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2006 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Maxima years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Nissan Maxima are substantially higher than the model-year median of 99.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

512 reports with mileage · 64 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 393 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

21 crash reports4 fire reports12 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

26 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2010
Electrical SystemPower TrainSuspension

2006 NISSAN MAXIMA NUMEROUS ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE TRANSMISSION. CREATING SAFETY CONCERNS, THIS IS NOT A ISOLATED CONDITION, I KNOW OF 3 PEOPLE WHO HAS HAD THE SAME CONDITIONS. THESE ARE THE ONES I KNOW ABOUT. THIS PROBLEM IS ONGOING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10319570

8,000 miles · Jan 3, 2010
Electrical System

I OWN A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY 6 TIMES 2 FROM NISSAN AND THE OTHER 4 FROM MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10297886

37,750 miles · Feb 3, 2009
Electrical System

NISSAN OF MIDDLETOWN REPLACED DRIVE BELTS, AIR FILTER, & CHANGED OIL 12/1/08. (I REQUESTED THE ORIGINAL DRIVE BELTS TO SHOW MY HUSBAND AS I NEVER RECALLED HAVING THIS SERVICE DONE ON ANY OF THE CARS I OWNED AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE.) ON 12/5/08, MY 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA (APPROX. 37,900 MI) JUST STOPPED ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY. I WAS PUSHE…

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NISSAN OF MIDDLETOWN REPLACED DRIVE BELTS, AIR FILTER, & CHANGED OIL 12/1/08. (I REQUESTED THE ORIGINAL DRIVE BELTS TO SHOW MY HUSBAND AS I NEVER RECALLED HAVING THIS SERVICE DONE ON ANY OF THE CARS I OWNED AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE.) ON 12/5/08, MY 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA (APPROX. 37,900 MI) JUST STOPPED ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY. I WAS PUSHED OFF THE HIGHWAY, OPENED THE HOOD, CHECKED THE BELTS (WHICH WERE FINE) & NOTICED FRESH BATTERY ACID SPEWING FROM THE BATTERY. TOWED TO MECHANIC IN TOWN WHO HAD THE CAR FOR 10 DAYS IN WHICH TIME HE CHANGED THE BATTERY AND SAID THE BATTERY WIRING HARNESS HAD BEEN DAMAGED BUT STILL THINKS IT IS SOMETHING ELSE AS THE CAR WOULD START BUT WOULDN'T RUN. CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO MIDDLETOWN NISSAN AND THEY IMMEDIATELY FOUND THE PROBLEM - THE MASS AIR SENSOR WAS BAD. THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR 12/15/08 AND TOLD ME THAT THESE THINGS GO BAD. I CONTACTED NISSAN HEADQUARTERS AND STATED MY CONCERN THAT THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE MAINTENANCE WORK HAD JUST BEEN DONE. AFTER REVIEW, NISSAN REPAID ME $426.25 FOR THE SENSOR. I CONTINUE TO HAVE CONCERN THAT NOT ONLY MUST I NOW REPLACE THE BATTERY WIRING HARNESS AT A GREAT COST WHICH THE LOCAL MECHANIC ESTIMATED THE PART AT $700 PLUS LABOR, BUT ALSO WHEN I STATED THAT MY CAR JUST STOPPED, WITHOUT WARNING--NO SERVICE LIGHTS, NOTHING (WHAT IF I WERE ON THE THRUWAY DOING 65 MPH AND LOST POWER - ENGINE, STEERING, EVERYTHING -- WITH NO WARNING-- I'D PROBABLY BE DEAD ALONG WITH ANY PASSENGERS) NISSAN'S HEADQUARTERS VERBALLY REPORTED TO ME OVER THE PHONE THAT A CAR IS MECHANICAL AND THESE THINGS CAN HAPPEN. WELL, I'M NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS RESPONSE. I STILL QUESTION WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BASICALLY BRAND NEW CAR WHEN NISSAN MIDDLETOWN DID THE MAINTENANCE WORK ON IT. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR OPINION ON THE MECHANICS AND THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ASSISTANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257370

41,876 miles · Sep 14, 2008
Electrical System

AS I TURNED ON THE IGNITION THE BATTERY EXPLODED. THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING APROX. 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE INCIDENT. I HAD DRIVEN APROX. 15 MILES BEFORE STOPPING. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND WAITED A MINUTE OR SO TO LET THE SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE TO CLEAR. I OPENED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED THE BATTERY. I WAS SPLIT IN SEVERAL PLACES. T…

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AS I TURNED ON THE IGNITION THE BATTERY EXPLODED. THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING APROX. 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE INCIDENT. I HAD DRIVEN APROX. 15 MILES BEFORE STOPPING. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND WAITED A MINUTE OR SO TO LET THE SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE TO CLEAR. I OPENED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED THE BATTERY. I WAS SPLIT IN SEVERAL PLACES. THE TWO CELL COVERS WERE OFF THE BATTERY. THE IMPRINT OF THE BATTERY CAP TOP WAS LEFT ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HOOD. THE HOOD HAD A SMALL DENT UP FROM THE UNDER SIDE. IT LOOKS AS IF THE OTHER CAP HIT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HOOD WHERE THE INFORMATION STICKER IS LOCATED, THERE IS NO INSULATING PROTECTION IN THAT SMALL AREA OF THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS SPRAYED OFF. I WAS TOLD THE BATTERY WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I ASKED WHAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE HOOD. I WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE OF THE LAPSED WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10242109

59,200 miles · Apr 7, 2008
Electrical System

2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. IGNITION SWITCH NON FUNCTIONAL. HAVE TO PAY $650.00 FOR REPAIRS. THE MAX ONLY HAS 59,000. MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223587

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2006
Electrical System

WE PURCHASED OUR 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA 3 WEEKS AGO. AS OF TODAY THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 2 TIMES, AND IS CURRENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS. IT WILL BE TAKEN BACK MONDAY AND HOPEFULLY WILL RECEIVE A NEW CAR. IT ALL STARTED WHEN ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING AND THE LOCKS ON THE DOORS STARTED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING BY THEMSELVES, THE WINDOWS WOUL…

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WE PURCHASED OUR 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA 3 WEEKS AGO. AS OF TODAY THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 2 TIMES, AND IS CURRENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS. IT WILL BE TAKEN BACK MONDAY AND HOPEFULLY WILL RECEIVE A NEW CAR. IT ALL STARTED WHEN ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING AND THE LOCKS ON THE DOORS STARTED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING BY THEMSELVES, THE WINDOWS WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN AND WHEN I GOT HOME I WASN'T ABLE TO TURN MY KEY IN THE IGNITION. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF TRYING TO HOLD DOWN THE LOCK MANUALLY IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF MY CAR, I FINALLY TIMES IT RIGHT BEFORE THE LOCK SLAPPED BACK AND WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE. WE TOOK IT IN THE SHOP WHERE IT REMAINED FOR 6 DAYS. WE GOT IT BACK AND A FEW DAYS LATER THE HAZARD LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING, THE CENTER CONSOLE LIGHTS WOULDN'T LIGHT UP, AND ONE OF THE VENTS WOULDN'T TURN. THEY TOOK IT BACK IN FOR A DAY AND WE TOOK IT BACK HOME. IT WORKED PROPERLY FOR A DAY UNTIL THE LOCKS STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN. WE'VE HAD IT WITH THIS CAR. IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN ITS BEEN WITH US, AND WE'VE ONLY OWNED IT 3 WEEKS. WE PAID $32K FOR A ROTTEN EGG AND WE'RE TIRED OF GETTING THE RUN AROUND. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10150619

Official recalls

2

06V046000 · Suspension:rear

Feb 13, 2006

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE REAR SUBFRAME MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRACK IN A BRACKET WHICH HOLDS PART OF THE REAR SUSPENSION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE BRACKET IS CRACKED, THE STABILITY OF THE VEHICLE MAY BE AFFECTED UNDER SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SUBFRAME TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 27, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

05V512000 · Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Nov 7, 2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE DRIVER PREFERRED PACKAGE, THE WIRE HARNESS FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT POWER LUMBAR SUPPORT SWITCH MAY BE ROUTED INCORRECTLY AND COULD BE PINCHED UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A PINCHED HARNESS, IN COMBINATION WITH DRIVING VIBRATION, MAY RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE HARNESS THAT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE IN THE SEAT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS AND ROUTE IT CORRECTLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 16, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.