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Ford Taurus vs Nissan Maxima: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2019, owners filed an average of 177 complaints per model year about the Ford Taurus and 148 about the Nissan Maxima.

Side by side

Ford TaurusNissan Maxima
Model years compared2006-20192006-2019
Owner complaints2,4802,072
Complaints per model year177148
Recalls2113
Years to avoid2013200620092010
Best years200720122016200820112014
Most common problemSteeringTransmission
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy19-21 mpg combined (2019)24 mpg combined (2019)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Ford Taurus: 3182006 Nissan Maxima: 57620062007 Ford Taurus: 1492007 Nissan Maxima: 1292008 Ford Taurus: 1752008 Nissan Maxima: 7920082009 Ford Taurus: 642009 Nissan Maxima: 3392010 Ford Taurus: 2042010 Nissan Maxima: 27520102011 Ford Taurus: 1872011 Nissan Maxima: 1062012 Ford Taurus: 792012 Nissan Maxima: 10720122013 Ford Taurus: 5852013 Nissan Maxima: 622014 Ford Taurus: 2302014 Nissan Maxima: 9620142015 Ford Taurus: 2862015 Nissan Maxima: 12016 Ford Taurus: 892016 Nissan Maxima: 14220162017 Ford Taurus: 442017 Nissan Maxima: 1062018 Ford Taurus: 522018 Nissan Maxima: 3620182019 Ford Taurus: 182019 Nissan Maxima: 18
Ford TaurusNissan Maxima

Problems compared

TaurusMaxima
Steering551392
Engine393221
Acceleration35289
Fuel system31440
Electrical298286
Transmission238577
Airbags99236
Brakes132149

Questions about the Ford Taurus vs Nissan Maxima

Which is more reliable, the Ford Taurus or the Nissan Maxima?

Between 2006 and 2019, the Ford Taurus has 1 year to avoid and the Nissan Maxima 3. The Ford Taurus has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Nissan Maxima drew fewer complaints per model year (148 vs 177), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Ford Taurus or the Nissan Maxima?

From 2006 to 2019, the Ford Taurus was covered by 21 recalls and the Nissan Maxima by 13.

What years of the Ford Taurus and Nissan Maxima should you avoid?

Ford Taurus: 2013. Nissan Maxima: 2006, 2009 and 2010.

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