A used Nissan Maxima in mid October 2026 means one of two realistic buys: a 2016-2023 eighth-gen sedan with the 300-hp V6, or a cheaper 2009-2014 car if you just want a quick, quiet commuter. Both use a CVT, so the transmission choice is made for you. The thing that separates a good one from a headache is the ABS actuator recall on 2016-2018 cars, which NHTSA ties to a fire risk, so check the VIN for open campaigns before you get attached to the floating-roof styling.
Nissan ended Maxima production in mid-2023, according to Car and Driver's report on the discontinuation, which also notes Nissan sold only 3,753 of them in the first half of 2022 and that the past few generations have been CVT-only. So 2023 is the last U.S. model year, and every Maxima you shop now is a used car with no new replacement on the lot. If you want the same money in a more ordinary package, our used Nissan Altima buying guide covers the mid-size sibling, and Consumer Reports admits the Altima was a "formidable challenger" to the Maxima at a lower price even back in the 2009 generation.
The generations, and the missing 2015
CR lists the modern Maxima in four used blocks: 2000-2003, 2004-2008, 2009-2014, and 2016-2023. There is no 2015 model year. When we queried NHTSA on October 15, 2026, a 2015 Maxima search came back empty, which fits the gap. If a listing says 2015, decode the VIN before you argue price. The 2004 car got a strong 3.5-liter V6 with a five-speed automatic, and CR says a CVT and a general freshening arrived for 2007. CR rates the 2009 redesign as quick and quiet, with oddly weighted steering, a low roof that hurts visibility, and a back seat that feels tight for a flagship.
The 2016-2023 car is the one most shoppers mean. Car and Driver's Maxima page lists the 3.5-liter V6 at 300 hp, a CVT, and EPA ratings of 20 city / 30 highway, and their testers saw 32 mpg on a 200-mile highway loop. A Platinum ran to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The downsides they call out are a small trunk and a CVT that "hinders refinement." CR's take is similar: smooth V6, mundane handling, and a ride that is too stiff for the price.
Which years to target
Look, the model-year changes matter more than trim names. Per CR, 2017 added Apple CarPlay, 2018 made forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking standard, 2019 brought a restyle and the Rear Door Alert, and 2020 made blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane departure warning, high-beam assist, and rear automatic braking standard on every car. If your budget reaches a 2020 or later, you get the full safety kit without hunting for a loaded trim. The SR has the firmer suspension, and CR notes it skipped the sunroof.
On the CVT, we have no verified recall or extended-warranty data for the 2016-2023 Maxima transmission, so we are not going to invent one. What we can say is that both review outlets dislike how it feels. Drive the car cold and warm, listen for whine or shudder at low speed, and ask for fluid service records. A car with a thick stack of dealer invoices is worth more than a cleaner-looking one with nothing.
Recalls to clear by VIN
The big one is the ABS actuator. Campaign 16V-636 covered 2016-2017 Maximas with Intelligent Cruise Control, 18V-601 widened it, and 19V-807 brought back cars that were previously unrepaired or inspected and judged fine under 18V-601, plus an expanded population; that third round covered 391,479 vehicles across Murano, Maxima, Pathfinder, and QX60. NHTSA says brake fluid can leak onto the circuit board and short it, raising the risk of fire, and if the ABS light stays on more than 10 seconds after start-up, owners are told to park outside. Pull the NHTSA recall feed for a 2016 Maxima and you will see eight campaigns, including a fuel sending unit retainer fix (15V-486), an ABS actuator O-ring issue (16V-193), and two occupant classification campaigns (16V-244 and 16V-911).
Later cars are lighter. The 2019 Maxima feed shows only the back-up camera settings software update (19V-654), and the 2020 feed shows a rear window glass campaign (20V-570) that covered just 150 Altima, Maxima, and Leaf vehicles. For 2021 through 2023 the API returned zero campaigns when we checked. Older 2009-2010 cars had an upper front strut insulator recall (09V-358). Run the VIN through our Nissan recall check by VIN walkthrough, and confirm year and trim with the Nissan VIN decoder or NHTSA's vPIC.
History report and price
An aging V6 sedan with a CVT is the kind of car that bounces between small lots with a fresh detail job and a vague story. A clean report with regular service and one or two owners beats a low-mile car that changed hands four times in two years. If a seller sends you a PDF instead of the VIN, ask for the VIN. Our guide to how to read a CARFAX report covers the ownership and accident lines worth slowing down on.
As of mid October 2026, a CARFAX through us runs about $5.50 as a guest or $4.50 as a member, and the CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle is about $6.75, versus roughly $39.99 to $44.99 retail. Confirm at checkout. We are a licensed reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian. Grab a real CARFAX vehicle history report on the car before you sign anything.
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