2017 Nissan Maxima Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report a fairly even spread of problems; the most repeated theme in the sample is the front radar/camera safety suite (forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise) dropping out or activating on its own. Body trim pieces coming loose or flying off, and airbag warning lights or non-deployment, are the other frequently mentioned areas. The sample's complaints cluster mostly in the first 30,000-45,000 miles.

1. 1
   Forward collision avoidance

   Front radar drops out or auto-braking engages on its own

   • 12 complaints (11%)
   • median 31,500 mi at 2.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2023

   Complaints describe a "front radar obstruction" or AEB warning appearing with nothing in front of the car, sometimes repeatedly after driving 5-30 minutes or on freeway trips, and clearing after a restart. Some owners say the system then reduces power, disables cruise control, or applies the brakes unexpectedly, including on a highway ramp. Several report a dealer diagnosed a distance sensor or radar array replacement, while others say the dealer could not duplicate the fault or wanted a diagnostic fee before testing. Mostly reported between roughly 5,000 and 60,000 miles, with several owners noting rain, weather changes, or long freeway drives as triggers.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the AEB/ICC software updates or radar sensor replacements have been done, and test drive at highway speed long enough to see whether a radar obstruction message appears.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2017 Nissan Maxima sl. Had ABS recall serviced at tim dahle Nissan of orem, utah. Retrieved car after service was completed and shortly after, my fry into emergency braking system deactivates after driving about 5-8 minutes every time I get in my car. When I turn off my car and restart my car, it works again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11389340, filed 2021-01, 105,000 miles

   “I purchase the Maxima certified pre-owned on june 2017. In september 2018, I needed to have the distance sensor array replaced under warranty. In july 2019, I needed to have the same distance sensor array replaced under warranty. Why does this keep failing? This sensor controls the emergency braking system and the adaptive cruise control. The car will not operate as advertised if this sensor is not working. Soon my warranty will expire and I will need to replace this every year?”

   NHTSA complaint #11234064, filed 2019-07, 33,000 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Rear quarter and pillar trim moulding coming loose or

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • median 41,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2025

   Owners describe the rear quarter-panel and pillar mouldings detaching at speed, in car washes, or when brushing snow, with clips failing and pieces flying off the car. Some say a dealer confirmed the problem and installed a revised attachment that requires drilling a new hole, at the owner's cost; others were told the replacement part would not fit properly. A related complaint mentions the rear roof material deteriorating. Reported from a few thousand miles up to around 50,000-75,000 miles, often on the highway.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Walk around the rear quarter panels, A-pillars and roof and push on each moulding to check for looseness or gaps; ask whether any have already been replaced and how they were attached.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The 2 A pillar molding in the front flew off while driving on the highway and the 2 rear pillar moldings in the back are loose. It is available for inspection. This is an EXTREME safety concern as I was going high speeds and part of my car detached - I am thankful that it did not hit the cars near me but that doesn't mean that when I get it replaced with the faulty issue, that the new ones will not fall off. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer. There was no warning that the parts were falling off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11671780, filed 2025-07

   “The left and right rear fender moulding is falling off of my vehicle. This is a trim piece that connects the rear fender and the roof. This piece is about 26 long. The plastic clips that hold it on are failing and the left piece has fallen off while driving, and the right piece is loose and failing. This is a hazard and many other owners have had the same experience.”

   NHTSA complaint #11365741, filed 2020-10, 41,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on, or airbags not deploying in a crash

   • 13 complaints (12%)
   • median 26,000 mi at 3.1 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2024

   Complaints describe the airbag warning light staying on, sometimes with a passenger-seat occupant sensor fault, and dealers resetting the light or quoting an OCS unit and sensor replacement. Other owners report airbags failing to deploy in front-end collisions that were serious enough to total the vehicle, and one describes side curtain airbags deploying without an impact. Spread across the mileage range, from a few thousand miles to over 100,000, with several reports after collisions.

   Recall 16V2440001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Confirm the airbag warning light goes out after the bulb check on a test drive and ask whether the occupant classification sensor recall or any B00A0 diagnostic work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on the interstate where it started to rain and I hydroplaned slightly, so I let off the gas and recovered to a stop. The side curtain airbags then deployed due to a tilt angle being sensed, while all four tires were still in contact with the ground. The vehicle had no impact, no tilt, and no damage to the vehicle. I was able to continue and drive the vehicle home with the airbags taped to the ceiling. The car was then subsequently driven to the dealership approximately 50 miles away with no issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11114719, filed 2018-07, 24,000 miles

   “A vehicle pulled out into oncoming traffic and was struck my vehicle. My vehicle sustained front-end damage that totalled my car out. My airbags failed to deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #11389638, filed 2021-01, 60,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Lack of acceleration or power loss while driving

   • 14 complaints (13%)
   • median 30,657 mi at 1.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners report the car refusing to accelerate with the pedal pressed, either from a stop or at highway speed, sometimes accompanied by a drop to idle and an ABS or warning light afterward. Complaints say dealers could not reproduce the problem or found no stored codes, and one mentions the behavior being more frequent in hot weather. Reported from around 35,000 to 100,000+ miles, with some owners describing repeated occurrences over weeks.

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body, mass airflow sensor and charging system have been checked, and look for any stored codes or repair history related to stalling or no-throttle events.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car has been losing power while driving. While driving and pressing the gas pedal, the car will stop accelerating and kind of goes into an idle state. Highly dangerous! It happened the other day while I was attempting to enter traffic. It has been happening off and on for the last 2 weeks and has been happening more frequently, meaning several times a day. It seems to happen more often when the temperature outside is hot (90+ degrees). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11678496, filed 2025-08

   “From a complete stop and in stop and go highway traffic, the car failed to accelerate. The gas pedal was pressed as far as possible but the car would not accelerate. This is dangerous because the issue occurs without any warning and I could have been hit by oncoming traffic. I had the car checked at a Nissan dealership, they kept the car for abour 6 days, they could not replicate the issue and the car did not give a code, so there were no repairs. The issue occured again 5 days later while trying to make a left turn from a traffic light. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11422035, filed 2021-06
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   CVT judder, shudder and transmission replacement

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • median 112,000 mi at 2.8 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2025

   Complaints describe shuddering and juddering at low speed or under acceleration, slipping, and in some cases the transmission ceasing to shift; owners say dealers diagnosed a failing CVT and recommended full replacement. Others report being told the vibration was normal CVT behavior while the vehicle was under warranty, with the symptoms worsening afterward. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 112,000 miles, though some owners noticed judder earlier.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for the CVT service records and whether the warranty extension or TCM calibration bulletins were applied, and test drive at low speed and light throttle to feel for shudder or hesitation.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After numerous visits to the Nissan dealership without getting answers and clearly explaining that my car is experiencing CVT judder and vibrations. I have been experiencing the vibrations as told to Nissan for awhile but I don't think they wanted to replace my CVT transmission since it was still under warranty so I was told the noise and vibrations were normal CVT chatter. I am now past my extended warranty and the judder and vibrations have only gotten worse. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11229812, filed 2019-07, 112,000 miles

   “I have had my 2017 Nissan Maxima since 2018. It had 29,963 miles when I purchased it. Since I have had it I put 33,000 miles on it and had all of the recommended service done on at the dealership. This would include having the transmission flushed at 32000 miles. My car currently has 62000 miles on it and the CVT transmission has been slipping and the car shudders at low speeds. I took it to the dealership and they told me that it needed to be replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11476642, filed 2022-07

Buying note. This model year shows a mix of driver-assist sensor complaints, trim that comes loose, and CVT and acceleration concerns that appear at higher mileage, so a full service history and a long test drive covering highway speeds and low-speed acceleration are worth insisting on.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.