Nissan Maxima 7th Generation 2009-2014 (A35)

Although the 7th-gen Maxima lifespan stretches over six years and includes an official facelift, only a few subtle alterations were made to the exterior or interior of the car, together with a short list of additional features.

The front of the Nissan Maxima gets a slightly revised front grille design that does away with the geometric chrome lines in favor of three abstract flowing lines that get thicker closer to the badge¹.

The updated Nissan Maxima's rear becomes slightly more modern with the implementation of new combination taillights¹.

From the side, you get a bit of a glimpse of the new taillights¹ and a clear view of the redesigned 18- and 19-inch alloy-wheel options².

Most of the visual alterations made to the Nissan Maxima's update can be found in the cabin, particularly the dash, where you'll find a new white illumination for the gauge cluster¹, glossy Dark Piano trimmings, Atlantic Cherry Wood, and metallic trim, a Cafe Latte interior upholstery option, and a redesigned audio display² and HVAC knob³.

The 7th-gen Nissan Maxima is only available with a VQ35DE naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine connected to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that drives the front wheels. This powertrain remained unchanged throughout the car's model life with no changes made to its state of tune. The engine is widely used by the Japanese manufacturer in a multitude of body styles, including the 350Z. It may not be as revolutionary as some of the downsized turbocharged units that entered the scene during this era, but it is renowned for its impressive performance and dependability.

Seeing that the Nissan Maxima A35 uses a fairly large-displacement engine, its gas consumption is not its most impressive characteristic. As per the EPA's estimates, it delivers 19/26/22 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. Real-world figures sourced by current and previous owners of this model back this up with an mpg claim that ranges from 18.9 to 26.1 mpg. These figures are provided by drivers and not the EPA, so the driving styles and environments may vary, but it is interesting to see that they are exactly in line with the EPA's estimates. Compared to the likes of the 3.5-liter V6-powered Chevrolet Impala, Toyota Camry, and Honda Accord of the same era, the Nissan Maxima gas consumption is competitive. The best of the four is the Accord with its estimate of 19/29/23 mpg, which is only marginally better than the Nissan.

* Real-world mpg and MPGe figures are provided by the EPA. Once a car has been on sale for a significant period of time, the EPA gets real-world figures directly from the customer base. These figures are then provided on the EPA website. Real-world figures are not available for certain models due to a lack of sales, or not enough people partaking in this after-sales survey.

The 7th-generation Nissan Maxima achieved a four-star overall rating in its NHTSA crash test. It didn't fare too well in the frontal crash with an overall three-star rating; the front driver's side was acceptable with four stars, but the front passenger side did not come in strongly with its two-star result. A five-star overall side-impact rating is a bit more impressive, with the front-seat section scoring four stars in the combined side barrier and pole tests. The rear-seat compartment was awarded a five-star score. The rollover test also showed impressive results with its five-star rating.

As standard, all Maxima models include Nissan's Advanced airbag system with dual-stage supplemental front, side, and curtain airbags for the driver and passenger. This is joined by active front-seat head restraints and high-strength steel side-door guard beams. Driver aids consist of traction and stability control, tire-pressure monitoring, and cruise control. Via the premium or technology package, a backup camera can be fitted to the SV trim. Security is covered by the Nissan Intelligent Key smart remote keyless system covering the power-locking doors with auto-locking and an immobilizer and vehicle-security system. The front and rear vented brake discs are covered by ABS with electronic brake distribution and brake assist.

The Nissan Maxima A35-generation is available in S and SV trims. On top of this, there are four option packages available to turn it into either a more sporty or luxurious sedan. Although only two trims are available, the multitude of package variations means that each seventh-generation Nissan Maxima is fairly unique from the next in terms of features. The entire drivetrain remains the same regardless of what configuration you opt for. Over the course of its six-year lifespan, the standard specifications change very slightly, so there should not be too many differences to be noted throughout the model years.

The Nissan Maxima sits in the midsize sedan segment, and its interior proportions reflect this appropriately. With the standard sunroof, the front row offers 38.5 inches of headroom and 43.8 inches of legroom. With the dual-panel sunroof, headroom increases to 38.8 inches. Both configurations offer enough space, even for those who stand taller than 6'4". At the rear, things are a bit more compact, with a headroom and legroom figure of 36.4 and 34.6 inches, respectively. Anyone standing six feet tall may feel a bit cramped sitting in the rear of the Maxima. A cargo-volume figure of 14.2 cubic feet means that there is enough luggage space to accommodate four people for a weekend away. Routine grocery shopping should not be an issue.

The S trim is upholstered in either a Cafe Latte or Charcoal fabric, while the SV benefits from the same colors but in leather. A more plush leather surface is available via the Sport and Premium packages. The A35-generation Nissan Maxima is commended by many owners for its good interior quality despite there being a lot of plastic trim and switches. Naturally, some surfaces are prone to wear after excessive use or prolonged sun exposure.

All of Nissan's naturally aspirated cars of this era follow the same maintenance schedule. The oil and oil filter needs to be replaced every 5,000 miles. The cabin filter must be exchanged after 15,000 miles. Brake fluid needs to be replaced every 20,000 miles. 30,000 is more of an in-depth service as the engine's air filter and CVT's oil need to be changed. A new set of spark plugs are needed at 105,000 miles. Annual general maintenance costs for the seventh-generation Nissan Maxima should not exceed $550.

If you are going to service your car yourself, an oil and filter for the Nissan Maxima's VQ35DE engine is likely to cost about $78. A set of six spark plugs will cost $160, while a new air filter will likely cost $30.

Some 2009 and 2010 Nissan Maxima models were recalled for a problem with a cracking insulator on the suspension strut rod due to an incorrect manufacturing process. The car proved to be very dependable and no recalls were issued for the 2009 to 2014 Nissan Maxima's airbag, catalytic converter, dashboard, steering lock, wheel motor, or transmission.

Some of the fault codes that you may experience in the 7th-generation Nissan Maxima include:

• Code P0024, P0011, P0014, and P0021 are camshaft-position errors.
• Codes P0075, P0081, P0101, P0102, P0113, and P1800 mean that there could be issues with your intake valve control circuit or mass airflow (MAF) sensor.
• P0150, P1168, P0171, P0174, and P1148 fault codes indicate an issue with your oxygen sensor and air-fuel ratio mix. A heater element or control circuit problem will trigger the P0031, P0037, P0051 or P0057 fault codes. P0420 or P0430 mean that there is an issue with your catalytic converter.
• An improper voltage signal from the evaporative emissions (EVAP) control system's vacuum cut bypass valve will display the P1490 fault code.
• Engine oil-temperature problems will bring up the P0196 or P0197 code.
• A misfiring powertrain will result in P0300 or P0302. P0300 is a random misfire, and if the last digit is more than zero, it indicates the misfiring cylinder.
• An idling issue will bring up the P0507 fault code.
• Code P0597 means that your 2009 to 2014 Nissan Maxima is suffering from a thermostat problem.
• P0725 means that your engine-speed sensor is at fault.
• You'll see code P0746 if the CVT's electronic pressure control solenoid is malfunctioning.
• P1217 relates to issues with your Nissan Maxima's engine coolant levels.

Unlikely but possible problems with the Nissan Maxima 3.5 S and SV include a constantly draining battery, a driver's seat that starts to rock after frequent use, malfunctioning power seats, and malfunctioning window wipers. It also appears that a handful of models have suffered from a failing CVT and transmission problems, possibly bringing up the P0715, P0744, P0755, P0826, P0868, P1700, P1701, or P1778 codes.

Issues that you are unlikely to encounter in the Nissan Maxima include:

• The previous A34-generation Nissan Maxima suffered from a severe sunroof problem, but this is not the case with this generation.
• Any problems relating to the Nissan Maxima's alternator, charging system, or battery should not be commonplace.
• It would be unusual to encounter any problems with the Nissan Maxima's brakes, fuel injectors, head gaskets, mass airflow sensor, or throttle body.

The 2009 and 2010 models should be avoided mainly because of the electronic steering lock concern. The Maxima S is not necessarily a bad trim, but it does lack a few comfort and convenience features, so we'd recommend making this your second option rather than ruling it out altogether. The Maxima is not necessarily a performance sedan, but there are those who treat it as such. Thus, be sure that no modifications have been made to the VQ35DE whatsoever. You should also avoid any examples that have not been routinely serviced.

From 2011 onwards, the Maxima seems to be a consistent product, so all of these model years can be considered. It is also a bonus that no recalls were issued for these model years. The SV trim is preferable because it has a more generous list of standard features. Not all examples will have all optional packages installed, but if you can find a fully equipped model, that would be the best horse to bet on. Cars that have not been modified and have been routinely serviced and maintained should be at the top of your shopping list.

The A35-generation Nissan Maxima is considered by some to be a run-of-the-mill midsize family sedan with a predominant focus on interior space and comfort. With the famous VQ35DE under the hood, the Maxima does have an aspirational element to its drive, but it is not a sports sedan. Regardless, the Maxima excels when it comes to reliability and standard features. Its drivetrain may not be as advanced as those found in German sedans of the same segment, which affects its overall gas consumption, but it certainly is more characterful, particularly at higher revs. The Maxima is not a spectacular buy in its segment, but it certainly covers a lot of bases.