The Nissan Maxima is a midsize car built from 1981 to 2023 over 6 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 66% of those on record. Between 1985 and 2025 it grew 22 cm longer and gained 224 kg. Engines offered: V6. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track at 4.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Maxima is
The Nissan Maxima is a midsize car that Nissan built from 1981 to 2023 — 43 model years. Our measurements put it at 6 generations, the current one starting in 2009. It has been offered with V6 power. Its closest siblings in the Nissan range: Altima, Kicks, Leaf.
Where the Maxima is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 5,246 Maximas on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1N4 | 1994-2023 | |
| Japan | JN1, JN8 | 1983-2011 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Nissan VIN decide which of these 6 lines your Maxima belongs to. What every character in a Maxima VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Nissan Maxima adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Maxima generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Maxima's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Maxima that gives 6 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-1988 | 462 cm | 255 cm | 1406 kg | - | - |
| 1989-1994 | 477 cm | 265 cm | 1425 kg | +15 cm | +19 kg |
| 1995-1999 | 477 cm | 270 cm | 1369 kg | +0 cm | -56 kg |
| 2000-2003 | 484 cm | 275 cm | 1451 kg | +7 cm | +82 kg |
| 2004-2008 | 492 cm | 284 cm | 1571 kg | +8 cm | +120 kg |
| 2009-2025 | 484 cm | 278 cm | 1630 kg | -8 cm | +59 kg |
Between 1985 and 2025 the Maxima gained 22 cm in length (+4.8%) and 224 kg in weight (+15.9%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Maxima that is 224 kg against 22 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Nissan Maxima tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Maxima owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Nissan Maxima have? Power & range
The Nissan Maxima is offered with 1 powertrain — 3.5L 6-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Nissan Maxima, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.5L · 6-cyl | CVT | FWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Maxima by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Nissan Maxima. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Maxima | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 119 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 7,157 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $2,035/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 1,118 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Nissan Maxima?
The Maxima is a midsize car, built from 1981 to 2023 across 6 generations. Engines offered: V6.
Where is the Nissan Maxima made?
Across 5,246 cars in our records the split is: the United States (66%), Japan (34%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Maxima have?
6 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2009. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Maxima grew 22 cm longer and gained 224 kg.
What is the Nissan Maxima warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Maxima reliable?
It scores 4.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Maxima?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Nissan
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Rogue | 2008–2026 | 94 | 34 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Nissan GT-R | 2009–2026 | 9 | 19 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Nissan Altima | 1993–2026 | 146 | 34 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Nissan Frontier | 1998–2026 | 142 | 22 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Nissan Pathfinder | 1986–2026 | 149 | 26 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Nissan Sentra | 1982–2026 | 158 | 41 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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