Seat will not let up but will go backwards.
2016 Nissan Maxima electrical problems
severe 20 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
3crashes
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 20 electrical complaints filed for the 2016 Nissan Maxima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Among the 12 model years of Nissan Maxima in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2016 Maxima electrical problems run deep—from complete shutdown while driving and unexplained acceleration loss to fires caused by ABS pump defects. Even after dealer repairs and alternator replacements, failures recur. Avoid this year unless you can get a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted independent shop and know the full service history.
Owners describe a pattern of critical electrical failures across the 2016 Maxima. The most dangerous: sudden engine shutdown while driving at highway speed, causing immediate loss of power steering and door locks (requiring fire department rescue). Multiple owners report loss of acceleration without warning, with the vehicle limped to 9–10 mph regardless of pedal pressure; some have been nearly struck by following traffic because the power loss was unannounced.
Dealerships repeatedly replaced alternators without fixing recurring failures, suggesting a deeper electrical control issue. Several owners and technicians point to the Integrated Power Distribution Module (IPDM) as the likely culprit, but dealers and shops struggle to diagnose it definitively.
Two separate vehicle fires are documented—one involving the recalled ABS brake actuator pump leaking fluid onto a circuit board, causing a stationary vehicle to ignite and even start itself. Another fire involved an ABS pump fire hazard that Nissan recalled but reportedly never warned owners about until after the fire occurred.
Additional failures include complete dashboard blackout (losing speedometer, odometer, and all instrument display), intermittent brake loss with the pedal going to the floor, intermittent power steering loss, and seat belt warning light failure. Water intrusion in tail lights and headlight fogging with internal cracks also appear.
Owners consistently report that dealerships cannot reproduce many faults, and repairs don't hold. This is a safety and reliability liability.
Failure modes owners describe
Complete engine shutdown while driving
Engine suddenly cuts off while vehicle is in motion, causing loss of steering assist and door lock function.
When: 54,000 miles; occurred twice before final incident
Symptoms owners cite: engine stalls without warning during highway operation; loss of power steering; all four doors lock and become inoperable from inside and outside; doors unlock approximately 40 minutes after shutdown
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; cause not determined
Loss of acceleration and sudden power loss while driving
Engine loses responsiveness to throttle input; vehicle enters limp mode or will not accelerate above 9-10 mph regardless of pedal pressure. Multiple owners report replication of fault and recurring episodes.
When: 84,000 miles (one case); other cases timing varies
Symptoms owners cite: sudden loss of acceleration during highway driving; vehicle limited to 9-10 mph maximum speed; loss of power steering assist; multiple unknown warning lights on dashboard; problem reoccurs even after repair attempts; no warning prior to failure; restarting engine sometimes restores function temporarily
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replaced multiple times at dealership; failure persisted. Transmission reprogrammed at one dealership without resolution. Some dealers report inability to reproduce issue or find root cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners cite IPDM (Integrated Power Distribution Module) as likely culprit based on forum research; manufacturers/dealers have not definitively addressed
ABS and warning light illumination with no reproducible fault
ABS warning light, battery light, traction control light, and other dashboard warnings appear intermittently. Dealership cannot reproduce issue or locate defective component.
When: Late November 2016; recurring intermittently
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light appears on dashboard intermittently; battery and traction control lights illuminate; lights appear and disappear without pattern; dealership unable to reproduce failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer identified ABS brake actuator pump recall but part was backordered; no other repairs completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for ABS brake actuator pump; however, no fire hazard warning provided to owner prior to vehicle fire
Vehicle fire caused by electrical short
Two separate vehicle fires reported. One attributed to ABS brake actuator pump fire hazard; another caused by anti-lock brake pump leak onto circuit board. Both resulted in total loss.
When: January 19, 2017 (one case); timing unclear for second case
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle catches fire while parked for over 2 hours; vehicle on fire starts engine by itself without occupant; fire originates from electrical components
Repairs/costs cited: Insurance company and independent inspection confirmed defective part as source
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan recalled ABS brake actuator pump but did not communicate fire hazard risk to owner; took over one month to respond to owner inquiry
Dashboard display blackout and loss of instrument cluster
Entire dashboard display goes dark, eliminating speedometer, odometer, and all warning information. Occurs intermittently without warning.
When: First occurred March 28th; recurring intermittently
Symptoms owners cite: dashboard screen goes black; speedometer and odometer display lost; radio display goes dark; no warning lights visible; occurs randomly and intermittently; vehicle may operate normally after display returns
Codes mentioned: E-CODE: NK-SD-11, Application: 102, Application: 107, SNO: 00010697
Repairs/costs cited: Warning message displayed: 'Check the Map SD Memory Card.' Owner's manual provided no solution.
Brake system failure and inadequate braking response
Brake pedal becomes soft or goes to floor with inadequate stopping power at highway speeds. Related to TAKATA recall but underlying electrical issue not fully resolved.
When: Traveling at 70 mph on highway
Symptoms owners cite: brake pedal depresses fully without adequate stopping power; vehicle does not stop from 70 mph as expected; unusual noise from brake system; power steering in and out intermittently
Repairs/costs cited: TAKATA recall applicable; no leak found in power steering system despite intermittent loss of assist
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TAKATA recall issued but underlying electrical defect not addressed
Power steering intermittent loss
Power steering assist intermittently cuts out during driving, making steering difficult or hard. Occurs alongside other electrical failures.
When: During loss of acceleration events and brake system failures
Symptoms owners cite: power steering locks up or becomes difficult to turn wheel; loss of power assist with no warning; occurs during highway driving at varying speeds; returns after vehicle restart or after time interval
Repairs/costs cited: No leak found in power steering fluid
Seat belt detection failure
Seat belt warning light does not illuminate when driver seat is occupied but unbelted. Seat occupancy sensor does not register driver presence.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: seat belt warning light does not come on when seat is occupied; seat does not detect occupancy; warning feature disabled
Alternator failure with recurrence after replacement
Alternator fails to maintain charge; replacement repairs fail and problem reoccurs. Owners report dealer difficulty in diagnosing root electrical cause.
When: 84,000 miles (one case)
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle loses power while driving; battery warning light illuminates; alternator output insufficient; failure reoccurs after replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replaced twice at different dealerships; second dealership did not attempt further repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified
Air conditioning compressor failure with switch malfunction
AC system blows hot air; compressor replacement does not resolve issue. Root cause identified as defective AC switch.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: AC blows hot air instead of cold; no warning lights appear; failure reoccurs after compressor replacement
Repairs/costs cited: AC compressor replaced at dealer without resolution; independent mechanic identified AC switch as defect
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified and referred customer to NHTSA
Headlight assembly condensation and electrical malfunction
Heavy fogging and internal cracking of passenger side headlight assembly causes electrical issues including flickering and directional signal failures during wet weather.
When: Timing unknown; progressive degradation
Symptoms owners cite: heavy fogging inside headlight lens; apparent internal crack in lens assembly; flickering headlights during wet conditions; inconsistent directional signal operation when wet; no external impact damage
Tail light water intrusion
Left tail light accumulates water inside lens assembly.
When: Unknown timing
Symptoms owners cite: water visible inside tail light
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer aware; repair pending
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Takata recall I was traveling down highway 121 at about 70 miles an hour cruise control is set the lady in front of me slammed on the brakes I intern slammed on mine and my car did not stop until hitting her the brakes seem to have that like they weren't stopping the brake pedal went all the way to the floor in the car made a really really awkward awkward sound I did end up with a little damage…
Had electrical trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Nissan Maxima?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 39,700 and 70,000 miles, with the median around 54,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 39,700; a quarter make it past 70,000. 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/2016/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.