NissanMaxima2012Overview/nissan/maxima/2012/base/

2012 Nissan Maxima

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Maxima.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (AV-S6)

The 2012 Nissan Maxima is a passenger car equipped with an Automatic (AV-S6) transmission and an engine requiring 4.8 quarts of 5W-30 API oil, delivering EPA fuel economy ratings of 19 city, 26 highway, and 22 combined mpg. Within the model's complaint history spanning 1990 to 2023, this model year occupies a relatively stable position, accumulating 107 total owner complaints with zero recalls and its primary grievances centered on air bags. This places the 2012 Maxima far below the 1,425-complaint peak of the 2004 model year, indicating a notably reliable point in the vehicle's lineage that stands in stark contrast to its most troubled years, even if it doesn't quite reach the single-complaint low of 2015.

Model year202320222021202020192018201720162012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque72-87 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/26/22 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 550 CCA battery, OE oil filter 1520865F0E. Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 550 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified
Tire sizeP245-40VR19OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter1520865F0E
Engine air filter16546V0100
Spark plug22401EW61C
Front wiper blades28890ZX00A discontinued · alt 28890ZX00B
Serpentine belt11720JA10B
Thermostat13050ZA000 alt 212009HP0A
Cabin air filter27277JA00C

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length190.6 in
Overall width73.2 in
Overall height57.9 in
Wheelbase109.4 in
Curb weight3594 lb
Track (front / rear)62.2 / 62.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 26 / 22 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume96 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Maxima of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.8–6.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.80 sec — 2013 SV
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2013SV 3.5L V65.80 sec14.30 sec290 hpFWD
2009SV 3.5L V65.80 sec14.50 sec290 hpFWD
2009SV 3.5L V66.00 sec14.50 sec290 hpFWD
2009SV 3.5L V66.10 sec14.70 sec290 hpFWD
2009SV 3.5L V66.30 sec14.70 sec290 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.8 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 72-87 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.8 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts65 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts23 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs5 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts72-87 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub129 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Ignition Coil Primary ResistanceExcept 0 or Between terminals 1 and 2 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary ResistanceExcept 0 Between terminals 1 and 3
Ignition Timing12, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.15-1.27 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.03 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance550 cca

Service checks

Radiator Cap Pressure ReliefRadiator leak pressure testing, 5 psi.
Injector Primary Resistance11.1-14.5 ohms
Engine Oil Pressure14 psi @ Idle, 43 psi @ 2000 rpm psi
Intake Valve Lash0.012-0.016 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.012-0.017 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket32 ft-lbs / 25 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle62 ft-lbs / 107 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.039 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0014 in / 0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.102 in / 0.63 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.102 in / 0.63 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.024 in / 0.551 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
11.4 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4.3 ft. lbs., Step 3: 7.01.4 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114-15 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9514–15 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
132 ft. lbs., step 2: 84-9032 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages
172 ft. lbs.72 ft. lbs
2loosen all bolts in reverse order
329 ft. lbs.29 ft. lbs
4103 degrees103 degrees
5103 degrees; Check diameter of bolts at two points, 11 mm and 48 mm from the end. Whenever the difference between these two points exceeds the limit of 0.11 mm, replace bolts.103 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
124-28 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9524–28 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant at 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
At 30,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 30,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Drive Belt (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Exterior Lighting (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 105,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 180,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Nissan Maxima sits in the mature, stabilizing phase of its generation's federal record, well past the severe complaint spikes of 1,425 in 2004 and 339 in 2009. With 107 complaints, zero recalls, and zero investigations, the 2012 model mirrors the preceding 2011 model year almost exactly (106 complaints, zero recalls) and performs only slightly worse than the subsequent 2013 model (62 complaints). While the data does not specify root causes, the 107 complaints for 2012 are primarily concentrated in the Air Bags (22), Power Train (17), and Electrical System (12) categories, alongside 6 crash and 2 fire incidents. Its placement at the low point of the generation's complaint arc implies that the most significant engineering bugs had been resolved by this production year. Consequently, the 2012 Maxima is a good year to buy, offering the reliability of a late-generation design with a clean recall and investigation record.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
115
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
107
Owner complaints
6 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 107 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags22
Power Train17
Electrical System12
Unknown Or Other10
Steering7
Seats5
Engine3
Structure,Unknown Or Other3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 115 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB13-107G2024-05-20Electrical SystemVEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been…
NTB13-027D2024-05-20Electrical SystemCAN COMMUNICATION – NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See…
NTB10-066C2024-05-20Electrical SystemCAN COMMUNICATION CODES – DIAGNOSTIC TIPS AND GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Maxima. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Maxima take?

4.8 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Maxima have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Maxima get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined mpg.