The 2007 Nissan Maxima has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Floor pan corrosion and rust-through.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2007 Nissan Maxima.
STRUCTURE
26 NHTSA complaints · 2011-12 → 2022-03
“RUSTING FLOORBOARDS BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES”
“FLOOR PANS UNDER BOTH THE DRIVERS AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT”
“THE FLOOR BOARDS ON M/V ARE ROTTING. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE, NISSAN HAS BEEN AWARE AND NEVER TOLD THE BUYING PUBLIC. PLEASE FORCE A RECALL TO FIX ISSUE. MY NISSAN ONLY HAS 54K FOR MILEAGE AND HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF”
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
21 NHTSA complaints · 2010-08 → 2020-01
“ABS/SPEED SENSOR/CONTROLLER FAILURE - DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 MPH THE CAR SLOWED TO 25 & WOULDN'T GO OVER. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. LATER FOUND OUT RR SENSOR WENT OUT FROM TECH”
“ABS, SLIP, TCS & BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON SUDDENLY WHILE TAKING OFF AND THERE WAS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS (AND STILL IS) A TOTAL LOSS OF ABS & TCS SYSTEMS.. ENGINES REVS HIGH & SURGES WHILE TAKING 1/4 MILE TO REACH 40MPH”
“I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO DAYCARE THIS MORNING WHEN I NOTICED MY BRAKES MAKING A FUNNY NOISE AND SOUND. I COULD HEAR A CLICKING SOUND FROM THE FRONT, DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL, AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AS I TRIED TO COME TO A STOP”
POWER TRAIN
12 NHTSA complaints · 2007-11 → 2019-06
“THE CVT TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED IN AUGUST 2016. THE CAR WAS JERKY AND THEN WOULDN'T GO INTO ANY GEAR ONCE I PULLED IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, VEHICLE SPEED DECREASED ALTHOUGH THE ACCELERATION PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED”
“WHILE DRIVING ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM AN OFF RAMP, THE POWER IN MY CAR FAILED. THE RPM'S WERE VERY HIGH, BUT THERE WAS NO POWER. AFTER PRESSING AND RELEASING THE GAS SEVERAL TIMES, THE POWER PICKED UP AND THE CAR DROVE NORMALLY”
STEERING
4 NHTSA complaints · 2009-10 → 2023-07
“I WAS AT A NISSAN DEALERSHIP GETTING A NEW INTELLI-KEY MADE FOR THE CAR WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK BROKE. I FOUND OUT THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD TIME THIS LOCKING MECHANISM HAS BEEN REPLACED ON THIS CAR ALONE”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK WITH THE IGNITION KNOB IN THE OFF POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT BE IN THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES”
“The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle in the morning, the vehicle would start after several attempts. The contact stated that he opened the hood and checked the battery and became aware that both battery terminals were”
ENGINE
18 NHTSA complaints · 2007-09 → 2019-06
“TIMING CHAIN AND AND ALL THE PLASTIC GUIDES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. NEVER KNEW UNTIL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO DEALER TO GET CHECKED, COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY TIMING CHAINS HAVE BOTH FAILED”
“MY NEW 2007 NISSAN MAXIMA WAS "BUCKING" AT 40 MPH & 60 MPH. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON CAME ON. LATER THAT DAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT ON ME 3 TIMES. THE NEXT DAY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY INDICATED THAT IT WAS THE CAM SHAFT”
“DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, THE DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAIN IS MAKING EXCESSIVE NOISE. THEY RECOMMEND I REPLACE THE SECONDARY TIMING KIT FOR $1,939.52 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE”
AIR BAGS
18 NHTSA complaints · 2011-03 → 2019-12
“I STARTED MY CAR UP ON 12/11/2019 AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS BEEN FLASHING SINCE WITH NO ACCIDENT. I'M AFRAID MY AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN MAXIMA. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT RANDOM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED FOR THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE AND SPIRAL CABLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED”
“TL ' THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$360–$500
Shop
~$255–$355
DIY
~$80–$180
CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.
Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
On AWD and 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$105–$140
Shop
~$75–$100
DIY
~$15–$40
AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
120 crashes 1990–2024
How the 120 occupant deaths break down
86
driver deaths
32
passenger deaths
2
not recorded by seat
120
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2007 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
4
complaints mentioning a crash
1
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2007 Nissan Maxima reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.