Car will not start, steering wheel locks, key fob light is on, brake is stiff. This is not the first time Nissan had this problem. My car only has 50,000 miles on it.
2012 Nissan Maxima electrical problems
moderate 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
When does it fail?
Of the 18 electrical complaints filed for the 2012 Nissan Maxima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2012 Maxima has documented battery, electrical, and door-lock issues that can strand drivers or leave them unable to secure or exit the vehicle. Most failures occur early in ownership and some, like battery explosions or complete power loss while driving, are severe safety risks.
Owners report a cluster of serious electrical failures in the 2012 Nissan Maxima. Battery problems are the most severe: one vehicle's battery exploded at 14 months, blowing holes in the engine block and killing all power mid-highway, nearly causing a crash. Multiple owners describe complete electrical shutdowns while driving—losing power steering, brakes, and all lights simultaneously. The positive battery terminal connector (Part #24340-7F003) corrodes and separates, cutting off power; one owner replaced it twice with factory parts before switching to an aftermarket RV-grade connector. Nissan parts staff reportedly sell "an awful lot" of these connectors, suggesting a design or materials issue.
Door lock actuators fail intermittently or completely across multiple doors, sometimes all four at once. Owners report key fobs and manual door buttons becoming unreliable or useless, trapping occupants inside or leaving cars unlocked. The push-button ignition system fails—producing only clicking noises or refusing to engage the starter—with wait times exceeding 10 minutes before engines start. Instrument clusters malfunction or go dark. The MAF sensor fails repeatedly, with failure intervals shrinking from months to days despite five replacements and dealer-quality parts. Airbag warning lights stay on after factory repairs and recur later. Wiring harnesses show burn damage. These failures occur across low and high mileage vehicles and create real safety hazards.
Same Nissan Maxima electrical reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Battery positive terminal corrosion and disconnect
Battery terminal connector (Part #24340-7F003) corrodes and separates from the positive battery cable, cutting off electrical power to the entire vehicle. Owners report the part corrodes again after factory replacement.
When: First occurrence around 1.5 years of ownership; recurrence at approximately 3 years
Symptoms owners cite: Engine loses power while running; Loss of power steering; Loss of power brakes; Loss of airbag protection; Engine fails to start; Vehicle electrical system dead
Repairs/costs cited: Factory battery terminal replacement (Part #24340-7F003); owner replaced with aftermarket RV-grade lead battery connector
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Factory replacement part available; no recall or TSB mentioned
Battery explosion
Battery exploded while vehicle was driving on highway, blowing holes in engine block, disabling all electrical systems and power steering mid-drive on a 14-month-old vehicle.
When: 14 months of age
Symptoms owners cite: Loud boom noise from engine compartment; Vibrations on accelerator pedal; Debris and smoke visible in rearview mirror; Burning smell; Smoke from under hood; All electrical power lost while driving; Engine shut down while in traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Engine completely destroyed; vehicle deemed non-repairable
Complete electrical shutdown while driving
All electrical power suddenly cuts off while vehicle is moving, leaving driver without power steering, brakes, or hazard lights. Push-button start system also goes dead.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Car shuts off completely at traffic light; All electrical power lost; Push-button ignition non-responsive; Trunk unable to open without power; Hazard lights inoperative; Power steering unavailable
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle required jump-start to restore operation
Instrument cluster intermittent failure
Instrument panel goes dark or flashes off and on periodically, preventing driver from seeing warning lights and system status. Nissan dealers acknowledge this is not normal.
When: Several years into ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Instrument panel display goes out; Display flashes off and on; Warning light indicators not visible
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempted by dealers after warranty expiration
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Out-of-warranty; dealers refused service
Repeated battery failures
Battery requires replacement multiple times over vehicle ownership, with 4–5 replacements in 6 years. Nissan service blames Texas heat, but issue persists regardless of season.
When: First failure within first year; recurring every 1–2 years thereafter
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle battery drains or fails to hold charge; Repeated battery discharge requiring replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replaced 4–5 times over 6 years of ownership
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan service attributed failures to ambient heat; no other investigation
Door lock and unlock electrical failure
Key fob and door lock buttons fail to lock or unlock doors reliably. Failures span multiple doors, occur sporadically or completely, and can leave occupants unable to exit vehicle or secure doors. Multiple owners report all four door actuators failing simultaneously.
When: Various; one owner reports onset 6 months prior to complaint; others report older vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Key fob does not lock/unlock doors; Door lock button on handle works sporadically or not at all; Rear doors fail to unlock; Driver door requires multiple button pushes to unlock; Doors lock when not intended; All four door locks fail at same time; Difficulty exiting vehicle when child locked inside
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in narratives; owners noted high repair costs
Open door warning indicator and door lock relay malfunction
Open door warning light remains illuminated even when all doors are securely closed. Push-button ignition fails to turn off engine, interior lights stay on continuously, and door locks respond only to manual operation.
When: 22,995 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Open door warning light illuminated with all doors closed; Push-button ignition fails to shut off engine; Interior automatic door locks inoperative; Interior lights remain on continuously
Repairs/costs cited: No diagnosis or repair completed
Airbag warning light malfunction
Airbag system warning light illuminates and remains on after sensor or control unit replacement, then recurs at later date, suggesting persistent control module or wiring issue.
When: First replacement December 2007 (possibly 2017); recurrence September 2018
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated on passenger side; Warning light stays on regardless of driving state or passenger presence; Light recurs after factory repair
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced airbag control unit (FP-Number 98820-9N09C)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Factory replacement control unit installed; issue recurred
Tire pressure monitoring system failure
Tire pressure gauge on instrument cluster does not operate. Dealer diagnosed faulty instrument panel needing replacement, but repair was not completed and manufacturer was notified.
When: 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Tire pressure monitoring gauge non-functional
Repairs/costs cited: Instrument panel diagnosed as faulty and requiring replacement; not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure
Mass airflow sensor repeated failures
MAF sensor fails repeatedly and requires replacement five times since October 2015. Each replacement cycle becomes shorter, eventually failing within days. Cleaning and dealer-grade parts have not resolved the issue.
When: Starting October 2015; recurring failure cycles shortening from several months to one week
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine warning light on dashboard; Vehicle stalls out; Engine misfire or stalling condition
Codes mentioned: MAF sensor fault (inferred from symptom description)
Repairs/costs cited: MAF sensor replaced five times; dealer sensor ($200+) also ineffective; no root cause identified
Key fob and push-button ignition malfunction
Push-button start system fails to engage starter or produces only clicking noise. 'No key' warning illuminates even with key present, preventing vehicle start. Ignition system locks up, leaving vehicle stranded.
When: Unspecified; one report at 90,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: 'No key' warning light illuminated; Unable to start vehicle; Push-button ignition unresponsive; Clicking noise from ignition without engine start; Ignition locks up; Steering wheel locks; Brake feels stiff; Delays of 10+ minutes before engine cranks
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented
Electrical wiring harness burn damage
Green wire shows burn damage throughout entire wiring harness from alternator to engine fuse box and interior fuse box. Fuses and relays are blown and bypassed.
When: Unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: Visible burn damage on green wire throughout harness; Blown fuses and relays; Compromised electrical circuits
Repairs/costs cited: Fuses and relays blown and bypassed
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Nissan maxima. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH the open door warning indicator remained illuminated even though all four doors were closed securely. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road. When the push button ignition switch was engaged it failed to shut off the engine and the interior automatic doors would only unlock manually. In…
I was driving south of the nj turnpike I heard a loud boom sound and vibrations on the accelerator I looked in the rearview mirror and saw debris and a cloud of smoke. Smells of something burning also there was a tremendous amount of smoke coming from underneath the hood of my car. I immediately started pulling over from the middle lane as I'm pulling over almost causing a major accident the…
On dec 12, 107 my 2012 maxima had a side airbag sensor replaced (dealer replaced air bag control unit fp-number 98820-9n09c). The airbag light on the passenger side would not go off after the car started. The warning light stayed on regardless if the car was still or moving or whether there was a passenger in the car or not. In september of 2018 the exact same warning light returned which makes…
Had electrical trouble with your 2012 Nissan Maxima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2012 Nissan Maxima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 18 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 40,000 and 66,000 miles, with the median around 57,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 66,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Nissan/Maxima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.