# 2012 Nissan Maxima has no acceleration when gas is below 1/2 tank gas **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 28, 2025, 4:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-nissan-maxima-has-no-acceleration-when-gas-is-below-1-2-tank-gas/200806 "2025-06-28T16:38:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kescott1910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/958977/32.png) [@kescott1910](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kescott1910)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2025, 4:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-nissan-maxima-has-no-acceleration-when-gas-is-below-1-2-tank-gas/200806/1 "2025-06-28T16:38:22Z")
I have a 2012 Nissan Maxima with 188K. When car gets below 1/2 tank of gas I have no acceleration. I can floor the gas pedal and get nothing. When this happens, car won’t go over 55-60mph. I’ve cleaned throttle body, MAF sensor, replaced air filter and I’ve been running nothing but premium gas to see if it helps. Nothing has worked yet. Something seems to happening when tank gets to the 1/2 full mark. Any ideas? Thanks in advane. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2025, 4:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-nissan-maxima-has-no-acceleration-when-gas-is-below-1-2-tank-gas/200806/2 "2025-06-28T16:47:31Z")
Have the fuel pressure tested so see if it’s within spec. The problem might be caused from a weak fuel pump. Tester ---
**Author:** ![kescott1910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/958977/32.png) [@kescott1910](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kescott1910)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2025, 5:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-nissan-maxima-has-no-acceleration-when-gas-is-below-1-2-tank-gas/200806/3 "2025-06-28T17:04:03Z")
thanks for the reply…update…driving home now on a long road trip. 50 miles into filling up and problem came back. Zero acceleration when I reach a certain speed. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2025, 5:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-nissan-maxima-has-no-acceleration-when-gas-is-below-1-2-tank-gas/200806/4 "2025-06-28T17:21:11Z")
When that happens pull over somewhere safe and remove the gas cap. If there a big woosh, you may have a plugged vent/evap system. See if it drives ok right after that. Any check engine light? ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-nissan-maxima-has-no-acceleration-when-gas-is-below-1-2-tank-gas/200806/5 "2025-06-28T17:27:27Z")
Just FYI, premium will **not** make any difference. Just use the octane specified for your car. ---
**Author:** ![ledhed75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@ledhed75](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ledhed75)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-nissan-maxima-has-no-acceleration-when-gas-is-below-1-2-tank-gas/200806/6 "2025-06-28T17:42:04Z")
Agree with above on the fuel pump maybe being “tired”, or near failure. Doesn’t matter what kind of how expensive the gas you use is. Take it to a shop and have them test the fuel pressure. ---
**Author:** ![kescott1910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/958977/32.png) [@kescott1910](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kescott1910)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2025, 6:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-nissan-maxima-has-no-acceleration-when-gas-is-below-1-2-tank-gas/200806/7 "2025-06-28T18:14:19Z")
No check engine lights are showing. I’ve also scanned it and no codes are stored. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2025, 7:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-nissan-maxima-has-no-acceleration-when-gas-is-below-1-2-tank-gas/200806/8 "2025-06-28T19:35:38Z")
Might be in tank fuel pressure regulator. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2025, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-nissan-maxima-has-no-acceleration-when-gas-is-below-1-2-tank-gas/200806/9 "2025-06-28T19:46:59Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > Keep the tank \>1/2 full Good idea! Then when the pump totally fails and leaves OP stranded, not only will they have to pay to have the pump replaced, but also pay the towing fee to get the car to the shop. Tester ---
**Author:** ![auto-owner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/50afbb/32.png) [@auto-owner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/auto-owner)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2025, 5:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-nissan-maxima-has-no-acceleration-when-gas-is-below-1-2-tank-gas/200806/10 "2025-06-29T05:50:39Z")
What happens if you test throttle response in Neutral or Park? ---
**Author:** ![glasspilot](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/glasspilot/32/27886_2.png) [@glasspilot](https://community.cartalk.com/u/glasspilot)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 11:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-nissan-maxima-has-no-acceleration-when-gas-is-below-1-2-tank-gas/200806/11 "2025-06-30T11:08:37Z")
Don’t think anybodies said yet, check the fuel filter. I’ll bet if you replace the pump and filter your problem will be gone. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 1:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-nissan-maxima-has-no-acceleration-when-gas-is-below-1-2-tank-gas/200806/12 "2025-06-30T13:02:09Z")
I put gas that had had sediment into tank and motor stalled. Car towed home and ran fine. 2 days later it stalled again. I had to pull fuel pump and clean out gas tank. Pump screen was clogged. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 1:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-nissan-maxima-has-no-acceleration-when-gas-is-below-1-2-tank-gas/200806/13 "2025-06-30T13:25:35Z")
> [@glasspilot](#): > > Don’t think anybodies said yet, check the fuel filter. I think there is a very good reason for that… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-nissan-maxima-has-no-acceleration-when-gas-is-below-1-2-tank-gas/200806/14 "2025-06-30T15:46:06Z")
Pump is under back seat. Go for it.