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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.

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

Power Train complaints

393 reports
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100,010 miles · Jun 10, 2014
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE TOWN OF WESTPORT, CT, THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AND THEN IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET PAST 25 MILES PER HOUR AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SHUT OFF A COUPLE OF TIMES. I THEN MADE IT TO A GAS STATION AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT STARTED UP AND I MADE IT HOME. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH…

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WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE TOWN OF WESTPORT, CT, THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AND THEN IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET PAST 25 MILES PER HOUR AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SHUT OFF A COUPLE OF TIMES. I THEN MADE IT TO A GAS STATION AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT STARTED UP AND I MADE IT HOME. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR THAT CAUSES JERKING, GEAR SLIPPING AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND CUT OFFS THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF (ON THE 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA MODELS) AND THEY HAVE NOT ADDRESSED ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS OR ISSUES. I GUESS THEY WILL WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS. IT IS GOING TO COST ME $3000.00 TO GET MY CAR FIXED WHEN IT SHOULD BE FREE BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS MODEL YEAR CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597390

90,000 miles · May 20, 2014
Power Train

UPON ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND HARSHLY SHIFTED INTO THE NEXT GEAR, SURGING FORWARD AND CAUSING THE OPERATOR TO ALMOST HIT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN NISSAN WAS ADVISED I WAS TOLD TO HAVE THE TRANS REPLACED (NOT CHEAP). UPON CHECKING NISSAN FORUMS AND SPEAKING WITH OTHER OWNERS TURNS OUT THIS IS A CO…

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UPON ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND HARSHLY SHIFTED INTO THE NEXT GEAR, SURGING FORWARD AND CAUSING THE OPERATOR TO ALMOST HIT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN NISSAN WAS ADVISED I WAS TOLD TO HAVE THE TRANS REPLACED (NOT CHEAP). UPON CHECKING NISSAN FORUMS AND SPEAKING WITH OTHER OWNERS TURNS OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSANS OF THE SAME GENERATION, LIKE THE MURANO, AND ALTIMA. THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED, I REFUSE TO REPAIR AN ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT, ALONG WITH THE POWER STEERING ISSUE THAT IS 'COMMON' IN THESE CARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592783

57,000 miles · May 13, 2014
Power Train

DURING UPSHIFTS AND DOWN SHIFTS THE CAR IS VERY HARSH. SLAMS INTO GEAR MAKING ACCELERATION AND DE-CELEBRATION UNPREDICTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588161

70,000 miles · May 13, 2014
EnginePower Train

AFTER CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING, ESPECIALLY INTO AND OUT OF 3RD GEAR. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO TELL THEM WHAT WAS WRONG, HE ASKED ME IF MY TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING UP. WHEN I SAID YES HE RATTLED OFF ABOUT 5 THINGS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXPER…

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AFTER CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING, ESPECIALLY INTO AND OUT OF 3RD GEAR. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO TELL THEM WHAT WAS WRONG, HE ASKED ME IF MY TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING UP. WHEN I SAID YES HE RATTLED OFF ABOUT 5 THINGS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING (HARD SHIFTING IN REVERSE, HESITATION IN UPSHIFTING, ETC) AND I SAID YES TO EACH ONE. WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT HE SAID IT WOULD BE $4,000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE ALL OF THEM HAVE THAT PROBLEM. I CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT PAYING FOR IT AND THEY REFUSED, TWICE. I'VE ALMOST GOTTEN INTO A HANDFUL OF ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS. SWITCHING LANES TO PASS SOMEONE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND SENDS THE RPM'S TO 7000 AND I ALMOST GET REAR-ENDED, THEN WHEN IT DOES SHIFT IT JERKS SO HARD THE CAR SWERVES ALL OVER THE ROAD. IT SHIFTS SO HARD MY ENGINE MOUNTS ARE BROKEN AND NEED REPLACED TOO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588091

65,000 miles · Apr 23, 2014
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD WHILE THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SEPARATING FROM THE ENGINE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD WHILE THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SEPARATING FROM THE ENGINE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ODI #10584494

38 miles · Apr 21, 2014
Power Train

TRANSMISSION HAS ACTED UP AND GOTTEN STUCK IN 5TH GEAR SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. IT IS VERY SLOW TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOP WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND DOES NOT DRIVE WELL AT ALL. IT ALSO SLAMS IN AND OUT OF FIRST AND SECOND GEAR BEFORE GETTING STUCK IN 5TH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10583926

114,256 miles · Apr 19, 2014
Power Train

THE VEHICLE SHIFTS GEARS IN A VERY ROUGH JERKING MOTION. I HAVE EXPERIENCE LATE GEAR ENGAGEMENT, WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN MULTIPLE NEAR COLLISION ACCIDENTS. JERKING ALSO OCCURS WHEN CHANGING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON GAS DURING HIGHWAY TRAVEL, THE RPM'S RAISE AND THEN A FEW SECONDS LATER THE CAR WILL JERK INTO…

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THE VEHICLE SHIFTS GEARS IN A VERY ROUGH JERKING MOTION. I HAVE EXPERIENCE LATE GEAR ENGAGEMENT, WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN MULTIPLE NEAR COLLISION ACCIDENTS. JERKING ALSO OCCURS WHEN CHANGING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON GAS DURING HIGHWAY TRAVEL, THE RPM'S RAISE AND THEN A FEW SECONDS LATER THE CAR WILL JERK INTO GEAR AND THEN THE SPEED WILL INCREASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10583667

55,410 miles · Apr 1, 2014
Fuel System, GasolinePower Train

THIS CAR HAS HAD HARDSHIFTS, BETWEEN 2-3 GEARS AND HORRIBLE DOWNSHIFTS. NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THESE ISSUES. FLAIR SHIFTS WHEN COASTING. SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEARS. PLEASE HELP! THE CAR SHIFTS ERRATICALLY AND THIS IS DUE TO A PRODUCTION ISSUE WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. NIS…

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THIS CAR HAS HAD HARDSHIFTS, BETWEEN 2-3 GEARS AND HORRIBLE DOWNSHIFTS. NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THESE ISSUES. FLAIR SHIFTS WHEN COASTING. SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEARS. PLEASE HELP! THE CAR SHIFTS ERRATICALLY AND THIS IS DUE TO A PRODUCTION ISSUE WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. NISSAN KNOWS OF THESE PROBLEMS AND THAT'S WHY THEY NOW USE CVT TRANSMISSIONS. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576340

57,000 miles · Mar 16, 2014
Power Train

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS AND VERY HIGH RPM OCCURRED AT SAME TIME. NEEDED AN ENTIRE TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL. WARRANTY GOOD FOR 60 MONTHS OR 60,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT AT 57000 MILES BUT CAR WAS PURCHASED 7-18-06, SO IT IS PAST THE 60 MONTHS. NISSAN TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER, DES…

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TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS AND VERY HIGH RPM OCCURRED AT SAME TIME. NEEDED AN ENTIRE TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL. WARRANTY GOOD FOR 60 MONTHS OR 60,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT AT 57000 MILES BUT CAR WAS PURCHASED 7-18-06, SO IT IS PAST THE 60 MONTHS. NISSAN TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER, DESPITE NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS OF NISSAN OWNERS. PAID OVER $3000 TO FIX TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10572654

40,000 miles · Mar 11, 2014
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED ABNORMALLY AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED ABNORMALLY AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,900.

NHTSA ODI #10568375

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.