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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
102,223 miles · Feb 11, 2013
Power TrainCrash

SUDDEN ACCELERATION AFTER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. VEHICLE 1 HIT TWO OTHER VEHICLES, MINOR DAMAGE TO THEM AND THEN VEHICLE 1 FLIPPED ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. NISSAN MAXIMA HAS BEEN SERVICED TWICE FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THE NISSAN MAXIMA WAS JUDGED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE DA…

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SUDDEN ACCELERATION AFTER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. VEHICLE 1 HIT TWO OTHER VEHICLES, MINOR DAMAGE TO THEM AND THEN VEHICLE 1 FLIPPED ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. NISSAN MAXIMA HAS BEEN SERVICED TWICE FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THE NISSAN MAXIMA WAS JUDGED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE DAMAGE INCURRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10497800

95,000 miles · Feb 7, 2013
Power Train

I'M CONCERNED THAT THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS THAT NISSAN KNOWINGLY PLACED IN THE 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO CAUSE BODILY HARM AND FATALITIES. MY CAR STARTED OUT JERKING, SLIPPING SO BAD IT WOULD CAUSE WHIP LASH. NOW IT'S AT A POINT I HAVE IT PARKED BECAUSE I'M SCARED THAT I, MY FAMILY, OR AN INNOCENT DRIVER WIL…

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I'M CONCERNED THAT THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS THAT NISSAN KNOWINGLY PLACED IN THE 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO CAUSE BODILY HARM AND FATALITIES. MY CAR STARTED OUT JERKING, SLIPPING SO BAD IT WOULD CAUSE WHIP LASH. NOW IT'S AT A POINT I HAVE IT PARKED BECAUSE I'M SCARED THAT I, MY FAMILY, OR AN INNOCENT DRIVER WILL BE IN AN ACCIDENT, OR POTENTIALLY KILLED. I RECENTLY CALLED CONSUMER AFFAIRS IN REFERENCE TO THIS MATTER AND THEY WANTED $5,100 TO FIX IT. IT'S A SHAME THAT THEY KNOWINGLY ARE CHARGING THE CONSUMERS AND HARMING THE INNOCENT. I'M A SOLDIER!!! WHAT IF I HALF WAY PROTECTED THIS COUNTRY? I PRAY SOMEONE WILL LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. INNOCENT LIVES ARE AT STAKE.... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496772

100,000 miles · Feb 7, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO IDLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE R…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO IDLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. MAH

NHTSA ODI #10496712

89,000 miles · Feb 6, 2013
Power Train

WITHIN THE LAST MONTH OR SO MY VEHICLE HAS BEGUN TO DISPLAY WHAT APPEARS TO BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE, THEN BACK INTO DRIVE IT HESITATES AND THEN JUMPS INTO GEAR. WHEN I AM ACCELERATING (ABOUT 30-40 MPH), MY VEHICLE WILL HESITATE OR STRUGGLE TO SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THIS HAPPENS MOST OFTEN AT 30-…

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WITHIN THE LAST MONTH OR SO MY VEHICLE HAS BEGUN TO DISPLAY WHAT APPEARS TO BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE, THEN BACK INTO DRIVE IT HESITATES AND THEN JUMPS INTO GEAR. WHEN I AM ACCELERATING (ABOUT 30-40 MPH), MY VEHICLE WILL HESITATE OR STRUGGLE TO SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THIS HAPPENS MOST OFTEN AT 30-40 MPH BUT IT HAS HAPPEN AT FASTER AND SLOWER SPEEDS AND HAS HAPPENED WITH ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. I HAVE BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO REPLACED THE ENGINE MOUNTS AT A COST OF ALMOST $1000 AND THAT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. NOW THEY ARE STATING THE PROBLEM IS THE VALVE BODY. I BROUGHT IT FOR A SECOND OPINION TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND THEY STATE THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $3500. I AM ABOUT TO BRING IT FOR A THIRD OPINION TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN IN MY OPINION BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION COULD COMPLETELY STALL OR GIVE OUT WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM EXTENSIVELY ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHER STORIES OF MAXIMA OWNERS WITH THE SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY NISSAN HASN'T BEEN FORCED TO RECALL THESE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS. THEY OBVIOUSLY POSE A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC AND THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF THE SITUATION. I HAVE FOUND OUT ABOUT CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AGAINST NISSAN AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT NISSAN HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS (IN THE ALTIMA), BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THE NHTSA LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM FURTHER AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE SHEER NUMBER OF OWNERS WHO ARE DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM OR WHO HAVE. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT YOU DEMAND NISSAN TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS NO REASON THAT A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IN A VEHICLE AFTER 70, 80 OR 90 THOUSAND MILES. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496672

100,000 miles · Feb 5, 2013
EnginePower Train

HARD SHIFT IN LOW GEARS WHEN ENGINE IS WARM/HOT. WILL REV UP TO HIGHER RPM WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY THEN SHIFTS TO HIGHER GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496444

64,000 miles · Feb 4, 2013
Exterior LightingPower TrainService Brakes

FIRST AFTER BUYING THIS NISSAN MAXIMA 2006, I NOTICED THAT MY HEAD LIGHT LAMPS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED EVERY 14 MONTHS. I NEVER HAD A CAR WHERE I HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD LIGHT LAMPS SO OFTEN. BOTH OF MY OTHER CARS (TOYOTA AND HONDA) HAVE OVER 100K MILES AND WE NEVER HAD TO CHANGE THE LAMPS ON THOSE CARS. NEXT, THE ABS BRAKES ARE NO…

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FIRST AFTER BUYING THIS NISSAN MAXIMA 2006, I NOTICED THAT MY HEAD LIGHT LAMPS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED EVERY 14 MONTHS. I NEVER HAD A CAR WHERE I HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD LIGHT LAMPS SO OFTEN. BOTH OF MY OTHER CARS (TOYOTA AND HONDA) HAVE OVER 100K MILES AND WE NEVER HAD TO CHANGE THE LAMPS ON THOSE CARS. NEXT, THE ABS BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, REALLY? AFTER 70K MILES? WOW! LATER I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. THE ABS APPEAR TO BE RUNNING WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING AND ON DRY ROADS. FINALLY, THE TRANSMISSION. WHY DO I HAVE A SLIPPING TRANSMISSION ON A CAR WITH ONLY 64K MILES. AFTER RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT I'M HAVING WITH THIS NISSAN MAXIMA, HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I ALWAYS HAD HONDA AND TOYOTA CARS AND I DECIDED TO TRY SOMETHING NEW IN THIS MAXIMA. I WILL NEVER BUY NISSAN AGAIN, I'M RUNNING BACK TO HONDA AND TOYOTA!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496345

47,000 miles · Feb 4, 2013
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING APPRAISED FOR A TRADE-IN ON A NEW VEHICLE, THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP, NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOOR BOARDS WERE RUSTED THROUGH. THE OWNER STATED IT WOULD COST $1000 TO HAVE THE FLOOR BOARDS REPLACED. THE CONTACT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING APPRAISED FOR A TRADE-IN ON A NEW VEHICLE, THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP, NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOOR BOARDS WERE RUSTED THROUGH. THE OWNER STATED IT WOULD COST $1000 TO HAVE THE FLOOR BOARDS REPLACED. THE CONTACT ENCLOSED A COPY OF THE BILL FOR $506 TO HAVE THE FLOOR BOARDS REPLACED AT THE AUTO BODY SHOP, AS WELL AS PICTURES. THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP, SUGGESTED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE SAME ROTTED OUT CONDITION AS THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 3/22/13 *CN

NHTSA ODI #10496274

115,000 miles · Feb 3, 2013
Power Train

TRANSMISSION HARD INCONSISTENT SHIFTING, JERKING, LURCHING, SLIPPING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496214

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2013
Power Train

I GOT INTO THE CAR THEN I STARED UP THE CAR. THEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND WHEN I BEGIN TO DRIVE THE CAR IT STARTED TO JERK. AFTER A WHILE OF DRIVING THE CAR I WOULD STOP AT A LIGHT THEN I WOULD GET OFF OF THE BRAKE TO GIVE IT GAS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10495258

100,200 miles · Jan 24, 2013
Power Train

TRANSMISSION JERKING AND SLIPPING GOING INTO AND OUT OF 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. VERY HARD JERKING. NISSAN WILL NOT REPLACE UNLESS I PAY $3,400. SAYING INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID THAT IT WAS THE INTERNAL VALVE AND ALL THESE NISSAN TRANSMISSIONS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE ONE HE WOULD PUT IN FOR ME WILL H…

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TRANSMISSION JERKING AND SLIPPING GOING INTO AND OUT OF 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. VERY HARD JERKING. NISSAN WILL NOT REPLACE UNLESS I PAY $3,400. SAYING INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID THAT IT WAS THE INTERNAL VALVE AND ALL THESE NISSAN TRANSMISSIONS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE ONE HE WOULD PUT IN FOR ME WILL HAVE THIS FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494572

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.