2012 Nissan Maxima: Transmission failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2012 Maxima report: transmission failure. CarComplaints.com lists 2 owner complaints, average mileage 136,750 miles.
NHTSA has 18 owner complaints for the 2012 Maxima in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11670526 (filed 07/01/2025): “2012 nissan maxima with 94,000 miles began hesitating upon accelerating and jerking on [xxx]. vehicle diagnosed at don franklin nissan in glasgow, ky with bad transmission. transmission replaced. then on [xxx], while driving vehicle, a loud noise from front…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11437364 (filed 10/19/2021): “This cvt control variable transmission in these cars go out so fast. the cvt transmission went out at around 115,000. we replace it because we pressed the gas and no acceleration when stop light turned green. then missed the light then it accelerated late an…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace transmission (2 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Diagnosis needs a scan tool; repair or replacement needs a lift, transmission jack and the manufacturer's fluid fill/relearn procedure. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $2,150 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .