We have updated our reliability stats for the Maxima and I30/I35 (on our redesigned site) to include owner experiences through September 30, 2011.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003: 57, better than average, small sample size

2002: 119, about average

2001: 140, about average

2000: 151, about average

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates later this month and in May. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Nissan Maxima reliability ratings and comparisons

We have updated our reliability stats for the Maxima and I30/I35 to include owner experiences through September 30, 2012.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003: 61, about average

2002: 97, worse than average

2001: 83, better than average

2000: 114, worse than average

We'll have further updates in February and May. The more owners participate, the more precise these stats will be.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:

Nissan Maxima reliability ratings and comparisons

We have updated our reliability stats for the Maxima and I30/I35 to include owner experiences through December 31, 2012.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003: 57, low

2002: 83, moderate

2001: 67, low

2000: 116, high

The small sample sizes could explain some or even much of the variation among the affected model years.

Thank you, once again, to this forum and everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates later this month and in August. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Nissan Maxima reliability ratings and comparisons

We've updated our reliability stats for the Maxima to include owner experiences through March 31, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003 Maxima: 52, low
2002 Maxima: 105, moderate
2001 Maxima: 85, low
2000 Maxima: 128, high

We'll have further updates in August and in November.

For the details, including the descriptions of reported repairs, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Nissan Maxima reliability ratings and comparisons

Great site, I just signed up both my vehicles.

My Maxima (2002) has needed A LOT OF WORK

i'm interested in hearing the miles and work on maxima.org members' 5th gens. some people are getting 250+K miles.

Canadian car with about 199,000 KM with some mods...

So far (that comes to mind)

Rear Right ABS Sensor
Fuel filler neck + gas cap
2 rear O2 sensors
Spark Plugs
Suspension (front/rear)
Sway bar end links (driver/passenger)
Valve covers (front/rear)
evap canister + valve
exhaust (due to leaks)
parking brake
fluid swapping
filters
some switches weren't working so I had to fix it up
DRL (day time running light module)
rear wheel well rust fix

still need to fix up leaking CV Boots (driver/passenger side)

This is my second car and I've owned it less than a year.

I knew the car would require a lot of maintenance but not all at once....

Just turned over 115,000 miles on a 20AE model I bought new (2001, so about 12.5 years). All I can remember offhand has been a couple of oxygen sensors, an ABS wheel sensor, a radiator, "volume air flow" (mass air flow?), either two or three alternators (at least one was a short-lived remanufactured unit), and an A/C compressor.

It's only on its third set of tires (which are maybe half worn), and second set of brake pads. Car is not and never has been driven "gently" to extend the lives of those components.

I have had to weld up two or three cracks in the exhaust line. Not too bad for a car that has seen 12 winters of snow/salt and has never been garaged.

All in all, it's been a pretty reliable car.


Norm

Age + km + winter driving will do it.

We've updated our reliability stats for the Maxima to include owner experiences through June 30, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003 Maxima: 40, low
2002 Maxima: 79, low
2001 Maxima: 94, moderate
2000 Maxima: 120, high

We'll have further updates later this month and in February.

To view competitors' scores and descriptions of reported repairs, and to sign up to help:

Nissan Maxima reliability ratings and comparisons

We've updated our reliability stats for the Maxima to include owner experiences through September 30, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003 Maxima: 51, low
2002 Maxima: 84, low
2001 Maxima: 89, moderate
2000 Maxima: 107, moderate

We'll have further updates in February and in May. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Nissan Maxima reliability ratings and comparisons

Update for me.

Replaced...

Idler Pulley
Alternator seized...
got the car a new battery
new belts


car now has ~204,500 km

Ok so here is my stats and options
2nd owner purchased in 2005 with 38,000 +/- miles now has 84,000 miles
Added Options.
NWP spacers,BOP,TL,TB
Franken SRI
Stillen UDP
Stillen F/R STB & R swaybar
SS brakelines,EBC rotors and pads
All Energysuspension Bushings
BC coilovers
Cattman headers and 2 1/2" exhaust fastcat converter.
6th gen valve covers
Stillen ground kit

The Nitty Gritty
Oil changed every 2500
MAF replaced in 2010 w/ecu flash
Plugs changed every year in april
1 front coil replaced from failure
Pads,Rotors and fluid replaced yearly
Alternator and tension pulley replaced oct 2012 failed and i snapped the tensioner adjust nut.
PS wheel bearing and hub replaced 2012 made noise
Radiator and thermostat replaced 2012 top split on rad so did both.
Need to replace seat front to back motor

Thats all the problems i have had.unlike some people i read the cause and effect of doing upgrades to the car and try to learn from other peoples mistakes.the car has been no problem for me at all.i enjoy owning it and working on it.

^
I got a lemon car or this was a car kept in semi storage for a long time (like father could no longer drive due to age) and then someone got a hold of it (the kids) and not knowing a lot about cars or not caring they sold it for dirt cheap..

We've updated our reliability stats for the Maxima to include owner experiences through December 31, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003 Maxima: 74, moderate
2002 Maxima: 83, moderate
2001 Maxima: 89, moderate
2000 Maxima: 101, moderate

We'll have further updates in May and in August. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

To see the repairs behind these stats, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Nissan Maxima reliability ratings and comparisons

If you aren't sure of what car you are going to buy, you can look at Consumer Reports to help you decide. It will show you a list of best and worst model of cars every year, including the rank of vehicles according to dependability. Here is the source: Consumer Reports Best Cars List.

Can you define you Repair Frequency better. Is it based on:
- Repair frequency for the lifetime of the car?
- For the last year?
- For the last reporting period?

It's hard trust these numbers when it's unclear what they mean ....

Mine's a 2000, 14 years old.

Other than maintenance replacement parts that need to be changed
just like the 03 I don't see why a 2000 is less reliable.

Does the radiator count? I've replaced that and read it's a common problem.

Also I'm reading that people had to change the struts, motor mounts, a coil as a problem???
Replacing pads and rotors?
Does changing the oil count as a problem too?

Struts, pads, and rotors are "wear parts" that you expect to have to be replacing at some point as regular maintenance items.

Motor mounts and coils, not so much. Not that neither of those can't fail, just that they shouldn't "wear out" and need replacement on some predictable schedule.


Norm

We have instructions as to what counts on the survey form. Nearly everything not on a maintenance schedule counts, though a few things we only count for up to 24k miles.

Our reliability stats for the Maxima now include owner experiences through March 31, 2014, making them nearly a year ahead of other sources.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003 Maxima: 74, low
2002 Maxima: 82, moderate
2001 Maxima: 94, moderate
2000 Maxima: 80, low

Thank you, once again, everyone who has been helping. Next update in August.

For a deeper dive, including the stats for other cars and repair descriptions, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Nissan Maxima reliability ratings and comparisons

We've updated our reliability stats for the Maxima to include owner experiences through June 30, 2014 (making them about 14 months ahead of some others).

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003 Maxima: 87, moderate
2002 Maxima: 90, moderate
2001 Maxima: 119, high
2000 Maxima: 79, low

Next updates in November and in February. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

For repair descriptions, the stats of other cars, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Nissan Maxima reliability ratings and comparisons

We've updated our reliability stats for the Maxima to include owner experiences through September 30, 2014.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003 Maxima: 68, low
2002 Maxima: 76, low
2001 Maxima: 95, moderate
2000 Maxima: 71, low

Additional participants always helpful (especially if you see "small sample size" next to the year, or no stat at all).

To view the repairs behind these numbers, check the stats for other cars, and sign up to help improve this information (next update in February):

Nissan Maxima reliability ratings and comparisons

We've updated our reliability stats for the Maxima to include owner experiences through the end of 2014.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003 Maxima: 62, low
2002 Maxima: 65, low
2001 Maxima: 121, high
2000 Maxima: 80, low

We'll have further updates in May and in August. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

For the details, including how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Nissan Maxima reliability ratings and comparisons

My 03 has held up well besides damage I caused when I was younger and had repaired. At 165k now and wiser.

Maximas are misunderstood. I think they are an amazingly reliable car if you are the type of person that doesn't have to go to a shop just because you threw a code. A lot of the stuff that has happened with my maxima has been easy stuff to fix if you know what you are doing. On that note, for tuner types i would highly recommend a maxima...for a soccer mom..hellz no.

So, how have these cars been doing lately?

Our reliability stats for the Maxima now include owner experiences through March 31, 2015. (Others are nearly a year behind.)

In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year ("low" is best):

2003 Maxima: 93, moderate, small sample size
2002 Maxima: 58, low
2001 Maxima: 97, moderate, small sample size
2000 Maxima: 93, moderate

Additional participants always helpful, especially for the years with small sample sizes. Next updates in late August and November.

For repair descriptions, the stats for other cars, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Nissan Maxima reliability

Our reliability stats for the Maxima now cover the year ending June 30, 2015.

Repair trips per 100 cars:

2003 Maxima: 103, moderate, small sample size
2002 Maxima: 96, moderate
2001 Maxima: 110, moderate, small sample size
2000 Maxima: 112, moderate

If a model year's sample size is small, then we especially need more owners involved.

For the descriptions of all reported repairs, results for other models, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Nissan Maxima reliability ratings and comparisons

We've updated our reliability stats for the Maxima to include owner experiences through September 30, 2015. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003 Maxima: 118, high, small sample size
2002 Maxima: 107, moderate
2001 Maxima: 121, high, small sample size
2000 Maxima: 96, moderate, small sample size

We'll have further updates in February and in May. Additional participants are needed to provide precise stats for all model years.

For the details, including repair descriptions, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Nissan Maxima reliability ratings and comparisons

We've updated our reliability stats for the Maxima to include owner experiences through the end of 2015, about eight months ahead of other sources. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year--lower is better:

2003 Maxima: 144, high, small sample size
2002 Maxima: 92, moderate
2001 Maxima: 86, moderate, small sample size
2000 Maxima: 83, moderate, small sample size

Small sample size? Then we especially need more owners involved for that model year.

For the repairs behind these stats, reliability information on other models, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Nissan Maxima reliability ratings and comparisons

We've updated our reliability stats for the Maxima to include owner experiences through September 30, 2016. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year (lower is better):

2003 Maxima: 148, high, very small sample size
2002 Maxima: 61, low, small sample size
2001 Maxima: 89, moderate, very small sample size

The amount of variation is likely do to the sample sizes.

For the repairs behind these stats, reliability information on other models, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Nissan Maxima reliability ratings and comparisons