California Lemon Law News + Info

Common Nissan Maxima Problems

If your Nissan Maxima has recurring problems that won’t go away, it may be considered a lemon.

A couple watch as a white sedan is taken by a tow truck. If your Nissan Maxima has recurring problems that won’t go away or make it unsafe to drive, consider consulting with a lemon law attorney.

Under the California Lemon Law, a lemon is a vehicle with recurring problems that will not go away, despite a reasonable number of repair attempts by authorized repair facilities. These problems must negatively impact the use, safety or value of your vehicle.

Many owners and lessees of Nissan Maxima vehicles report problems that do just that. Learn more about common problems that 2013–2020 Nissan Maxima owners and lessees report in their vehicles. If one of these problems repeatedly appear in your Nissan Maxima, you may need to talk to a lemon law attorney about your case.

Drivetrain Problems

The “drivetrain” refers to several parts that transfer power to the wheels, and includes the transmission.

Some Nissan Maxima vehicles were equipped with continuously variable transmissions, or CVT transmissions, which were prone to sudden stops, random shaking, violent jerking while accelerating and transmission failure.

Complaints submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that some Nissan Maxima vehicles would judder, vibrate, experience shifting problems and lose power. Some of these vehicles even fail to accelerate, with owners reporting no response to a depressed acceleration pedal.

Brake Problems

Some Nissan Maxima vehicles have been included in a class action lawsuit alleging that their Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB) systems are defective.

The AEB systems are supposed to detect obstacles such as vehicles and pedestrians, warn drivers of said obstacles, and, if a driver does not immediately respond, trigger the brakes. However, a class action alleges that AEB systems in several Nissan models, including some Nissan Maxima vehicles, detects nonexistent obstacles, gives false warnings and brakes randomly in unsafe environments.

Engine Problems

If your Check Engine Light illuminates on the dashboard of your Nissan Maxima, it may be time to investigate your vehicle for engine problems.

Complaints submitted to the NHTSA reported engine problems such as engine knocking, vehicle hesitation, stalling, unintended acceleration and even a complete loss of power. Any of these symptoms alone could point to a potential defect in your vehicle. If any engine problems repeatedly appear in your Nissan Maxima despite multiple repair attempts, it just may be a lemon.

Fuel System Problems

If you smell a fuel odor in your Nissan Maxima, it may be best to park the vehicle or have your fuel system checked out by a technician.

Fuel odors are just one sign of a faulty fuel system.

The problem may lie in a faulty fuel pump; some complaints to NHTSA report blockage in the evaporative emission vapor vent (EVAP) tube.

If you suspect that something is wrong with your fuel system, have a technician diagnose the issue.

Seat Belt/Airbag Problems

If your Airbag Warning Light illuminates on your dashboard, check on your safety systems.

Your seat belts and airbags are supposed to protect you in the event of a car crash. Faults in these systems will compromise your safety. Seat belt indicator lights have been reported to malfunction in some Nissan Maxima vehicles. Some complaints to NHTSA report that the passenger airbag appears to shut off, even when someone is in the passenger seat. In some Nissan Maxima vehicles, airbags may fail to deploy in a car crash.

Electrical Problems

Functional electrical systems are vital to the use of your Nissan Maxima. If any part of these systems goes haywire, it can make for frightening malfunctions in your vehicle.

Complaints submitted to NHTSA include malfunctioning information display panels and windows that move by themselves. However, false detection of obstacles – a symptom of a faulty AEB system ­– could also point to electrical problems. Nissan Maxima vehicles may also experience a loss of power steering and power brakes. If problems persist, they could lead to electrical fires or loss of control of the vehicle.

If your Nissan Maxima has any recurring problems such as those listed above, it may be time to talk to a California lemon law attorney about your situation.

Contact a California Lemon Law Attorney

If problems persist in your Nissan Maxima despite multiple repair attempts, your vehicle may be a lemon.

Owners and lessees of “lemons” or defective vehicles are entitled to cash compensation, a vehicle replacement or a lemon law buyback. Knight Law Group has helped thousands of lemon owners and lessees obtain these rewards under the California lemon law with a success rate in excess of 99%.

Don’t go through the lemon law process alone. Our experienced lemon law attorneys can provide legal representation at no up-front cost to you. If you want to learn more about the California lemon law or have specific questions about your case, fill out our contact form or call us for a free consultation at 877-217-7676.


Lemon Law Help by Knight Law Group is an automotive lemon law firm that exclusively practices in California. If you are a California resident who purchased or leased a defective vehicle from a licensed dealership in California, we may be able to help you get rid of your potential lemon and recover significant cash compensation. Model year restrictions apply: 2019–Present vehicle models only.

However, we cannot help those who reside outside of California or purchased their vehicle outside of California unless they are active duty members of the Armed Forces, nor will we be able to refer those to a lemon law firm in their states.

To learn more about the California Lemon Law and your legal rights, visit our guide on the California Lemon Law for more information.

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