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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

What owners actually said

576 reports
132,491 miles · Dec 2, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,491. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10661596

132,491 miles · Nov 28, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,491.

NHTSA ODI #10661168

92,000 miles · Nov 20, 2014
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DELAY WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH THE GEAR FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE BODY FROM THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DELAY WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH THE GEAR FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE BODY FROM THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ODI #10659686

84,848 miles · Nov 13, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control

MY CAR WILL START OFF RIDING GREAT BUT THEN THE JERKING STARTS AND THE ACCELERATION STALLS. I AM SO AFRAID THAT I MAY GET IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THE CONSTANT JERKING. SOMETIMES MY ENGINE REVS UP AND MY CAR JERKS AS IF THE WHOLE CAR WILL JUST FALL APART. I PRAY EVERYTIME I GET BEHIND THE WHEEL. I DON'T HAVE $3,000 TO …

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MY CAR WILL START OFF RIDING GREAT BUT THEN THE JERKING STARTS AND THE ACCELERATION STALLS. I AM SO AFRAID THAT I MAY GET IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THE CONSTANT JERKING. SOMETIMES MY ENGINE REVS UP AND MY CAR JERKS AS IF THE WHOLE CAR WILL JUST FALL APART. I PRAY EVERYTIME I GET BEHIND THE WHEEL. I DON'T HAVE $3,000 TO GET IT REPAIRED AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT WHEN THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST NISSAN FOR THIS ISSUE. I AM HOPING THAT A RECALL IS DONE SO THAT I WON'T HAVE TO PAY. I BELIEVE ITS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I CAN GET IN AN ACCIDENT OR INJURE SOMEONE. IT PISSES ME OFF THAT NISSAN WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654886

70,000 miles · Oct 21, 2014
Power Train

I BOUGHT A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA SE FROM A USED CAR DEALER WITH ROUGHLY 36,000 MILES ON IT IN 2006 MARCH. THE CAR RAN GREAT FOR A WHILE, BUT RIGHT AROUND WHEN IT HIT ABOUT 65,000 MILES IT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. INITIALLY, THE PROBLEM WOULD ONLY SURFACE WHEN I PUT MY CAR FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, AND THE CAR WOU…

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I BOUGHT A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA SE FROM A USED CAR DEALER WITH ROUGHLY 36,000 MILES ON IT IN 2006 MARCH. THE CAR RAN GREAT FOR A WHILE, BUT RIGHT AROUND WHEN IT HIT ABOUT 65,000 MILES IT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. INITIALLY, THE PROBLEM WOULD ONLY SURFACE WHEN I PUT MY CAR FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, AND THE CAR WOULD LURCH FORWARD VIOLENTLY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THAT 2003-2006 NISSAN MAXIMA'S WERE KNOWN TO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION, BUT SAID IT IS NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALL AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY A WARRANTY AS MY CAR WAS BEYOND THE 5 YR COVERAGE PERIOD. THE CAR NOW HAS 94,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE CAR TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTERMITTENTLY WHICH LEADS TO PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION OR MAINTAINING SPEED AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND DUE TO THIS REASON I AVOID DRIVING ON FREEWAYS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649086

90,000 miles · Oct 20, 2014
Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE, VARIOUS INSTANCES OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION, INCLUDING MIRROR LIGHTS FLICKERING, DASH LIGHTS FLICKERING/HALF DOESN'T COME ONE, AS WELL AS FAULTY WIRING IN SUN ROOF CAUSING IT TO OPEN AND CLOSES RANDOMLY ON IT'S OWN. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND KNOCK HARD INTO GEARS, EVEN THOUG…

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IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE, VARIOUS INSTANCES OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION, INCLUDING MIRROR LIGHTS FLICKERING, DASH LIGHTS FLICKERING/HALF DOESN'T COME ONE, AS WELL AS FAULTY WIRING IN SUN ROOF CAUSING IT TO OPEN AND CLOSES RANDOMLY ON IT'S OWN. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND KNOCK HARD INTO GEARS, EVEN THOUGH PROPER MAINTENANCE WAS ALWAYS COMPLETED. BRAKES REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. SUSPENSION LACKING. AS OF LAST WEEK, THE TRACTION/SLIP LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY, ALMOST CAUSING SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. THIS PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE RESOLVED, AS NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THIS VEHICLE HAS CAUSED FINANCIAL HARM AS WELL AS NEAR PHYSICAL HARM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10648745

72,000 miles · Oct 17, 2014
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS SWITCHED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS SWITCHED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 01/13/15*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10648424

97,000 miles · Oct 13, 2014
Power TrainSteeringSuspension

I WAS AT THE LIGHT WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND AS I GOT A BREAK TO TURN IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC MY CAR JERKED AND CUT OFF. MY 2 YEAR OLD AND 3 YEAR OLD WAS ALSO IN THE CAR I WAS TERRIFIED AND NOW SCARED TO MAKE A TURN IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC BC MY CAR MAY COST ME AND MY KIDS OUR LIFE CAR ISN'T SAFE TO DRIVE LIKE…

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I WAS AT THE LIGHT WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND AS I GOT A BREAK TO TURN IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC MY CAR JERKED AND CUT OFF. MY 2 YEAR OLD AND 3 YEAR OLD WAS ALSO IN THE CAR I WAS TERRIFIED AND NOW SCARED TO MAKE A TURN IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC BC MY CAR MAY COST ME AND MY KIDS OUR LIFE CAR ISN'T SAFE TO DRIVE LIKE THAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644346

90,000 miles · Oct 11, 2014
Power Train

HARD SHIFT WHEN TRANSMISSION IS HOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10643982

110,000 miles · Oct 8, 2014
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A CONSTANT RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT THE FAULTY TIMING CHAIN BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10643226

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.