Nissan · Maxima · 2021
2021 Nissan Maxima
0
Recalls
3
Complaints
5/5
Safety Rating
The 2021 Nissan Maxima has no recalls and 3 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: structure,unknown or other (1 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
Research Context
The 2021 Nissan Maxima page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is structure,unknown or other with 1 reported complaint.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to understand what owners were actually reporting instead of relying only on the raw complaint total.
- Review the recall section even if the total is smaller, because a limited number of recalls can still point to meaningful safety actions.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2021 Nissan Maxima currently shows no active NHTSA recalls listed on this page and 3 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows 5/5 overall NHTSA safety rating.
- The most frequently reported complaint categories on this page are structure,unknown or other (1), electrical system (1), engine and engine cooling (1).
- Vehicle
- 2021 Nissan Maxima
- Recalls
- 0
- Complaints
- 3
- Safety Rating
- 5/5
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Crash Test Performance
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
9.5% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
ESC: StandardForward Collision Warning: StandardLane Departure Warning: Standard
Owner Complaints
3 totalENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Apr 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while his son was driving at 20 MPH, the vehicle began to jerk and was shaking. The vehicle felt as though the brake pedal was being depressed. The oil light was flashing. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, wh...
Preview excerpt
STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jun 3, 2021
Going down a road in Tennessee on my way to my sons house in Fort Campbell. No cars on the road anywhere 545 in the morning and the sun roof explodes out of no where. Parts have been ordered and the car is in my possession till the parts come in so no forms to upload as of yet.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mar 22, 2021
VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW WITH 4 MILES THEN AFTER 100MILES, THE CD CHANGER DOES NOT WORK AND THERE IS A DELAY IN THE ELECTRONIC COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE. THE ANLOG TEMP GAUGE IS WORKING BUT THE ELECTRONIC GAUGE DOES NOT COME ON TILL 20-30MINS OF DRIVING.
Showing 3 recent complaints from 3 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2021 Nissan models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
More Nissan Maxima Years
2022 Nissan MaximaCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.5c2020 Nissan MaximaCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.1r20c2023 Nissan MaximaCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.1c2019 Nissan MaximaCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.1r17c2018 Nissan MaximaCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.2r36c2017 Nissan MaximaCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.4r99c
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2021 Nissan Maxima have?
The 2021 Nissan Maxima has 0 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2021 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA has received 3 owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Nissan Maxima.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2021 Nissan Maxima?
The 2021 Nissan Maxima received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Nissan Maxima?
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2021 Nissan Maxima are structure,unknown or other (1 reports), electrical system (1 reports), engine and engine cooling (1 reports).
Does the 2021 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
NHTSA does not currently list any recalls on record for the 2021 Nissan Maxima. To verify the status of your specific vehicle, check nhtsa.gov/recalls with your VIN.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.