← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

Engine complaints

47 reports
Clear category filter
35,000 miles · May 24, 2016
EngineExterior LightingPower Train

EXHAUST/EMISSION - CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND MAKES TERRIBLE NOISE - NOT FIXED YET. DEALER SAYS, CAR WILL WORK WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS AT 103,000 MILES (8TH YEAR) BODY FRAME - UNDER CARRIAGE ON DRIVER SIDE RUSTED, WITH A BULGE. DEALER SAID, RUSTING IT NOT ENOUGH, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PUT THE SCREW DRIVER OR FINGER THROUGH THE…

Read full complaint

EXHAUST/EMISSION - CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND MAKES TERRIBLE NOISE - NOT FIXED YET. DEALER SAYS, CAR WILL WORK WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS AT 103,000 MILES (8TH YEAR) BODY FRAME - UNDER CARRIAGE ON DRIVER SIDE RUSTED, WITH A BULGE. DEALER SAID, RUSTING IT NOT ENOUGH, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PUT THE SCREW DRIVER OR FINGER THROUGH THE RUSTED PORTION. 35000 MILES ( AFTER 5YEARS AND 2 DAYS) TRANSMISSION - IT JERKS AND IS VERY DANGEROUS ON THE ROAD. REPAIR ESTIMATION IS AROUND $3500 FROM THE DEALER. WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A STOP IN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, THEN SOMETIMES, IT DOES NOT MOVE. AFTER ACCELERATING A BIT, IT JUST JUMPS. IT IS VERY VERY HARD TO GO IN A STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. SO I MAINTAIN A CERTAIN DISTANCE KEEPING THIS IN MIND. NISSAN MOTOR CORPORATION DOES NOT CARE FOR ANY OF THE ISSUES. DEALER COMES UP WITH ONE OR THE OTHER REASON. UNTIL NOW THEY HAVE NEVER WORKED CONDUCIVELY WITH THE CUSTOMERS. 103,000 (9TH YEAR.) ENGINE - THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED, ENGINE WAS MAKING THE SOUND OF A RAILROAD. COSTED A LOT TO GET IT FIXED, AND AFTER THAT, SOUND IS NOT COMPLETELY GONE. AFTER MULTIPLE COMPLIANTS, THEY ARE NOT BOTHERED. THEY SAY, USE ONLY 93 OCTANCE. 103,000(9TH YEAR)

NHTSA ODI #10870480

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

AT 12,500 MILES I WAS DRIVING AND IT WAS LIKE SOMEONE PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION. AT 34,000 MILES, IT STARTED KNOCKING AND SMOKING WHEN YOU FIRST START IT. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND THE GAS WAS MIXING WITH THE OIL. MY CLAIM WAS DENIED SO I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. NOW AT 110,0…

Read full complaint

AT 12,500 MILES I WAS DRIVING AND IT WAS LIKE SOMEONE PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION. AT 34,000 MILES, IT STARTED KNOCKING AND SMOKING WHEN YOU FIRST START IT. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND THE GAS WAS MIXING WITH THE OIL. MY CLAIM WAS DENIED SO I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. NOW AT 110,000 MILES THE CAR WON'T SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER AND DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE MONEY TO SINK INTO THIS LEMON.

NHTSA ODI #10855204

115,000 miles · Apr 5, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EVENTUALLY START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO JOLT FORWARD WHEN SWITCHING GEARS AND STALL. THE TCS ENGINE SLIP INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INST…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EVENTUALLY START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO JOLT FORWARD WHEN SWITCHING GEARS AND STALL. THE TCS ENGINE SLIP INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #10853559

124 miles · Feb 11, 2016
EngineCrash

I OWN A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA WORST CAR I EVER OWNED AND WILL NEVER AGAIN BUY ANOTHER NISSAN PRODUCT. I THINK NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE OF THE CAR JERKING AND SUDDENLY REVS FOR NO APPARENT REASON AFTER ABOUT 90K OR SO MILES THE CAR IS FAIRLY USELESS I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE MINES ANYMORE UNTIL I SHELL OUT 4K TO GET IT FIXED. WHENEVER…

Read full complaint

I OWN A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA WORST CAR I EVER OWNED AND WILL NEVER AGAIN BUY ANOTHER NISSAN PRODUCT. I THINK NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE OF THE CAR JERKING AND SUDDENLY REVS FOR NO APPARENT REASON AFTER ABOUT 90K OR SO MILES THE CAR IS FAIRLY USELESS I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE MINES ANYMORE UNTIL I SHELL OUT 4K TO GET IT FIXED. WHENEVER I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT JUST JERKS REAL HARD TO THE POINT WHERE I FEEL AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. MY WIFE ACTUALLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE JUST SUDDENLY REVS FORWARD. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT DOES THIS BUT ALL OWNERS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO SAID THE SAME THING.

NHTSA ODI #10825656

223,000 miles · Dec 1, 2015
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIOLENTLY JERK AND THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMIS…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIOLENTLY JERK AND THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 223,000.

NHTSA ODI #10807827

117,000 miles · Sep 23, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSuspension

WHEN GOING TO ACCELERATE OR CHANGE GEARS (PARK TO REVERSE) THE CAR JERKS. WHEN DRIVING IN CITY AND I BREAK THEN TAKE OFF, THE CAR ENGINE REV'S LIKE THE GEAR HAS SLIPPED ..

NHTSA ODI #10775401

126,000 miles · Jul 20, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

ALTHOUGH THE CAR LOOKS BEAUTIFUL, IT'S QUICKLY BECOMING ONE OF MY LEAST FAVORITE VEHICLES I'VE OWNED. WHEN I START GOING FORWARD, I HAVE TO WAIT AND BE VERY PATIENT ON THE GAS PEDAL TO MAKE SURE IT SHIFTS PROPERLY OR IT WILL JERK MYSELF AND SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK FORWARD. I PARK IN A RAMP AT WORK AND ON MORE THAN ONE OCCAS…

Read full complaint

ALTHOUGH THE CAR LOOKS BEAUTIFUL, IT'S QUICKLY BECOMING ONE OF MY LEAST FAVORITE VEHICLES I'VE OWNED. WHEN I START GOING FORWARD, I HAVE TO WAIT AND BE VERY PATIENT ON THE GAS PEDAL TO MAKE SURE IT SHIFTS PROPERLY OR IT WILL JERK MYSELF AND SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK FORWARD. I PARK IN A RAMP AT WORK AND ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASSION THE CAR WAS DOWNSHIFTING AS I TURNED A CORNER GOING UP THE RAMP AND I WAS SLOWING FOR A PEDESTRIAN AND THE CAR JERKED FORWARD AND THE PEDESTRIAN JUMPED AND GAVE ME A SCARED LOOK. NOT ONLY IS THAT ENTIRELY EMBARASSING AS AN EXECUTIVE BUT IT IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD ON MULTIPLE LEVELS. THE CAR SEEMS TO JERK THE MOST FROM 1-2 AND 2-3 AND VISA VERSA. I NOTED ELECTRICAL AS AN AFFECTED PART BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I SET THE MIRROR AND SEATS, EVERY TIME I USE REVERSE, THE MIRRORS MOVE AND CLICK UNTIL I ADJUST THEM TO WHERE I NEED THEM.

NHTSA ODI #10735266

78,000 miles · May 4, 2015
EnginePower Train

PULLING AWAY FROM A STOPLIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION JERKED VIOLENTLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO "LIMP MODE" ONLY GOING TO 20 MILES PER HOUR ON A VERY BUSY STREET WITH NO TURN OFF. CAR WAS TOWED, AND NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED. NISSAN WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10714395

91,545 miles · Apr 26, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

MY MAXIMA HAS BEEN JERKING AND HESITATING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT IS ONLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A BIT AND IS WARMED UP. A FEW TIMES IT HAS SLAMMED INTO GEAR SO HARD I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN REAR ENDED. IT IS SO BAD THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY HAZARD LIGHT ON. I'M AFRAID FOR MY LIFE AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. THIS PROBLEM…

Read full complaint

MY MAXIMA HAS BEEN JERKING AND HESITATING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT IS ONLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A BIT AND IS WARMED UP. A FEW TIMES IT HAS SLAMMED INTO GEAR SO HARD I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN REAR ENDED. IT IS SO BAD THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY HAZARD LIGHT ON. I'M AFRAID FOR MY LIFE AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. THIS PROBLEM SHOULDN'T BE TAKEN LIGHTLY AND I BELIEVE NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712908

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

MY CAR STALLS AND SHUTS OFF UNEXPECTED WHEN AT A STOP, IT ALSO WILL NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH IN TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL AUTO STORE TO TEST THE (SERVICE ENGINE SOON) LIGHT, COMES BACK WITH CODES RELATING TO THE CAMSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706476

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.