Do Not Drive — Critical Safety Warning

The NHTSA has issued a "Park It" advisory for this specific vehicle configuration. There is a catastrophic safety defect that poses an immediate risk of death or severe injury. Scroll down to the Recall Intelligence section for specific remedy instructions.

43/100
2018Midsize CarsPremium

2018 Nissan Maxima

EPA ID: 39612
21
City MPG
25
Combined MPG
25MPG· Average
30
Highway MPG

Fuel Economy Overview

The 2018 Nissan Maxima achieves an EPA-estimated 25 MPG in combined city and highway driving, with 21 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway. Powered by a 3.5L 6-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (av-s7), this midsize cars features Front-Wheel Drive drive.

In terms of environmental impact, the 2018 Maxima produces approximately 364 grams of CO2 per mile. This figure is measured under standardized EPA test conditions and represents tailpipe emissions only. For context, the average new vehicle sold in the United States produces approximately 400 grams of CO2 per mile, meaning this Maxima performs better than the national average in this regard.

The estimated annual fuel cost for this vehicle is $2,750, based on 15,000 miles of driving per year and current national average fuel prices. Compared to the average new vehicle, you would save $3,000 over a 5-year period. This calculation accounts for differences in fuel consumption efficiency and provides a practical measure of long-term ownership costs attributable to fuel economy.

Energy DNA

Vehicle ClassMidsize Cars
Fuel TypePremium
Engine3.5L 6-cyl
AspirationNaturally Aspirated
TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S7)
Drive TypeFront-Wheel Drive

Green Scorecard

CO2 Emissions364 g/mi
Start-Stop SystemNot Equipped
GHG Score5/10
Smog RatingN/A
Est. Annual Cost$2,750
5-Year Cost DeltaSave $3,000

Personalized Commute CalculatorEPA defaults to 55% City / 45% Hwy

55% City45% Highway

Adjust the slider to match your daily driving habits. City driving involves stop-and-go traffic under 45mph, while highway driving represents sustained speeds over 55mph.

Your Real MPG
24.3
Impact vs EPA
+$63
/ year
💨

Aerodynamic Speed Penalty

EPA highway tests average roughly 48 mph. Driving at 75 mph increases aerodynamic drag exponentially. Expect your real-world highway fuel economy to drop by roughly 15-20% at interstate speeds.

5-Year Total Cost of Ownership

Estimated Monthly Cost
$592/mo
Includes estimated depreciation, fuel, insurance, and state fees over 5 years. Does not include loan interest.
15,000 mi
Value Depreciation
Est. value lost over 60 months
$16,000
45.1%
Fuel & Electricity
Based on National Average rates ($3.50/gal)
$10,500
29.6%
Estimated Insurance
Based on vehicle class risk profile
$8,600
24.2%
State Registration Fees
Based on National Average DMV base rates
$400
1.1%
Total 5-Year Cost$35,500

Recall Intelligence

Campaign #19V807000·2019-12-16
⛔ PARK IT
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and determined to not need a repair, under recall number 18V-601. In addition, this recall expands the previous population. The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.

Consequence & Remedy

Consequence: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS actuator, free of charge. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available, currently expected to be during summer 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: If the ABS warning light remains illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.

Campaign #19V654000·2019-11-11
critical
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence & Remedy

Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.

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Looking for comprehensive historical data?

NHTSA FARS (Fatal Crash History) and broader generational safety trends are aggregated at the model level rather than by specific engine configurations. View the complete historical data profile for all Nissan Maxima configurations.

View Model History

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Fuel Cost Analysis

Annual Fuel Cost$2,750
vs. Avg Vehicle (5 yrs)Save $3,000

Based on 15,000 miles/year and current fuel prices.

Efficiency Breakdown

City21 MPG
Highway30 MPG
Combined25 MPG

Estimated Lifetime Carbon Footprint

(Based on 200,000 miles driven)

72.8 metric tons CO₂
Equivalent To:
🌳 90 tree seedlings grown for 10 yrs
✈️ 6.1 cross-country flights/yr

Data Provenance

Data directly from the EPA National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory. The combined rating is a weighted average (55% city, 45% highway). For official figures, visit fueleconomy.gov.