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G
ood
A
cceptable
M
arginal
P
oor
Nissan
Maxima 4-door sedan

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2013 Nissan Maxima

Midsize car
2012 Nissan Maxima shown
2012 Nissan Maxima shown

Print full report for this vehicle

Crashworthiness
  • Small overlap front
    A
  • Moderate overlap front
    G
  • Side
    G
  • Roof strength
    A
  • Head restraints & seats
    M

Crash avoidance & Mitigation
Front crash prevention
Crash avoidance rating
Not available
Check for NHTSA recalls

The photos and videos shown here may be of a different model, model year or body type from the one selected. The ratings of one vehicle often apply to other models if they are built on the same platform. In addition, a test of a vehicle from one model year may apply to earlier or later model years if the vehicle hasn't been significantly redesigned.

Model year Front overlap Side Roof strength Head restraints & seats Front crash prevention
Small Moderate
2017
G
G
G
G
G
Crash avoidance rating
Superior
2016
G
G
G
G
G
Crash avoidance rating
Superior
2014
A
G
G
A
M
Crash avoidance rating
Not available
2013
A
G
G
A
M
Crash avoidance rating
Not available
2012
A
G
G
A
M
Crash avoidance rating
2011
A
G
G
A
M
Crash avoidance rating
2010
A
G
G
A
M
Crash avoidance rating
2009
A
G
G
A
M
Crash avoidance rating
2008
G
M
M
Crash avoidance rating
2007
G
M
M
Crash avoidance rating
2006
G
M
P
Crash avoidance rating
2005
G
M
P
Crash avoidance rating
2004
G
M
P
Crash avoidance rating
2003
A
Crash avoidance rating
2002
A
Crash avoidance rating
2001
A
Crash avoidance rating
2000
A
Crash avoidance rating
1999
A
Crash avoidance rating
1998
A
Crash avoidance rating
1997
A
Crash avoidance rating
1996
P
Crash avoidance rating
1995
P
Crash avoidance rating

Applies to 2009-14 models

Overall evaluation
A
Structure and safety cage
M
Injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
G
Restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Important: Frontal crash test ratings should be compared only among vehicles of similar weight.

The Nissan Maxima was redesigned for the 2009 model year.

Structure

The driver space was not maintained well. Lower interior intrusion measured as much as 22 cm at the hinge pillar, and the instrument panel intruded 17-19 cm. The steering column was pushed back 7 cm toward the driver.

Injury measures

Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.

Restraints and dummy kinematics

The dummy’s movement was well controlled. The dummy’s head loaded the frontal airbag, which stayed in front of the dummy until rebound. The side curtain airbag deployed but does not have sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with forward side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag also deployed.

Tested vehicle specifications

Tested vehicle 2012 Nissan Maxima 3.5 S 4-door
Weight 3,523 lbs.
Side airbags front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags
Wheelbase 109 in.
Length 191 in.
Width 73 in.
Engine 3.5 L V6
EPA ratings 19 mpg city / 26 mpg highway

How this test is conducted

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1230
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 22
Footrest (cm) 13
Left toepan (cm) 9
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Parking brake (cm) 15
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 5
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 7
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 14
Upper dash (cm) 17
Lower instrument panel (cm) 19

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1230
Head
HIC-15 65
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.22
Chest maximum compression (mm) 23
Femur (kN)
Left 2.3
Right 0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 3
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.45
Right 0.28
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.5
Right 1.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 56
Right 34

Applies to 2009-14 models

Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Injury measures
Head/neck
A
Chest
G
Leg/foot, left
G
Leg/foot, right
G
Restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Important: Frontal crash test ratings should be compared only among vehicles of similar weight.

The Nissan Maxima was redesigned for the 2009 model year. Frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Nissan as part of frontal crash test verification.

Injury measures

Measures taken from the neck, chest, and both legs indicate low risk of injuries to these body regions in a crash of this severity. A high head acceleration occurred when the dummy's head hit the steering wheel through the airbag, indicating that head injuries would be possible.

Restraints and dummy kinematics

Dummy movement was well controlled. The driver side curtain and side thorax airbags deployed during the crash.

Tested vehicle specifications

Tested vehicle 2009 Nissan Maxima 3.5 S 4-door
Weight 3,627 lbs.
Side airbags front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags
Wheelbase 109 in.
Length 191 in.
Width 73 in.
Engine 3.5 L V6
EPA ratings 19 mpg city / 26 mpg highway

How this test is conducted

Measures of occcupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF0805
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 4
Left (cm) 4
Center (cm) 5
Right (cm) 7
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) -1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -5
Rearward (cm) -1
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF0805
Head
HIC-15 482
Peak gs at hard contact 94
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 20
Maximum Nij 0.28
Chest maximum compression (mm) 31
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.3
Femur force - right (kN) 4.3
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 8
Maximum tibia index - left 0.28
Maximum tibia index - right 0.59
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.1
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 1.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 55
Right 123

Applies to 2009-14 models

Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
A
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
G
Pelvis/leg
G
Head protection
G
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
G
Pelvis/leg
G
Head protection
G
Side crash test ratings can be compared across vehicle categories.

The Nissan Maxima was redesigned for the 2009 model year.

Injury measures

Driver — Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.

Passenger — Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.

Head protection

Driver — The dummy's head was protected from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier, by a side curtain airbag that deployed from the roof.

Passenger — The dummy's head was protected from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier, by a side curtain airbag that deployed from the roof.

Tested vehicle specifications

Tested vehicle 2009 Nissan Maxima 3.5 S 4-door
Weight 3,522 lbs.
Side airbags standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags
Wheelbase 109 in.
Length 191 in.
Width 73 in.
Engine 3.5 L V6
EPA ratings 19 mpg city / 26 mpg highway

How this test is conducted

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES0925
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.		 -10.0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES0925
Head HIC-15 161
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 35
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 36
Average deflection (mm) 32
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.11
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.41
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 2.3
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.1
Combined force (kN) 2.3
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.2
L-M moment (Nm) 221
A-P moment (Nm) 64

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES0925
Head HIC-15 109
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.4
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 31
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 27
Average deflection (mm) 20
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.09
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.21
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.7
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.6
Combined force (kN) 2.2
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.6
L-M moment (Nm) 107
A-P moment (Nm) 16

Applies to 2009-14 models

Overall evaluation
A
Curb weight 3,532 lbs
Peak force 12,103 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio 3.43
Tested vehicle
 2009 Nissan Maxima 3.5 S 4-door
Roof strength test ratings can be compared across vehicle categories.

In the test, the strength of the roof is determined by pushing a metal plate against one side of it at a slow but constant speed. The force applied relative to the vehicle's weight is known as the strength-to-weight ratio. This graph shows how the ratio varied as the test of this vehicle progressed. The peak strength-to-weight ratio recorded at any time before the roof is crushed 5 inches is the key measurement of roof strength.

A good rating requires a strength-to-weight ratio of at least 4. In other words, the roof must withstand a force of at least 4 times the vehicle's weight before the plate crushes the roof by 5 inches. For an acceptable rating, the minimum required strength-to-weight ratio is 3.25. For a marginal rating, it is 2.5. Anything lower than that is poor.

How this test is conducted

Applies to 2009-14 models

Overall evaluation
M
Dynamic rating
M
Seat/head restraint geometry
G
Important: Ratings for head restraints & seats should be compared only among vehicles of similar weight.

Seat type

Power leather seats AHR

How this test is conducted

Seat type Power leather seats AHR
Geometry
Backset (mm) 32
Distance below top of head (mm) 32
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Fail
Max T1 acceleration (g) 10.5
Head contact time (ms) 81
Force rating 2
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 148
Max neck tension (N) 766

Applies to 2013-14 models

Overall evaluation
Crash avoidance rating
Not available
0 points total

Forward collision warning

Not available.
 0 points

Low-speed autobrake

Not available. 		0 points

High-speed autobrake

Not available. 		0 points

How this rating is determined

1
Side airbags: front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags
2
Electronic stability control
3
Antilock brakes

©1996-2016, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute | www.iihs.org