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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
95,690 miles · May 2, 2013
Power Train

SLOWED DOWN WHILE SOMEONE TURNED AND THE CAR SPED UP AN ALMOST HIT THE CAR TURNING. THEN THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AND SLOWING DOWN ON ITS OWN. THE CAR NOW JERKS INTO GEAR AND SPEEDS UP AND SLOWS DOWN BY ITSELF. I HAVE REFUSED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND FROM EVERYTHING I HAVE READ NISSAN REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING BUT CHARGE $3,500-…

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SLOWED DOWN WHILE SOMEONE TURNED AND THE CAR SPED UP AN ALMOST HIT THE CAR TURNING. THEN THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AND SLOWING DOWN ON ITS OWN. THE CAR NOW JERKS INTO GEAR AND SPEEDS UP AND SLOWS DOWN BY ITSELF. I HAVE REFUSED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND FROM EVERYTHING I HAVE READ NISSAN REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING BUT CHARGE $3,500-$4,500 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME TRANSMISSION THAT DOES NOT LAST 60,000 MILES IN SOME CARS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CAR AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED TO FIX THE OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510407

86,000 miles · Apr 24, 2013
Power Train

IN AUGUST OF 2012 I WAS IN MY 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK WHEN I WAS IN TRAFFIC DURING RUSH HOUR WHEN I WAS WAITING AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, WITH CARS BEHIND ME WHEN MY CAR STOPPED AND WOULDN'T START OR MOVE ,THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE UP A FEW MONTHS PRIOR I TOOK MY CAR TO NISSAN TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC THEY REPORTED N…

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IN AUGUST OF 2012 I WAS IN MY 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK WHEN I WAS IN TRAFFIC DURING RUSH HOUR WHEN I WAS WAITING AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, WITH CARS BEHIND ME WHEN MY CAR STOPPED AND WOULDN'T START OR MOVE ,THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE UP A FEW MONTHS PRIOR I TOOK MY CAR TO NISSAN TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC THEY REPORTED NOT ONLY DID I NEED A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION AT A SUM OF $3500 BUT ALSO A METER CONTROL AMP WHICH CONTROLS THE DRIVERS DASHBOARD ,I MAKE CAR PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR STILL ,I'VE BEEN DRIVING A CAR RENTAL SINCE NOV 2012 I CAN'T AFFORD IT I NEED TRANSPORTATION,I HAVE TO GET TO WORK.I'M SO FRUSTRATED I JUST FOUND OUT YESTERDAY THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WITH NISSAN NORTH AMERICA DUE TO THESE DAMAGE TRANSMISSIONS THEY SOLD THE PUBLIC ,I SO DESPERATELY IN NEED OF HELP I NEED MY CAR FIXED . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509364

104,000 miles · Apr 16, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

I HAD TO DO REPLACE A WORN ENGINE MOUNT ON MY CAR, WHICH REQUIRED LOWERING THE FRONT SUSPENSION MEMBER (NISSAN SPEAK), OR CRADLE AS I CALL IT. I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT MOUNTING STUDS WERE EXTREMELY CORRODED. I DO LIVE IN A SNOW/SALT STATE, OHIO. THE REAR STUDS LOOKED OK. THE WORST OF THE FRONT STUDS HAD APPROXIMATELY 25% OF …

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I HAD TO DO REPLACE A WORN ENGINE MOUNT ON MY CAR, WHICH REQUIRED LOWERING THE FRONT SUSPENSION MEMBER (NISSAN SPEAK), OR CRADLE AS I CALL IT. I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT MOUNTING STUDS WERE EXTREMELY CORRODED. I DO LIVE IN A SNOW/SALT STATE, OHIO. THE REAR STUDS LOOKED OK. THE WORST OF THE FRONT STUDS HAD APPROXIMATELY 25% OF THE STUD ROTTED AWAY DUE TO CORROSION. THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE REPLACEABLE A BOLT, SO I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO REASSEMBLE THE CRADLE WITH THE STUDS AS IS. IF THESE STUDS WERE TO FAIL, THE RESULT COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS. AS A SIDE NOTE, THIS SAME CAR HAD A SEVERELY CORRODED FLOOR THAT HAD TO BE CUT OUT AND REPAIRED AS WELL. IT APPEARS NISSAN DOES NOT BUILD A CAR SUITED FOR THE SNOW/SALT AREAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508359

85,000 miles · Apr 10, 2013
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING MY '06 NISSAN MAXIMA SE HOME FROM WORK ON THE INTERSTATE. I PRESSED DOWN ON THE GAS TO GET INTO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE TRAFFIC WAS SPEEDING AROUND ME TO FAST. UPON ME TRYING TO GET INTO THE SLOWER LANE MY CAR STARTED TO BUCKLE AND JERK AND NOT HAVE ANY POWER WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL. MY CAR JUST LOST ALL POW…

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I WAS DRIVING MY '06 NISSAN MAXIMA SE HOME FROM WORK ON THE INTERSTATE. I PRESSED DOWN ON THE GAS TO GET INTO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE TRAFFIC WAS SPEEDING AROUND ME TO FAST. UPON ME TRYING TO GET INTO THE SLOWER LANE MY CAR STARTED TO BUCKLE AND JERK AND NOT HAVE ANY POWER WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL. MY CAR JUST LOST ALL POWER BUT THE CARE WAS STILL RUNNING. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. TRAFFIC WAS SPEEDING AROUND ME AND I LOOKED UP AND SAW A 18 WHEELER SLAM ON HIS BREAKS BECAUSE MY CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN AND STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. NO BRAKE LIGHTS OR ANYTHING. MY CAR WAS JUST CREEPING ALONG IN THE MIDDLE OF 5 O'CLOCK TRAFFIC ON I-20 AT I-95N. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO SO I JUST SAT THERE UNTIL FINALLY A BREAK CAME IN THE TRAFFIC ABOUT 30-45 MINS LATER. OTHER DRIVERSHAD TO SKID OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID HITTING THE CARS INFRONT OF THEM BECAUSE MY "SAFE, DEPENDABLE, AND DURABLE" MAXIMA WAS STUCK AND ABOUT TO CAUSE A WHIRLWIND OF A TRAFFIC PILE UP IF NOT DEATHS BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM THAT MY CAR HAS WITH ITS TRANSMISSION. I HAD MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY DENIED ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. NOT TO MENTION THAT I HAD TO PAY THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT MY CAR HAS NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. SO, TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORTER, I AM OUT OF A FEE FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE BY DICK SMITH NISSAN IN COLUMBIA, SC. THEY CLAIM THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR! HOWEVER, THEY DID SAY THAT I NEED TO SPEND $4,600 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN PRODUCT EVER!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505791

115,000 miles · Apr 8, 2013
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED I NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTS WERE REALLY HARD AND JERKY, BOTH UP SHIFT AND DOWN SHIFT. I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED THE CAR AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK IT WAS FINE THEN WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT DID NO SLOWLY MOVE FORWARD LIKE IT NORMALLY WOULD. SO I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL SLOWLY AND NOTICED THE GEAR S…

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WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED I NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTS WERE REALLY HARD AND JERKY, BOTH UP SHIFT AND DOWN SHIFT. I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED THE CAR AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK IT WAS FINE THEN WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT DID NO SLOWLY MOVE FORWARD LIKE IT NORMALLY WOULD. SO I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL SLOWLY AND NOTICED THE GEAR SHIFT INTO FIRST REALLY HARD IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING JUST HIT THE CAR. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THIS 6TH GENERATION NISSAN MAXIMA (2006) AND THE 5 SPEED AT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY DID NOT OFFER TO FIX THE ISSUE FOR ME. I WAS TOLD THAT I DID NOT HAVE A "BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP" WITH THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HELP ME. UPON ASKING TO ELABORATE WHAT A "BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP" MEANT, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT SERVICED BY NISSAN DEALERSHIPS ON A REGULAR BASIS. I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED WITH NISSAN FOR NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR USING FAULTY EQUIPMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10507532

82,000 miles · Apr 8, 2013
Service Brakes

2ND TIME: ABS ACTIVATES WHEN PRESSING ON BRAKES. ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM HUMS EVEN WITHOUT PRESSING BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10507445

71,000 miles · Apr 8, 2013
Service Brakes

ABS ACTIVATES EVERY TIME BRAKE IS PRESSED. ALSO, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM HUMS BEFORE I HIT BRAKES. CORROSION PROBLEM PER SERVICE TECH AT NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10507444

77,000 miles · Apr 7, 2013
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

WHILE DRIVING MY MAXIMA STARTED TO WITH A LITTLE KICK GOING INTO 2ND GEAR..NOW THERE IS A MAJOR KICK WHEN GIVING IT GAS OR GOING TO REVERSE..ANYTHING IN REVERSE 1ST 2ND OR 3RD GEAR HAS A HARD KICK..THERE ARE ALOT TO OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH SAME PROBLEM AND NISSAN WONT HELP THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10507422

107,000 miles · Apr 3, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

ABS COMES ON CAUSING A GRINDING NOISE IN IN THE FRONT BRAKES REDUCING CARS ABILITY TO STOP SAFELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505466

104,000 miles · Apr 2, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND LUNGED FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT PERFORMED ONLINE RESEARCH AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ODI #10505403

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.