Last updated: 2026-10-10

RELIABILITY SCORE: 74/100 (GOOD)

2020 Nissan Maxima Reliability Report

The 2020 Nissan Maxima has good reliability, but owners report a hood that flew open at highway speed and front trim that breaks loose.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

11.6per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$540

Annual Fuel Cost

$3,100

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity67/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs70/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact88/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity80/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

Good overall and above average among 2020 sedans, yet weaker than most other Maxima years, with loose front trim, a hood-latch report, and one visibility recall.

Top Issues to Watch

STRUCTURE (4)
POWER TRAIN (2)
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (2)

Generation & Refresh (US)

Refresh Year

2020 received a facelift for eighth generation update for the Eighth generation (A36).

Changes: Updated exterior styling, engine revisions..
Year 5 in this generation (2016–2023).
8th generation Maxima (US).

What this means for buyers

Refresh years bring updates but can also introduce new issues. Check early recall data before buying.

2016: Eighth generation (A36) Launch

Generation start — new platform.

2020: This Model Year (Refresh)

2020 received a facelift for eighth generation update for the Eighth generation (A36).

Should You Buy the 2020 Nissan Maxima?

Reliability is good for this year, and it beats the average 2020 sedan. Within the Maxima lineup, though, it is among the weaker of six scored years. Federal crash tests gave it five of five stars, and model-wide repair cost runs about $540 a year against $590 for the class. The 2019 rates about the same. The 2021 rates better.

Owners filed 21 complaints. The most serious: a hood that unlatched during a lane change at 65 mph, with no warning light, and blocked the driver's view. Federal recall records list one recall, in the visibility area. Trim is another weak spot. Clips snap, the grille sags, and the front camera shifts out of position. One owner saw this before 12,000 miles and found parts on backorder. One transmission failed after an odd engine sound, a jerk, and a stall at about 30 mph. The car was towed.

Ask the seller for proof the recall work was done, and check that the hood latches firmly and the grille sits flush. Also price a 2021 alongside it.

Compared to the 2021 Nissan Maxima, which scored 3 points higher. See also the 2019 Nissan Maxima for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Acceptable reliability score
+$50 cheaper to maintain than avg fullsize cars
+Infrequent unscheduled repairs
+Low major repair risk (15%)

Cons

−STRUCTURE: Body trim and glass come loose or break without a collision (4 complaints)
−AIR BAGS issues reported (2 complaints)

Compare 2020 Nissan Maxima With

2020 Chrysler 300

Reliability: 74/100

Good

2020 Dodge Charger

Reliability: 75/100

Good

2020 Hyundai Sonata

Reliability: 62/100

Good

2020 Subaru Legacy

Reliability: 67/100

Good

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK

1 manufacturer recall issued

Other

HIGH RISK

STRUCTURE (4)
POWER TRAIN (2)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

recall on record

The 2020 Nissan Maxima carries 1 recall — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

11.6

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 17.9

LowAvgHigh

Moderate

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2020 Nissan Maxima Recall Details

1 recall has been issued for the 2020 Nissan Maxima. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

20V5700002020-09-22

VISIBILITY

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima, Maxima and Leaf vehicles. The rear window glass may not remain properly secured to the vehicle.

Consequence

Rear window glass that separates from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the back window glass, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC752.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2020 Nissan Maxima? Check its history first

Structure problems lead owner complaints about the 2020 Nissan Maxima, and 1 recall was issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2020 Nissan Maxima NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 9.5%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Advanced Belt Feature (Standard)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Curtain (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Torso/Pelvis (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (None)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)LATCH Locations (Rear Seat)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver, Front Passenger)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Nissan MaximaRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

3.5

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$540

vs $590 avg for fullsize cars

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.3

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

15%

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

Maxima

$540

Category Avg

$590

All Vehicles

$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

24 MPG

Running cost: $3,650/yr

Fuel + repair

20 city / 30 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2020 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
Maxima 3.5L 6-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AV-S7)	20	30	24	$3,100

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2020 Nissan Maxima.

Tug gently on the front grille and quarter panel edges to check for broken clips or loose panels.
Inspect the windshield and sunroof glass for cracks, and ask whether either has been replaced.
Close the hood, then pull up on its front edge to confirm the latch holds firmly.
Start the car and wait at least 20 seconds, watching for a forward collision warning light.
Drive at 50 to 55 mph and watch for power loss or automatic braking warning lights.
Reverse into a parking space and watch for sudden automatic braking or constant buzzing.
Ask for transmission repair records and note any jerking, odd engine noises, or stalling on the test drive.
Check the A-pillar moldings for gaps or looseness before taking the car on the highway.

2020 Nissan Maxima Common Problems by Component

21 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

STRUCTURE (4)POWER TRAIN (2)FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (2)LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES (2)AIR BAGS (2)SERVICE BRAKES (2)ENGINE (1)STEERING (1)Other (5)

STRUCTURE

4 complaints

Body trim and glass come loose or break without a collision. Clips holding the front grille and front quarter panels snap, letting the grille sag and knocking the front camera out of position. In one report this happened before 12,000 miles, and replacement parts were on backorder with no restock date. An A-pillar molding blew off at speed in wind. Owners also describe a sunroof that shattered when the doors closed and a windshield that cracked with no point of impact. Parts falling off a moving car can strike other vehicles.

4 complaints total

POWER TRAIN

2 complaints

The transmission fails, and the car can stall in traffic. Owners describe an abnormal engine sound, then a jerk and a stall at around 30 mph with no warning lights. In that case the dealer found a failed transmission that needed replacement, and the car had to be towed. The same owner reports the car failing to start, or starting and then stalling several minutes later, more than once. Stalling in the middle of the road leaves the car stranded in traffic.

2 complaints total

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

2 complaints

The forward collision warning light comes on by itself soon after startup. Owners say it flickers on and off before staying lit, or turns on about 20 seconds after the car starts, with no obstruction on the sensors and no prior accident. One car had only about 30k miles. Both complaints describe a fault warning rather than false braking or a crash, but a fault light like this can mean the system is not working.

2 complaints total

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES (2 complaints)

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

2 complaints

The hood unlatches while driving, flies open, and hits the windshield. That happened during a lane change at 65 mph with no warning light, at roughly 84,214 miles, and it blocks the driver's view at highway speed. The other complaint is minor and vague. It mentions the gas cap door lock and concerns about poor backup camera visibility. With only 2 complaints, no wider pattern shows up, but a hood opening at speed is a serious loss-of-visibility risk.

2 complaints total

AIR BAGS (2 complaints)

AIR BAGS

2 complaintsSafety-related

An airbag deploys hard enough in a low-speed crash to break the windshield and injure the driver's head, neck, and lower back. That collision happened at about 15 mph. The second complaint here is not really about airbags. It describes the parking collision sensor braking the car on its own while reversing, which caused a crash on a hill at about 25,000 miles. Both complaints involve crashes, and one involves injuries.

2 complaints total2 crashes1 injury

SERVICE BRAKES (2 complaints)

SERVICE BRAKES

2 complaints

The car loses power while driving and lights up a cluster of warnings at once. Owners report the automatic emergency braking, slip, rear automatic braking, parking brake, traction control, and check engine lights coming on together. One loss of power happened at 50 to 55 mph on a car with 8,296 miles. In that case the dealer could not reproduce the fault, and the manufacturer declined to authorize a repair or buyback. Losing power at highway speed raises the risk of a crash.

2 complaints total

ENGINE (1 complaints)

ENGINE

1 complaint

2026-05-22

2020 Nissan Maxima SR is experiencing CVT transmission issues that appear substantially similar to the defects described in the Nissan CVT Martinez Class Action involving prior Nissan model years.

STEERING (1 complaints)

STEERING

1 complaint

2025-02-11

Nissan dealership said the front control arms are cracking and recommended having them replaced.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER (1 complaints)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

2024-04-22

The sunroof inexplicably blew out while driving on a 3-lane interstate normally taken to work every day in the morning, windows were up. This movable portion of the sunroof is part of the panoramic sun roof. The sun shade was open, it is normally left open. Some small pieces of the glass fell onto me and seats but most was sucked up and away from the car. Thankfully, no glass hit me in the face and no cars were around me. I have rear cam footage of the glass flying out behind the car. Front footage shows nothing hit the car, no one was near enough to suspect otherwise. A picture is attached of what is left.

LANE DEPARTURE (1 complaints)

LANE DEPARTURE

1 complaint

2024-03-28

When I start driving, sometimes I randomly see Key System Error and DAS Malfunction. All other warnings such as emergency brake, traction control, blind spot detection light up. Engine RPM meter keeps going to 0 and back and forth (see video in the link below). When this happens, driver assistance features like forward collision warning, blind spot warning and lane departure warning stops working. Sometimes, I cannot turn off the engine by pressing the Stop Engine button. I have to hold the button for about 5 seconds to stop the engine. Sometimes there's a Chasis Control System error (Attached a picture from last year). This started happening about a year ago and has occurred at least a dozen times so far. I have taken this to different dealerships, and none have been able to identify the issue. I haven't had any accidents on collisions on this vehicle. Please see link below for a video of the behavior. You can see different warnings coming on and off in the video. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Best & Worst Nissan Maxima Years

Best Nissan Maxima Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

Top Pick

Good

Nissan Maxima Years to Avoid

No Nissan Maxima years are statistical outliers in our data.

Scores stay between 72 and 77 across 6 scored model years.

See full Nissan Maxima years-to-avoid analysis

Nissan Maxima Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Nissan Maxima reliability scores by year
Year	Score	Rating
2018	72/100	Good
2019	76/100	Good
2020	74/100	Good
2021	77/100	Good
2022	77/100	Good
2023	77/100	Good

Nissan Maxima Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2023	77/100	0	Good	0	1
2022	77/100	0	Good	0	5
2021	77/100	+3	Good	0	3
2020(selected)	74/100	-2	Good	1	21
2019	76/100	+4	Good	1	18
2018	72/100	—	Good	2	36

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2020 Nissan Maxima reliable?

Yes, its reliability standing is good, and it is above average among 2020 sedans. It is among the weaker of the six scored Maxima years, though. Owners filed 21 complaints, and federal records show one recall. Model-wide repair cost is about $540 a year, below the $590 class figure.

What are the most common problems with the 2020 Nissan Maxima?

Body trim and glass lead the complaints, with four reports. Grille and front panel clips snap, the grille sags, and the front camera moves out of place. A sunroof shattered and a windshield cracked with no impact. Air bag, latch, and transmission complaints came next, with two each.

Does the 2020 Nissan Maxima have hood problems?

One owner reported the hood unlatching and flying open into the windshield during a lane change at 65 mph, with no warning light. It happened at roughly 84,214 miles. A single report is not a wider pattern, but it blocks the driver's view at speed.

Does the 2020 Nissan Maxima have transmission problems?

Only two power train complaints exist, so no broad pattern shows. One owner heard an abnormal engine sound, then felt a jerk and a stall at about 30 mph with no warning lights. The dealer found a failed transmission needing replacement, and the car was towed.

Is the 2021 Nissan Maxima better than the 2020?

Federal and owner data rate the 2021 better. It has 3 complaints and no recalls, against 21 complaints and one recall for the 2020. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so the gap is partly age. The 2019 rates about the same as the 2020.

Don’t buy a 2020 Nissan Maxima without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2020 Nissan Maxima

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2020 Nissan Maxima does best on recall impact (88/100) and worst on complaint severity (67/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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