IllustrationTHE TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING AND SLIPPING A FEW WEEKS AGO TILL SUDDENLY STARTED DECELERATING IN THE FREE WAY TO THE POINT THAT HAD TO STOP. NOW IT DOESN'T ACCELERATE ANYMORE.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Maxima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
260–25K
3825–50K
11150–75K
18475–100K
125100–150K
28150K+
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 reportsCAR TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND VIOLENTLY JERKS WHEN CHANGING GEARS FROM PARK TO 1ST OR REVERSE AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN THE CITY. SUDDEN RPM INCREASE AND ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. DUE TO THE JERKING, ENGINE MOUNT IS BROKEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTED, IT MADE A LOUD ABNORMAL SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
PAINT IS FADING HOOD, TRUNK AND ROOF. TRANSITION IS BUCKING.
ABS, TRC,BRAKE, STABILITY LIGHT ON, CAR JUMPS WHEN BRAKING AND LOUD NOISE WHEN BREAKING 25MPH AND LOWER. DEALER REFUSE TO DO THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY, THIS IS A LARGE PROBLEM FOR NISAN OWNERS. COST OF REPAIR 2-3000.00
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC (THE CONTACT'S BROTHER) …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC (THE CONTACT'S BROTHER) AND REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT'S BROTHER THEN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT FAILED BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
MY TRANSMISSION STARTED VIOLENTLY JERKING FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND DRIVE, HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS DONE TO NO AVAIL. CAR IS STUCK IN THIRD GEAR, WHICH IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHEN I START TO PULL OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY I HAVE NO POWER, THE CAR JUST REVS HIGH RPMS AND GOES REALLY SLOW UNTIL I REACH 40 MPH. ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE …
Read full complaint
MY TRANSMISSION STARTED VIOLENTLY JERKING FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND DRIVE, HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS DONE TO NO AVAIL. CAR IS STUCK IN THIRD GEAR, WHICH IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHEN I START TO PULL OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY I HAVE NO POWER, THE CAR JUST REVS HIGH RPMS AND GOES REALLY SLOW UNTIL I REACH 40 MPH. ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I GET HIT, I ALWAYS HAVE TO WAIT TO MAKE SURE NO CAR IS COMING IN MY DIRECTION. I HAVE HAD THE SOLENOIDS, VALVE BODY AMONG OTHER WORK DONE THAT HASN'T HELPED AT ALL AT A COST OF OVER $1500.00 THERE ARE APPARENTLY THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUES ALL OVER THE INTERNET. WHY IS THIS NOT BEING RECALLED! ITS PURE AND SIMPLE THEFT. TO BUY A CA R THAT HAS A KNOWN DEFECT AND THE COMPANY NOT CARING TO REMEDY THE ISSUE
AT 107,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WAS JERKING INTO GEAR AFTER THE RPMS REVVED. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 107,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION IS NOW HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AT 148,000 MILES.
TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT AFTER REPLACING IT AT 74,000 MILES. WENT OUT ON THE FREEWAY WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A BUY HERE PAY HERE HAD THE CAR FOR 1 MONTH AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT IN IT. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE. THE DEALER WILL NOT HELP ME BECAUSE IT WAS SOLD AS IS. BUT THEY NEVER TOLD ME ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. IT ACTUALLY DROVE FINE FOR A MONTH. I WAS DRI…
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A BUY HERE PAY HERE HAD THE CAR FOR 1 MONTH AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT IN IT. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE. THE DEALER WILL NOT HELP ME BECAUSE IT WAS SOLD AS IS. BUT THEY NEVER TOLD ME ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. IT ACTUALLY DROVE FINE FOR A MONTH. I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON WHEN IT DID IT WOULD NOT DRIVE. I HAD A MECHANIC HECK IT OUT. I NOW HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW TRANSMISSION.
Official recalls
206V046000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.