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2022 NISSAN MAXIMA

3.5L V6 VQ35DE•FWD•CVT•gas
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5-Year Cost of Ownership
$23,474 maintenance + known platform issues
~$4,695/yr · 390¢/mile equivalent · $6,069 maintenance + $2,070 expected platform issues
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3.5L V6 VQ35DE
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3.5L V6 VQ35DE
Common Problems & Known Issues

The 2022 Maxima carries the VQ35DE V6 and Nissan's CVT (continuously variable transmission), a combination known for CVT oil cooler failures and transmission mount issues. Engine internals are generally robust, but when problems occur they're catastrophic and expensive.

CVT Transmission Oil Cooler Failure

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: transmission fluid mixing with coolant (strawberry milkshake appearance), transmission overheating warnings, harsh shifting or loss of drive, coolant loss with no external leaks
Fix: Replace external CVT oil cooler and flush both transmission and cooling system. If contamination occurred, full CVT replacement may be required. 4-6 hours labor for cooler only, 12-18 hours if CVT needs replacement due to contamination damage.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 (cooler only), $4,500-7,000 (with CVT replacement)

Transmission Mount Collapse

Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: clunking when shifting from park to drive, excessive engine movement during acceleration, vibration at idle, visible sagging of engine/trans assembly
Fix: Replace front and/or rear transmission mounts. The rubber degrades prematurely on CVT-equipped models due to heat and vibration. 2-3 hours labor for both mounts.
Estimated cost: $400-700

Fuel Filter Clogging (High-Pressure)

Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: hard starting after sitting, loss of power under acceleration, rough idle or hesitation, check engine light with fuel pressure codes (P0087, P0191)
Fix: Replace high-pressure fuel filter assembly in the engine bay. This isn't the in-tank pump filter but a separate canister filter. 1.5-2 hours labor, requires fuel system depressurization.
Estimated cost: $250-450

Catastrophic Engine Failure (Piston/Bearing/Ringland)

Rare · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: sudden loss of compression, knocking or rattling from engine block, excessive oil consumption leading to metal-on-metal failure, coolant in oil or vice versa (head gasket failure)
Fix: When the VQ35DE fails internally, it's typically total: spun bearings, cracked pistons, or blown head gaskets requiring full rebuild or short-block replacement. 25-35 hours labor for complete tear-down and rebuild with machine work.
Estimated cost: $6,000-10,000

CVT Judder and Premature Wear

Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: shuddering during acceleration from stop, whining or droning noise under load, delayed engagement when shifting, transmission slipping feeling
Fix: CVT fluid degradation or internal belt/pulley wear. Start with CVT fluid exchange using Nissan NS-3 fluid (2-3 drain/fills). If internal damage exists, CVT replacement is the only fix. 1 hour for fluid service, 12-15 hours for CVT R&R.
Estimated cost: $300-500 (fluid service), $4,000-6,500 (CVT replacement)
Owner tips
  • Change CVT fluid every 30,000-40,000 miles regardless of Nissan's 'lifetime' claim — use only Nissan NS-3 spec fluid
  • Monitor transmission cooler for early signs of failure by checking coolant color and transmission fluid condition separately
  • Address transmission mount wear early to prevent accelerated CVT damage from excessive movement
  • Keep an eye on oil consumption after 80k miles; the VQ35DE can develop piston ring issues that lead to catastrophic failure if ignored
Avoid unless you're prepared for CVT cooler maintenance and potential transmission replacement before 100k — the engine is solid but the CVT is a ticking time bomb.
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.
524 jobs across 17 categories
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.
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