Overview & Reviews

For 2011, the Nissan Maxima sees only a handful of minor changes. Among them, the exhaust tips are different and the available Sport package gets smoked headlights, a dark chrome grille and gray stitching for the upholstery.

• Excellent iPod integration.
• Strong V6
• High-quality interior with high-tech features
• Precise steering

• Optional equipment stuffed into expensive packages.
• Lacks the brand cachet its price tag implies

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 40.00

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  My second Maxima - 2011 Nissan Maxima
  By MaxUp - August 19 - 10:00 am

  Compared to my 2000 Maxima, they fixed the turning radius. The view over the hood is spectacular and the side mirror view is sweet. The acceleration with the CVT is awesome. The transmission is always running in the sweet spot. No engine torque in the steering wheel. The seats fit my 6 foot 3 inch frame and theyre heated/cooled for the driver. The iPod interface is perfect, streaming audio or plug into USB to view my music on the NAV display, which also plays DVDs in park mode. On hilly roads, the paddle shifters come in handy for engine braking. I have the Premium addition which is a good balance of sporty feel with comfort every day driving. Nissan hit a home run with this model.

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  Better than the Altima - 2011 Nissan Maxima
  By Yankeeriz - February 22 - 2:00 am

  I was driving an Altima coupe 3.5, for two years before someone hit it. I enjoyed that car a great deal. I always believed the drive btween the Altima 3.5 and the Maxima 3.5 was similar.. Wow far from the truth. The Maxima feels stronger, drives stronger and the engine sound is wonderful.. The tech features in the Maxima looks and feels leaps and bounds beyond the Altima fully loaded. The Altima is a great car but its no Maxima. Neither is the Accord, Camary, Avalon, 2.0 Sonata, which I test drove before driving the Maxima.. What a car... Maxima SV with Sports Package.. you cant go wrong.

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  Love this car - 2011 Nissan Maxima
  By bubbalouie1 - November 20 - 8:27 am

  Owned 1992 SE, bought new, drove it 120k miles-no trouble great car. Next came 1999 528i, bought new in 2000, drove 135k miles...spent way too much in repairs and maintenance-tired of getting robbed by the dealers. Love the new body style of 2009 Max...bought new in Jan 09. Tested A4, ES350,G35x, Acura TL. Nothing close. This car will crush the 528 anyday. I have almost 80k miles now-only investment has been gas, oil changes, one set of tires all around and front brake pads only-everything else still original and looks great (yes garaged). The cost of ownership has been incredible. Yes I will get another Max.

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  48000 Transmission fail update - 2011 Nissan Maxima
  By Bernard - August 6 - 10:36 pm

  This is a beautiful car but I question the reliability of the CVT transmission. My car has 48000 miles on it, service as recommended no warning whatsoever the transmission failed the factory warranty expired 12-19-2015 the day before the transmission failed . Nissan tried to make me pay for the repair which was $4,500. I had to contact Nissan corporation and go to arbitration to resolve this matter after a time-consuming ordeal they agreed to fix the vehicle. I am Not sure if Im planning on keeping this vehicle the CVT transmission is definitely a flawed design. I wish Nissan would stand behind their products I dont know if I would ever buy another Nissan product moving forward. So Im still driving the vehicle since the new transmission was installed. I have put 5496 miles on the vehicle since install and some days it concerns me. Ill keep you posted.

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  Just OK - 2011 Nissan Maxima
  By petemck - December 11 - 2:15 pm

  I bought a 2011 SV with Premium package in February. I previously owned a 1998 Maxima SE 5speed manual that I bought new. This new Max has better steering but the CVT in automatic mode is awful and the torque steer at higher speed (75-85mph) is dangerous. My dealer experience also left a lot to be desired.

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  Not so sporty - 2011 Nissan Maxima
  By James Mitchell - December 6 - 9:20 pm

  This is a decent all round car which Nisson likes to advertise as sporty. The styling is so/so but the thing that really holds it back is the dreaded continuously variable transmission (CVT) While having just shy of 300 horses the car is a major dog off the line. The CVT makes a loud howling sound but it lacks the snap of a normal tranny. Additionally, handling is mediocore at best. I only kept the car through 20,000 miles but had no mechanical problems.

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  Passenger airbag light malfunction - 2011 Nissan Maxima
  By gdoucet - November 27 - 1:34 am

  I purchased my 11 Maxima new on 03/31/2011 and have had an issue with the passenger side airbag light coming on with an adult passenger in the seat. When the light is on, it reflects that the airbag is in the off position. I have brought the problem to my dealers attention, Giles Nissan, Lafayette, LA ever since my first 3,750 oil change service, and was given a variety of reasons. At first the dealer could not locate the trouble then I was told that it was normal. I finally brought my wife with me and rode with a service tech who witnessed the problem. Since then, different techs at different times have experienced the light on, however the issue has not yet been resolved.

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  4000 Mile Update, love it with a few gripes. - 2011 Nissan Maxima
  By tmac4718 - October 21 - 3:32 am

  My overall satisfaction with the maxima has been very good, not spectacular, but very good. Lets get the bad things out of the way first. Annoying rattle coming from the rear deck, rear deck speakers, brake light or somewhere. I have never owned a car with any rattle before so not impressed, it didnt do it when I took it in of course but will keep looking. On sunny days the auto climate control fan speed stays on way to high, will never calm down. My 08 altima didnt do this. The passenger seat is one of the most uncomfortable seats ever ridden in, thank god I never have too. It sits to tall, almost like it was designed for a kid, and much more adjustability needed.

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  Superb Mid Size Performance Sedan!! - 2011 Nissan Maxima
  By jhatfie - May 20 - 11:38 am

  Having owned this car for a while now, I have to say that is still blows me away. It really has excellent power, on par with my tweaked 320HP Subaru Legacy GT I once owned. Gas mileage is averaging 25mpg in mixed driving, but have seen as high as 28mpg in heavy highway stints which is very good for a nearly 300hp V6. With the sport package the car handles very well with little body roll while still being comfortable. Interior is on par with entry level luxury model like the Infinity G37 and Lexus IS. Ride is quiet making it easy to converse with passengers or to hear audio details in the rather good Bose Stereo. Car is very handsome looking and muscular without looking overdone.

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  Transmission Failure! - 2011 Nissan Maxima
  By Jerry W. Van Allen - January 14 - 2:25 pm

  I have a 2011 Nissan Maxima, and the CVT transmission has failed on the vehicle. I researched the web, to see if there were any other concerns with this type of transmission, and I found that from 2003 - 2010, a large range of Nissan vehicles had their warranty extended from Nissan, due to the CVT transmissions failing on the vehicles. Being that my vehicle is a 2011, their corporate office is saying that they will not assist me with repairing my vehicle, due to the vehicle being ONLY ONE (1) YEAR OUTSIDE OF THEIR WARRANTY EXTENSION ON SO MANY OTHER VEHICLES. Funny, there is an article listed on edmunds.com, on a 2011 Nissan Maxima CVT transmission failing him just after his warranty expiring (A 2011 MODEL). I am in the automotive industry and have a large influence in the Memphis area, so I am informing everyone that I know, to not ever buy a Nissan product, due to them not wanting to own up to their engine concerns and problems.