Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 62 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Maxima, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 19 | 31% |
| Air bags | 16 | 26% |
| Exterior lighting | 9 | 15% |
| Power train | 3 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 5% |
| Power train | 2 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 3% |
| Engine | 1 | 2% |
| Structure | 1 | 2% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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 bet
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
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 how
NHTSA complaint: Engine
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 fla
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
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 t
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
The transmission is failing in my car it doesn't want to go. stalling out shuttering,jerking.
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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
NHTSA complaint: Power train
| Reliability raw | 78 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 77 | good |
| Depreciation | 76 | good |
| Performance | 57 | average |
| Efficiency | 39 | below average |
| Safety | 87 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 62 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 19 of them (31%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 78/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2013 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.