Nissan · Maxima · 2013
0
Recalls
62
Complaints
4/5
Safety Rating
The 2013 Nissan Maxima has no recalls and 62 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: power train (19 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
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.
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
I have a 2013 Nissan Maxima in my headlights are horrible when they are on dim you cannot see in front of you so bad that it's liable to cause a bad wreck I have to ride with my headlights on bright and it's not much better I have replaced the bulbs in both headlights twice it has not improved anything I think it is a very dangerous thing in could call someone to get hurt because no one can see I've not been pulled over by the police or anything but I have to ride with my headlights on bright and I know it blinds people sometimes I think there needs to be a recall because I have a lot of friends that have Nissans and they have the same problem
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart on the third attempt however the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine, the crankshaft, and the cylinder heads needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 7,500. The VIN was not available.
The transmission is failing in my car it doesn't want to go. stalling out shuttering,jerking.
a recall and class action lawsuit was issued for the 2013 altima but not the 2013 maxima. they have the same cvt transmission, my cvt transmission on my maxima just went out. Both the maxima and the altima should have been included in these recalls if they have the exact same CVT transmission
1. Both headlights on dim are so dim that you cannot drive safely, they do not project in front of the car far enough to see at night, dawn or dusk. I am concerned if other cars I meet can even see me approaching. My flashlight shines brighter and farther. I have replaced the bulbs for the dim lights and it did no good. 2. Drove to California and was in west Texas after dark, could not see the road after dark. 3. My relative is a mechanic and he has confirmed the defective illumination with my dim lights. 4. It has not been confirmed by any officials such as insurance or police. 5. I noticed this problem about 1 year ago. I have been having to run bright lights if I must drive after dark. This is dangerous, illegal if meeting another car, etc. This is a seriously dangerous problem. I have researched on the internet for several weeks looking for a solution. I finally ran across your website. I did see that the Nissan Altima had a recall for their defective headlights. This should also be a recall for the Maxima. I have driven Nissan's for many years and never had this defect. I don't know how recalls are initiated but if it is through the nhtsa it should be investigated promptly as this issue could cost someone's life. If this is the agency that initiates a recall this should happen NOW. All of us Maxima drivers who are having this issue of which according to my research are many, would appreciate any help. I'm sure many Maxima drivers are not aware there is a complaint procedure, I didn't. I am going to have to go to an auto parts retailer, buy two headlight assemblies and use a body shop to install and this will be very expensive. Thank you for your help.
I WAS TRAVELING FROM HOUSTON, TX TO DALLAS, TX MIDDAY ON MAY 1, 2021. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES OUTSIDE OF DALLAS ON I-45 TRAVELING 75 MPH WHEN I SUDDENLY FELT A SPUTTER AND THEN THE SPEED INSTANTLY DECREASED FROM 75 MPH TO 20 MPH ON A BUSY MAJOR INTERSTATE. I WAS ALMOST HIT TWICE AS I TRIED TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE WITH CARS TRAVELING UPWARDS OF 75+ MPH, BLOWING AND HONING AND CURSING ME. I MADE IT OFF THE INTERSTATE AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER MAKING SEVERAL CALLS FOR HELP, I WAS INSTRUCTED BY A MECHANIC TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND RESTART THE CAR AND TRY TO ACCELERATE WHILE ON THE FEEDER. SO I DID, AND THE CAR DID ACCELERATE ENOUGH TO GET BACK ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAD TO DO THIS 5 TIMES TO GET THE REMAINDER OF THE 40 MILES TO M DESTINATION. I TOOK MY CAR TO METRO DALLAS NISSAN IN FLOWER MOUND, TX ON MAY 3, 2021. I WAS TOLD THE INSPECTION FOUND CODES P1778, P0778 FOUND IN ECM AND TCM FOUND TRANSMISSION TO BE SLIPPING AND THEREFORE, THE CVT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.....= $5523.00!!!! I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY CAR SERVICED AT NISSAN DEALERSHIPS, MAINTAINED THE CAR IMPECCABLY, DRIVEN WITH CARE AND I AM DEVASTATED! ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS 8 YEARS OLD WITH 139K MILES, THERE IS NO LOGICAL REASON FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO NEED REPLACING EXCEPT FOR DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT FROM NISSAN. I PLAN TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THE MATTER. I CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND $5K ON A CAR I WORKED SO HARD TO PAY OFF.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 NISSAN MAXIMA AS I NORMALLY DO EVERY DAY. THEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THANK GOD I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO GET IT TO A SAFE PLACE AND OUT OF THE HIGHWAY. I ALMOST GOT HIT IN THE BACK TO BECAUSE I HAD THE MAKE A QUICK TURN TO GET IT OUT OF THE STREET AND INTO A PARKING LOT. AND AFTER I STOPPED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.
THE VEHICLE WAS IN A PARKED POSITION AT MY HOME. WENT AND STARTED VEHICLE AND FROM PARK TO DRIVE IT HESITATED BEFORE IT STARTS TO MOVE.
THE DIM LIGHTS APPEAR NOT TO BE ON WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT OR EARLY MORNING. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON. I THOUGHT THE BULB CASE WAS CLOUDY BUT THAT IS NOT THE SITUATION. THE DIM LIGHTS SIMPLY DO NOT SHINE AS THEY SHOULD. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS THAT I APPROACH. I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY OWNER OF A NISSAN MAXIMA WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT, I AM NOT. MY FRIEND IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD WHILE THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION NISSAN MEMPHIS (4140 HACKS CROSS ROAD, MEMPHIS, TN 38125) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.
THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS DO NOT REFLECT HARDLY ANY LIGHT ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT. IT IS DANGEROUS AS YOU CAN NOT SEE THE ROAD AT NIGHT. MY FOG LIGHTS GIVE OFF MORE LIGHT THEN MY LOW BEAMS. I HAVE REPLACED THE LIGHTS AND IT MAKES NO DIFFERNCE. I HAVE TRIED 4 DIFFERENT LOW BEAM LIGHTS AND IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IN THE LIGHT OUTPUT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BY NISSAN, THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE! IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING THAT THE DEALER SHIP WANTS 1000 DOLLARS TO CHANGE THE WHOLE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. NO OTHER CAR NEEDS THIS DONE, YOU CHANGE A LIGHT BULB. WHY DO I NEED TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY BECAUSE I DRIVE A NISSAN MAXIMA? THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THE REFLECTOR LENS IN THE LOW BEAMS DECAY. THAT'S A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving at night, the driver’s, and passenger's side headlights were very dim, failing to properly illuminate the roadway, causing a visibility hazard for the driver. The contact stated that the light bulbs were replaced but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 120,000.
MY 2013 NISSAN MAXIMA SLOWED DOWN WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 60 MPH THEN A SPUTTERING NOISE FOLLOWS WITH A LARGE BOOM AND WINDING NOISE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK MY CAR TO AUTOZONE CODE STATED CVT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD WHY WOULD I NEED AN TRANSMISSION. I'M SO DISAPPOINTED WITH NISSAN
AS I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FROM ARKANSAS TO TEXAS MY CAR STARTED MAKING THIS REALLY LOUD NOISE AS I WAS ACCELERATING. I WAS ONLY AT 60 MPH AND THE CAR WAS STILL MAKING THE NOISE BUT AS I WAS INCREASING MY SPEED TO PASS AND SWITCH LANES MY CAR SEEM LIKE IT BECAME STUCK AND WOULDN'T LET ME ACCELERATE OR GO ANY FASTER AND MY RPM JUMPED TO 5. I PULLED OVER AND RESTED MY CAR FOR A MINUTE TOOK IT TO O REILEY TO GET IT CHECKED SINCE MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE CODE THAT RETURNED WAS CODE P1778 SOMETHING THEY STATED THAT PERTAIN TO THE STEP MOTOR FUNCTION/TRANSMISSION.
BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY VERY DIM LIGHT CAN ONLY BE SEEN 1 FOOT AWAY FROM THE HEADLIGHTS I HAVE EVERYTHING INCLUDING CHANGING THE H11 LIGHT BULBS
VEHICLE LOST POWER NO WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY ALMOST HAD A WRECK THEN THE SPEED PICKED UP OUT OF NOW WHERE. THE RPMS WERE CLIMBED TO 4 AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO AN AUTOZONE TO READ THE CODE AND IT GAVE ME A P1778 TELLING ME THAT THE STEPPER MOTOR WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND I NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 1/2 YEARS MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I'M AT A LOSS FOR WORDS
TAMARA RECALL: I WAS DRIVING FROM JACKSONVILLE TO ORLANDO WHEN THE RPMS SUDDENLY DROPPED AND THE CAR LOST SPEED IMMEDIATELY. AS I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD ENOUGH SPEED TO GET ON THE SHOULDER. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT DROVE GOOD FOR ABOUT 5 MINS AND THE THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID IT'S THE TRANSMISSION. I ONLY HAVE ONE HUNDRED FIVE THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND I STILL OWE 8 THOUSAND BUCKS ON IT.
YOU FEEL THE CAR PULLING AND JERKING. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE HAD THE CODE CHECKED AND IT WAS P1778 - TRANSMISSION REVERSE I/P CIRCUIT. IT APPEARS TO DO THIS ON LONGER TRIPS OUT ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOT AS MUCH AROUND TOWN.
WATER BUILD UP AND SWISHING BACK AND FORTH IN MY REAR DOOR, HAVE TO KEEP REMOVING THE RUBBER SEAL AND DRAINING THE WATER....WILL CAUSE EROSION, POOR GAS MILEAGE DUE TO WEIGHT OF THE WATER...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLOW TO CHANGE GEARS. THE SPEED WOULD DECREASE UNTIL THE GEAR CHANGED OVER, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2013 Nissan Maxima has 0 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 62 owner-reported complaints for the 2013 Nissan Maxima.
The 2013 Nissan Maxima received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2013 Nissan Maxima are power train (19 reports), air bags (16 reports), exterior lighting (9 reports).
NHTSA does not currently list any recalls on record for the 2013 Nissan Maxima. To verify the status of your specific vehicle, check nhtsa.gov/recalls with your VIN.
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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.