I was driving on the highway and the passenger side front pillar trim panel just flew off. This is the second time this has happened to my vehicle, the first time was my rear pillar which I paid to replace myself because I was told at the dealership this is just a cosmetic issue. I disagree, to me this is very hazardous and could potentially hurt someone, and now my car sounds like air is coming…
2017 Nissan Maxima body problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
When does it fail?
Of the 13 body complaints filed for the 2017 Nissan Maxima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2017 Maxima has documented issues with sunroof spontaneous failure, pillar/fender trim flying off at highway speeds, and sunroof seal problems—all confirmed by dealerships and Nissan service bulletins. Expect these to occur even at moderate mileage and be prepared for repair costs, as Nissan has declined warranty coverage on many of these known defects.
Owners report two major body panel issues with the 2017 Maxima. First, the sunroof fails without warning—glass suddenly shatters or cracks, producing a loud gunshot-like noise. Some failures happen while the car sits parked; others occur during highway driving. A Nissan service writer told one owner this happens frequently enough that he directed them to search YouTube for examples. Owners also document sunroof sealing problems where the panel whistles loudly and does not close completely, allowing water infiltration and pest entry.
Second, pillar and fender trim moldings—on the A-pillars, rear pillars, and rear fenders—detach from the vehicle while driving or during routine washing. Nissan issued a service bulletin (BT19-011a/NTB19-079a) acknowledging this as a known issue, though the company states it is not a safety concern and repairs are at the owner's cost. One owner reported paying $150 per replacement. The detachments happen repeatedly on the same vehicle and at highway speeds, creating hazard to the vehicle and traffic behind.
Additional complaints include a rear passenger door that does not seal tightly, a driver-side mirror that obstructs visibility on left turns, improper roof seal with water infiltration, and roof cracking that exposes internal metal structure.
Failure modes owners describe
Sunroof spontaneous breakage
Sunroof glass breaks or shatters without warning, with owners describing loud gunshot-like sounds and glass pushed outward or cracking. Some incidents occur while parked, others while driving. Owners report the dealership acknowledges this as a recurring problem.
When: Various mileages; some while parked for extended periods, others while driving highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Sunroof completely shattered or cracked while parked or driving; Loud gunshot-like sound heard at breakage; Glass pushed outward in star-pattern breaks; Whistling sound from sunroof prior to breakage in some cases; No warning lights or messages before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan technician stated entire roof system replacement needed in one case; dealership advised temporary patching pending full repair appointment. Insurance disputes whether rear glass only or full roof system is necessary.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan service writers have acknowledged this happens frequently; owners reference existing lawsuits regarding exploding sunroofs and indicate this is a known recurring issue.
Pillar and fender molding detachment
Plastic trim moldings on A-pillars, rear pillars, and rear fenders separate from the vehicle body while driving or from routine maintenance like car washes or snow removal. Clips and fasteners fail to hold the parts securely. Owners report Nissan issued a service bulletin (BT19-011a; NTB19-079a) acknowledging the issue and providing a fix involving re-drilling and re-attachment at owner expense.
When: Occurs at various mileages including 41,000 miles; typically while driving highway speeds or during routine vehicle washing and maintenance
Symptoms owners cite: Pillar trim panels fly off vehicle during driving; Multiple detachments from same vehicle (same molding or different moldings); Loose or expanded molding pieces before full detachment; Abnormal whistling or rushing air sounds after detachment; Molding loosens during car washes or brushing snow off vehicle
Codes mentioned: BT19-011a, NTB19-079a
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement moldings require re-drilling of mounting holes to fit properly on older vehicles; fastener design appears to have been modified. Owner reports $150 per replacement cost cited. Initial replacements may use different clip design reported as more secure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan acknowledged the issue via service bulletin BT19-011a/NTB19-079a. Dealership confirms it is a known issue but states it is not a safety concern and performs repairs at owner cost. Nissan declined assistance for out-of-warranty vehicles.
Sunroof improper seal and water infiltration
Sunroof does not seal properly, allowing water ingress and pest entry. Owners report hearing excessive whistling sounds and dealership confirmed they could manually push the sunroof open further by hand, indicating incomplete seal.
When: Apparent at purchase or early ownership; one case noted water damage and spider infestation shortly after vehicle purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Loud whistling sound from sunroof unrelated to normal wind noise; Whistling occurs daily; Sunroof moves when hand pressure applied; Water damage inside vehicle due to leaks; Spider and pest infestation entering through sunroof
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; issue noted as common on Maxima forums with other owners reporting water damage.
Driver-side mirror visibility obstruction
Left-side driver mirror blocks sightline during left turns, creating a blind spot that nearly caused collision with pedestrian. Owner states diagonal left views are completely obstructed from driver position.
When: Apparent during normal driving operation
Symptoms owners cite: Mirror positioning blocks view of road and pedestrians crossing; Nearly caused collision with pedestrian at traffic light; Diagonal left views completely blocked
Rear passenger door closure failure
Rear passenger side door does not close tightly or hermetically, creating concern that door may open while driving.
When: Timing not specified in complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Door does not close tightly; Door does not seal hermetically; Owner concerned of door opening while vehicle in motion
Roof structural cracking
Roof panel develops visible lines that progress into cracks, exposing internal metal frame structure.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Lines visible on roof surface; Lines progress into cracks; Internal metal frame exposed through cracks
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Nissan maxima sunroof broke from weather changes and resulted in a large crack and hole in the center. Realized as I was driving by hearing wind in the car. Happened while stationary
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 Nissan maxima. The contact stated that the cosmetic rear fender and windshield plastic molding loosened and expanded to the rear windshield. The rear driver's side door and passenger's side front door were also loosened. The contact became aware of the failure while driving. The contact heard an abnormal noise while driving and located the point of failure. The vehicle…
The left and right rear fender moulding is falling off of my vehicle. This is a trim piece that connects the rear fender and the roof. This piece is about 26" long. The plastic clips that hold it on are failing and the left piece has fallen off while driving, and the right piece is loose and failing. This is a hazard and many other owners have had the same experience.
Had body trouble with your 2017 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 body problem on the 2017 Nissan Maxima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 33,278 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body 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 body?
No active recalls currently cover body 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/2017/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.