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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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Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2010
Power Train

WE OWE A 2006 AUTOMATIC NISSAN MAXIMA WITH NOW APPROXIMATELY 112,000 MILES. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR WILL JERK REALLY HARD WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT BETWEEN 2 AND 3; WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE AND WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND …

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WE OWE A 2006 AUTOMATIC NISSAN MAXIMA WITH NOW APPROXIMATELY 112,000 MILES. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR WILL JERK REALLY HARD WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT BETWEEN 2 AND 3; WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE AND WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND HAD OTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED. HOWEVER, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THEIR ARE NO ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, WE TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER COMPANY WHO FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED AS REQUIRED: THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN FLUSHED AND FILTERS REPLACED; SPARK PLUGS REPLACED, FUEL INJECTION FLUSHED, AND OIL FILTERS AND OIL CHANGED. AFTER GOING ON THE WEBSITE AND SEEING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER NISSAN MAXIMAS, I'M FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THEIR APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH NISSAN MAXIMA'S TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY EXPENSE AND ONE THAT I BELIEVE NISSAN NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 MAXIMA TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340509

97,000 miles · Jun 25, 2010
Power Train

2006 MAXIMA TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING IT STARTED SLIPPING AROUND 97,000 MILES, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, NOW IT IS GETTING WORSE, WHILE I AM DRIVING THE CAR JERKS VERY HARD AND THEN IT STARTS TO NOT CHANGE OUT AND WHEN IT DOES CHANGE OUT IT SPEEDS THE CAR…

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2006 MAXIMA TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING IT STARTED SLIPPING AROUND 97,000 MILES, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, NOW IT IS GETTING WORSE, WHILE I AM DRIVING THE CAR JERKS VERY HARD AND THEN IT STARTS TO NOT CHANGE OUT AND WHEN IT DOES CHANGE OUT IT SPEEDS THE CAR UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340159

90,000 miles · Jun 24, 2010
Power Train

I PURCHASED MY 06 NISSAN MAXIMA EARLIER THIS YEAR. NOW I AM FACED WITH A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AT ONLY 90K MILES. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT AN UNBELIEVABLE NUMBER OF CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM CREATES DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AS THE VEHICLE MAY SLIP OUT OF GEAR IN PLACES WHERE IT CAN CAUSE AN ACCI…

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I PURCHASED MY 06 NISSAN MAXIMA EARLIER THIS YEAR. NOW I AM FACED WITH A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AT ONLY 90K MILES. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT AN UNBELIEVABLE NUMBER OF CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM CREATES DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AS THE VEHICLE MAY SLIP OUT OF GEAR IN PLACES WHERE IT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO WHEN THE ENGINE REVS DUE TO GEAR SLIPPAGE IT CAN CAUSE ACCELERATION WHICH COULD ALSO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE NEARLY 100 COMPLAINTS ON JUST ONE BLOG I FOUND, ALL RELATING TO THE 04-06 NISSAN MAXIMA. HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/NISSAN_MAXIMA.HTML I THINK NISSAN NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION AND GET THEIR PROBLEM FIXED FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339887

65,000 miles · Jun 23, 2010
Power Train

2006 NISSAN MAXIMA NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING JERKS AND HARD BUMPS WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING, SOMETIMES THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS AND IS SUCKING FOR GAS THEN THE HARD BUMP COMES. IT BUMP SO HARD DOING ACCELERATION THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 2 DAYS AGO. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP…

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2006 NISSAN MAXIMA NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING JERKS AND HARD BUMPS WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING, SOMETIMES THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS AND IS SUCKING FOR GAS THEN THE HARD BUMP COMES. IT BUMP SO HARD DOING ACCELERATION THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 2 DAYS AGO. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP IT'S THE MOTOR MOUNTS OTHER REPAIR COMPANIES SAYS IT'S MORE SERIOUS AND IT'S THE TRANSMISSION. I CALL NISSAN MOTOR CO. AND WAS TOLD THEIR ARE NO RECALLS, BUT WHEN I LOOKED ON CARSURVEY.COM AND OTHER SITES A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MAIN PROBLEM OCCURS IN SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. IT HAS OCCURRED EVERY DAY ON NEARLY EVERY STARTUP SINCE FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW. I WAS QUOTED FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT HAVE YET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339628

80,000 miles · Jun 15, 2010
Power Train

2006 NISSAN MAXIMA NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING JERKS AND HARD BUMPS WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING, SOMETIMES THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS AND IS SUCKING FOR GAS THEN THE HARD BUMP COMES. IT BUMP SO HARD DOING ACCELERATION THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 2 DAYS AGO. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSH…

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2006 NISSAN MAXIMA NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING JERKS AND HARD BUMPS WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING, SOMETIMES THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS AND IS SUCKING FOR GAS THEN THE HARD BUMP COMES. IT BUMP SO HARD DOING ACCELERATION THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 2 DAYS AGO. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP IT'S THE MOTOR MOUNTS OTHER REPAIR COMPANIES SAYS IT'S MORE SERIOUS AND IT'S THE TRANSMISSION. I CALL NISSAN MOTOR CO. AND WAS TOLD THEIR ARE NO RECALLS, BUT WHEN I LOOKED ON CARSURVEY.COM AND OTHER SITES A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336464

96,000 miles · May 4, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA AND A LITTLE AFTER MY 96,000 MARK THE CAR STARTED JERKING VERY HARD ON UP SHIFTING. ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND SHIFT IT IS VERY HARSH. BETWEEN THE 20 TO 30 MPH AND STOPPING. WHEN AT HIGH SPEEDS ITS NOT A PROBLEM. I CHOOSE TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE AND THEY ARE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUES.…

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I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA AND A LITTLE AFTER MY 96,000 MARK THE CAR STARTED JERKING VERY HARD ON UP SHIFTING. ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND SHIFT IT IS VERY HARSH. BETWEEN THE 20 TO 30 MPH AND STOPPING. WHEN AT HIGH SPEEDS ITS NOT A PROBLEM. I CHOOSE TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE AND THEY ARE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUES. PLEASE HELP US. THIS NEED TO BE A RECALL ENFORCED BY THE GOVERNMENT SAFETY DEPARTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328723

95,000 miles · May 3, 2010
Power Train

2006 NISSAN MAXIMA SE POWER- 96,000 MILES, TRAIN/ TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH GEARS. IT CURRENTLY GETS STUCK IN 5TH GEAR ON THE FREEWAY. ON THE CITY ROADWAYS I CURRENTLY PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SLIP INTO GEAR, CAUSING A JERKING SENSATION …

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2006 NISSAN MAXIMA SE POWER- 96,000 MILES, TRAIN/ TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH GEARS. IT CURRENTLY GETS STUCK IN 5TH GEAR ON THE FREEWAY. ON THE CITY ROADWAYS I CURRENTLY PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SLIP INTO GEAR, CAUSING A JERKING SENSATION AND SOMETIMES MAKING THE CAR MOVE INTO THE OTHER LANE. WHEN BRINGING THE CAR TO A STOP, THE CAR DOESN'T MOVE OUT OF GEAR AND AT THE STOP LIGHT THE CAR WILL DOWN SHIFT; CAUSING THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD A COUPLE OF FEET. MANY OTHER MAXIMAS BETWEEN 2004-2006 HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THEIR REALLY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE MAXIMA BETWEEN 2004-2006 MODELS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328685

115,000 miles · May 3, 2010
Power Train

WE HAVE A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, MY WIFE HAS COMPLAINED OF THE VEHICLE "JERKING" AS IN AUTOMATICALLY CHANGE GEARS AND LUNGING FORWARD. SHE TRAVELS APPROX 25 MILES TO AND FROM WORK EACH DAY, PLUS FAMILY DRIVING (E.G. KIDS ACTIVITIES). THE ISSUE WOULD PRESENT ITSELF SEVERAL TIMES A DAY AND THE "JERKING…

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WE HAVE A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, MY WIFE HAS COMPLAINED OF THE VEHICLE "JERKING" AS IN AUTOMATICALLY CHANGE GEARS AND LUNGING FORWARD. SHE TRAVELS APPROX 25 MILES TO AND FROM WORK EACH DAY, PLUS FAMILY DRIVING (E.G. KIDS ACTIVITIES). THE ISSUE WOULD PRESENT ITSELF SEVERAL TIMES A DAY AND THE "JERKING" BECAME SO VIOLENT THAT WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR MECHANIC TO TRY AND DIAGNOSIS THE ISSUE. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND SINCE THE ISSUE CONTINUED TO PRESENT ITSELF, WE WENT OUT TO THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THERE WAS POSSIBLE A RECALL OR OTHER INFORMATION. WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLAINT BY MANY INDIVIDUALS WITH REGARD TO THE NISSAN MAXIMA MODEL. MY WIFE'S FEAR IS NOT ONLY THE MECHANICAL ISSUE, BUT THAT THE CAR WOULD "JERK", OR "ACCELERATE" AUTOMATICALLY CAUSING PROPERTY OR PERSONAL INJURY TO SELF OR OTHERS. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WE SAW ON THE INTERNET ON THIS VERY ISSUE, WE FEEL IT REQUIRES INVESTIGATION. PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED WEBSITE AS AN EXAMPLE:C:\MY_DATA\2006 NISSAN MAXIMA AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS.MHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328467

75,000 miles · Apr 24, 2010
Power Train

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) NISSAN MAXIMA TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAILING A AN INCREDIBLE RATE. I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA 75K MILES WHO'S TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED SLIPPING WHILE DRIVING. I WILL ACCELERATE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOOSE THE TRANSMISSION THE ENGINE REVS UP…

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INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) NISSAN MAXIMA TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAILING A AN INCREDIBLE RATE. I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA 75K MILES WHO'S TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED SLIPPING WHILE DRIVING. I WILL ACCELERATE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOOSE THE TRANSMISSION THE ENGINE REVS UP SINCE I'M STILL PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I AM NOW NOT ACCELERATING BUT COASTING ON THE FREEWAY WHILE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME IS MOVING FORWARD AND THEN MY CAR WILL SLAM BACK INTO GEAR. I HAVE NOT YET BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND BUT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. I GOOGLED NISSAN MAXIMA TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND FOUND THIS WEB SITE HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/NISSAN_MAXIMA.HTML THERE ARE 16 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUES. I BELIEVE NISSAN HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT UNLESS FORCED TO BY OUR GOVERNMENT SAFETY DEPARTMENT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. [XXX] *TR

NHTSA ODI #10327270

28,000 miles · Apr 18, 2010
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA SE THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN JAN 2007. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I REPLACED THE OEM TIRES BECAUSE I WAS OLD THEY WERE WORN OUT AND WERE THE CAUSE OF STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION ABOVE 60MPH. I REPLACED THE TIRES AND FRONT BRAKES/ROTORS AT MY NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THE VIBRATION WAS REDUCED BUT STILL NOTICEABLE. IT GET…

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I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA SE THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN JAN 2007. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I REPLACED THE OEM TIRES BECAUSE I WAS OLD THEY WERE WORN OUT AND WERE THE CAUSE OF STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION ABOVE 60MPH. I REPLACED THE TIRES AND FRONT BRAKES/ROTORS AT MY NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THE VIBRATION WAS REDUCED BUT STILL NOTICEABLE. IT GETS WORSE WITH COLD TEMPERATURES. THEY HAVE INSPECTED THE STRUTS AND ENGINE MOUNTS AND SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR BUT THE VIBRATION IS STILL THERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326264

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.