The 2017 Maxima with the VQ35DE V6 is a solid highway cruiser, but the CVT transmission remains the Achilles' heel of this platform, and some high-mileage examples develop catastrophic engine failures tied to oil consumption and timing chain issues.
CVT Transmission Failure / Judder
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Shuddering or vibration during acceleration, especially 15-40 mph, Hesitation when accelerating from a stop, Whining or grinding noises from transmission, Sudden loss of power or failure to move
Fix: CVT replacement or rebuild required in most cases. Nissan extended warranty to 84k mi on some units, but many fail just beyond that. Expect 12-16 hours labor for R&R. Transmission oil cooler often replaced simultaneously as it contributes to overheating.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500
Excessive Oil Consumption / Engine Damage
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Low oil warning light between changes (consuming 1+ qt per 1,000 mi), Blue smoke from exhaust on startup or acceleration, Rattling from timing chain area on cold start, Check engine light with misfire codes, Catastrophic failure: knocking, loss of compression
Fix: Worn piston rings are the root cause—oil control rings fail, leading to oil burning and carbon buildup. Minor cases may limp along with frequent top-offs, but severe cases require complete engine rebuild or short block replacement. Timing chain tensioner failure can cascade into valve/piston damage. 25-35 hours labor for full rebuild.
Estimated cost: $4,500-8,000
Transmission Mounts Deterioration
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting into gear (Park to Drive), Vibration felt through cabin at idle, Excessive engine movement visible under acceleration
Fix: Hydraulic transmission mount fails, allowing excessive drivetrain movement. Replacement is straightforward but often done in conjunction with CVT service. 2-3 hours labor for mount replacement.
Estimated cost: $350-600
ABS Module / Traction Control Faults
Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: ABS, VDC (traction control), and brake warning lights illuminated simultaneously, Loss of anti-lock braking function, Brake pedal feels normal but no ABS intervention when needed
Fix: Multiple recalls issued for ABS control module software and hydraulic unit failures. Diagnosis requires Nissan-specific scan tool to isolate module vs. wheel speed sensor issues. Module replacement/reprogramming takes 2-4 hours. Check for open recalls first—some covered under extended warranty.
Estimated cost: $800-1,800
Occupant Classification System (OCS) Sensor Failure
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: Airbag warning light on dash, Passenger airbag OFF light stays on with adult in seat, Intermittent airbag light during normal driving
Fix: Seat sensor mat under passenger seat fails to correctly detect occupant weight. Recall issued for some VINs (NHTSA 19V-395). Replacement involves removing seat, replacing sensor mat, and recalibrating system. 1.5-2.5 hours labor if not recall-covered.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Fuel System / High-Pressure Fuel Pump Issues
Rare · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Hard starting or extended cranking, especially when hot, Hesitation or stumbling under hard acceleration, Check engine light with fuel pressure codes (P0087, P0191)
Fix: Direct injection high-pressure fuel pump can fail, often due to contamination from old fuel or faulty fuel filter. Filter is integral to pump assembly on this platform. Pump replacement requires fuel system depressurization and partial intake removal. 3-4 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Owner tips
Check CVT fluid every 30k miles (Nissan NS-3 fluid ONLY) and consider fluid exchanges every 60k—do NOT flush, only drain-and-fill method
Monitor oil level religiously between changes; top off immediately if low to prevent timing chain and piston ring damage
Verify all ABS/airbag recalls completed before purchase—TSB/recall repairs are free and address chronic issues
Avoid aggressive driving in cold weather until fully warmed—CVT and engine components are sensitive to thermal stress
Buy one under 60k miles with full service records and confirmed recall work, but avoid high-mileage examples or anything with CVT hesitation—repair costs can exceed the car's value quickly.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP · 19V807000
2019-11-08
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and determined to not need a repair, under recall number 18V-601. In addition, this recall expands the previous population. The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.
Consequence: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS actuator, free of charge. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available, currently expected to be during summer 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: If the ABS warning light remains illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP · 18V601000
2018-09-07
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Nissan Murano, 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2017-2018 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2017 Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.
Consequence: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number on the ABS actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: When brake fluid has leaked onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp will remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up. If this occurs, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP · 16V636000
2016-09-02
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 19, 2016 and equipped with Intelligent Cruise Control, 2015-2017 Murano vehicles manufactured August 22, 2014, to August 19, 2016 and equipped with Intelligent Cruise Control, and 2015-2016 Murano Hybrid vehicles manufactured August 22, 2014, to July 19, 2016. The affected vehicles have Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps that may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal electrical circuit board.
Consequence: A brake fluid leak onto the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ABS Actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 12, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: When brake fluid has leaked onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp will remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up. If this occurs, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION · 16V244000
2016-04-26 · EA15004
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Consequence: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
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