001 | 172 | 3 |
| 2002 | 205 | 6 |
| 2003 | 206 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1,426 | 2 |
| 2005 | 948 | 2 |
| 2006 | 576 | 2 |
| 2007 | 129 | 1 |
| 2008 | 79 | 0 |
| 2009 | 339 | 1 |
| 2010 | 275 | 1 |
| 2011 | 106 | 0 |
| 2012 | 107 | 0 |
| 2013 | 62 | 0 |
| 2014 | 96 | 0 |
| 2016 | 142 | 8 |
| 2017 | 106 | 4 |
| 2018 | 36 | 2 |
| 2019 | 18 | 1 |
| 2020 | 22 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 |
NHTSA's counts for the Maxima show 62 complaints and 0 recalls for 2013[12]. Among the 28 model years listed, 6 have fewer complaints than 2013 and 21 have more[12]. The fewest complaints are for 2023 (1) and the most are for 2004 (1,426)[12]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 2013 Maxima?
The complaint record for this car is fairly small, with 62 complaints in total[1]. The power train group is the largest[2], followed by air bags[5] and exterior lighting[6]. Owners describe the air bag light and the dim headlights as repeat annoyances that were hard to fix. NHTSA lists 0 recalls for this model year in our data[12]. These are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so read them as a guide and not a rule.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Nissan Maxima?
- The largest complaint group names the power train, with 24 complaints[2]. Air bags follow with 16 complaints[5] and exterior lighting with 9[6].
- Does the 2013 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
- NHTSA shows 0 recalls for this model year in our data[12]. The Recalls section on this page lists anything on file.
- Is the 2013 Nissan Maxima reliable?
- There are 62 owner complaints on file[1]. They are unverified and not adjusted for sales, so see the problems section above and the by-year comparison on this page.
- What is the gas mileage of the 2013 Nissan Maxima?
- See the fuel economy section on this page, which is built from EPA data.
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Nissan Maxima
Compare all model years of the Nissan Maxima
Other Nissan models from 2013
Similar cars from 2013: midsize cars
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 62 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Nissan Maxima (1 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- 24 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 105,544). NHTSA vehicle records
- EPA rating for Maxima, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,750. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 3 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 10.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
- 16 complaints name the air bags component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 4,350). NHTSA vehicle records
- 9 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 8 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 62,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 4 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 2 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 2 complaints name the structure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 2 complaints name the brakes component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Nissan Maxima model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA Test Car List, 2013 Nissan Maxima with 3.5L 6-cylinder: rated 290 hp. www.epa.gov