2020 NISSAN Maxima

Recalls, Specs & Safety Report

1RecallsNHTSA Verified20ComplaintsNHTSA Data0InvestigationsNHTSA Data
Expert Verdict
⚠️Elevated Concerns

The 2020 Nissan Maxima faces a notable recall regarding the rear window glass not remaining secured, which could impact visibility and safety. Coupled with multiple complaints around visibility issues, this raises concerns for potential owners.

Key Factor:Visibility-related safety issues

📋Why This Matters

Visibility is critical for safe driving, and any failure in this area can lead to serious accidents or unanticipated emergencies. The recall addresses a significant defect that affects one of the car's most important safety features—the rear window glass. Potential buyers should be aware of these issues as they could result in costly repairs or even accidents if not addressed promptly.

Focus Area:Safety Profile
📊

Expert Analysis

Year-over-year, Nissan has made strides in safety technologies, but the 2020 Maxima's visibility-related recall suggests some regression in reliability for this specific model. Overall, while Nissan typically offers solid engineering, this recall marks a troubling point for the Maxima's reputation.

Critical Component: Warning

Safety & Reliability Score

91/100
Excellent

Score Breakdown

Recall Impact-8
Complaint Impact-1
Investigation Impact-0

Technical Specifications

Key specifications for the 2020 NISSAN Maxima

Model Year2020
MakeNISSAN
ModelMaxima
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle

Safety History Timeline

Jan20
NEWProduction
Jan20
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan20
ISSUEFirst Report

Consumer Complaint Analysis

⚠️

Most Reported Issue

6 complaints (30% of total)
➡️

Complaint Trend

Stable
No trend data
✅

Safety Incidents

No critical incidents

Complaint Severity Distribution

Breakdown of 20 consumer complaints by severity level.

🟠High
1(5%)
🟡Medium
9(45%)
🟢Low
10(50%)

Mileage Failure Analysis

⚙️Engineering Insight

The peak failure range of 0-20k miles indicates that problems may surface early in a vehicle's life cycle. Owners within this mileage should stay vigilant about visibility concerns and ensure any necessary repairs are completed before they escalate into more serious issues.

📊 Mileage data extracted from 7 of 20 complaints (35% coverage)
0-20k
3 reports (43%)
20k-40k
2 reports (29%)
40k-60k
0 reports (0%)
60k-80k
0 reports (0%)
80k-100k
1 reports (14%)
100k+
1 reports (14%)
* Analysis based on mileage data extracted from consumer complaint descriptions. Actual failure rates may vary.

🛠️ DIY Diagnosis Center

Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).

Primary Risk Areas

VISIBILITY

🎯Risk Areas & Recommended Actions

Based on recall data, these components require verification:

1

Rear Window Glass

Issue: Rear window glass may not remain properly secured to the vehicle, risking visibility loss.

✅

Check the integrity of the rear window and follow up on any recall notifications from Nissan.

🔍

Verify that all recall work has been completed with appropriate service records.

Campaign:21V331000
💡Visit NHTSA.gov or contact your NISSAN dealer to verify recall completion status.

Official Safety Recalls (1)

Campaign: 20V570000

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

Summary

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.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.

NHTSA Investigations

0 investigations
✓

No active investigations for this vehicle.

Consumer Complaints

20 total complaints

Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2020 Maxima.

Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis

Warning30%
Stall10%
Crack10%
Accident10%
Jerk5%
Battery5%
Shatter5%
Check Engine Light5%
Burn5%
Smell5%
Engine/Powertrain🔶 Medium
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle jerked before stalling in the middle of the road. No warning lights were illuminated. The Police were called to block traffic. The vehicle was towed. The tow truck driver had issues while attempting to tow the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the vehicle failed to start. The contact would turn on the engine, and several minutes later, the vehicle stalled. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. It was unknown if the contact's husband had replaced the battery. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was informed that the vehicle warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

Aug 25, 2025Under Review
Safety Systems🔶 Medium
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

When I start driving the front collision light comes on and off and then they'll stay on

May 28, 2025Under Review
Steering/Suspension🔵 Low
STEERING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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

Feb 26, 2025Under Review
Safety Systems🔶 Medium
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

Forward collision warning turns on about 20 seconds after the car starts. There was no accident or obstructions to the sensors, this apperas to just be equipment failure on a car with only 30k miles on it.

Aug 31, 2024Resolved
Other🔵 Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

Apr 22, 2024Resolved
Safety Systems🔶 Medium
LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

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)

Apr 18, 2024Resolved
Other🔵 Low
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH and changing lanes, the hood unlatched, flew open and struck the windshield. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,214.

Apr 12, 2024Resolved
Body/Interior🔵 Low
STRUCTURE

Was getting into the car. As we closed the doors, we heard the sunroof shatter. the edges of the broken glass were pushed up as if the air pressure inside the car broke the glass. If the inside cover was open, we would have been showered in glass. The manufacturer inspected and replaced the glass.

Mar 13, 2024Resolved
Engine/Powertrain🔵 Low
POWER TRAIN

My transmission is bad.

Feb 1, 2024Resolved
Body/Interior🔶 Medium
STRUCTURE

1-Clips that secure the front grill and font quarter panels have broken for no apparent reason. 2-Body parts can fall off during driving if not repaired 3-Inspected at dealership 4-No warnings - the front camera looked "cloudy" because it had fallen when the grill clips broke and became loose The entire grill has to be replaced. All parts are on backorder with no date for restock. This is my daily driver with a mix of town and highway driving, so I typically drive 30-70 MPH daily and only about 10 miles per day to and from work. There is very little wear on this car, it has less than 12,000 miles on it and has not been involved in any collision.

Jun 18, 2023Resolved

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I know about the recalls affecting the 2020 Nissan Maxima?

The primary recall involves potential issues with the rear window glass not being securely attached, which can compromise visibility while driving. It's essential to have any recalls addressed promptly to ensure your safety on the road.

How reliable is the 2020 Nissan Maxima compared to other sedans?

While typically known for solid engineering, the concerns regarding visibility and related recalls may diminish its reliability standing among competitors in its class. Prospective buyers should weigh these factors before making a decision.

🧭What This Means for You

Both current owners and prospective buyers benefit from reviewing this safety analysis before making decisions.

If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.

🔑

If You Own This Vehicle

  • Safety Check: Cross-reference your VIN with official NISSAN records to ensure no 1 recalls remain open.
  • Unaddressed recalls pose real-world risks. Prioritize scheduling any pending repairs to maintain vehicle integrity.
  • Proactive tip: Enroll in NISSAN's owner notification program for real-time safety updates.
🛒

If You're Buying Used

  • Request the VIN from the seller and verify the 'Clean' recall status via NHTSA.
  • This specific Maxima year is noted for its strong reliability foundations.
⚖️

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Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Last updated: February 23, 2026.