Nissan · Maxima · 2012
2012 Nissan Maxima
0
Recalls
107
Complaints
4/5
Safety Rating
The 2012 Nissan Maxima has no recalls and 107 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: air bags (22 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
Research Context
The 2012 Nissan Maxima page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is air bags with 22 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to understand what owners were actually reporting instead of relying only on the raw complaint total.
- Review the recall section even if the total is smaller, because a limited number of recalls can still point to meaningful safety actions.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2012 Nissan Maxima currently shows no active NHTSA recalls listed on this page and 107 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows 4/5 overall NHTSA safety rating.
- The most frequently reported complaint categories on this page are air bags (22), power train (17), electrical system (12).
- Vehicle
- 2012 Nissan Maxima
- Recalls
- 0
- Complaints
- 107
- Safety Rating
- 4/5
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Crash Test Performance
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
10.1% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
ESC: StandardForward Collision Warning: NoLane Departure Warning: No
Owner Complaints
107 totalPOWER TRAIN
Jun 6, 2025
2012 Nissan Maxima with 94,000 miles began hesitating upon accelerating and jerking on [XXX]. Vehicle diagnosed at Don Franklin Nissan in Glasgow, KY with bad transmission. Transmission replaced. Then on [XXX], while driving vehicle, a loud noise from front passenger tire, tra...
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Aug 15, 2024
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Nissan Maxima. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. The contact stated that the mileage on the title was not available. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage w...
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STRUCTURE
Aug 6, 2024
Since 2018 to present day. I been having difficulties with the visibility from my front windshield at sunny days. The dashboard has this sticky substance that make the dashboard really shinny, and reflect the sun light on the windshield, blocking the view and make it hard to see ...
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AIR BAGS
Dec 31, 2023
Passenger airbag notifi action blinks and will not show it is activated to function in a crash. Airbag has never worked. Also driver seat belt keeps releasing without being pushed to open. Seat belt issue just began Dec 2023
AIR BAGS
Aug 17, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the passenger’s side air bag failed to turn on while the front passenger's side seat was occupied. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the c...
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mar 23, 2023
Green wire burn throughout the entire wiring harness..From alternator to engine fuse box and also to inside fuse box.. Bypassing the blown fuses and/or relays!!
STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
Feb 11, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop immediately and started shuddering. The oil warning light, ABS, coolant temperature, and the ESP warning light were ...
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ENGINE
FIREOct 13, 2022
The contact owned a 2012 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that after returning from lunch and parking the vehicle at work, almost three hours later he was informed by someone that the vehicle was on fire. The contact walked outside and saw the engine compartment in flames. The c...
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Jun 9, 2022
On June 9, 2022 @8:50am I was driving my Nissan Maxima to work and as I was at the stop light waiting to go through the intersection, the car shut off completely cutting off all power. I have push button and no electric was working. My jumper cables were in the trunk but I could ...
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UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Mar 9, 2022
We are having issues with "melting" or "sticky dashboard of my 2014 Nissan Maxima. Difficult to see when is sunny outside.
Showing 10 recent complaints from 107 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2012 Nissan models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
More Nissan Maxima Years
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Maxima have?
The 2012 Nissan Maxima has 0 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2012 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA has received 107 owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Nissan Maxima.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2012 Nissan Maxima?
The 2012 Nissan Maxima received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Nissan Maxima?
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2012 Nissan Maxima are air bags (22 reports), power train (17 reports), electrical system (12 reports).
Does the 2012 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
NHTSA does not currently list any recalls on record for the 2012 Nissan Maxima. To verify the status of your specific vehicle, check nhtsa.gov/recalls with your VIN.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.