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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.

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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

Engine complaints

47 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 17, 2024
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

This Vehicle is Severely Defective. This Vehicle is not safe to be on the road. This Vehicle has had several repairs for the same repair issue but the problem still exists. I have spent thousands on this Vehicle and this vehicle is still inoperative and not drivable. This Vehicle is a hazard for the road. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE! VEHI…

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This Vehicle is Severely Defective. This Vehicle is not safe to be on the road. This Vehicle has had several repairs for the same repair issue but the problem still exists. I have spent thousands on this Vehicle and this vehicle is still inoperative and not drivable. This Vehicle is a hazard for the road. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE! VEHICLE has still not been Repaired. Please I like to be Compensated and Reimbursed for the Loss I have suffered. Please compensate and/or reimbursed me for the $10,000.00 I lost in a Defective, Inoperable, and Unsafe Vehicle. Thank God My Child and I did not get seriously hurt while I was driving this vehicle. I remember one incident while I was driving this vehicle: Right in the middle of me driving this vehicle I was going about 40-45 mph on the highway, the vehicle just shut down all of a sudden. The entire Electrical System just Shutdown. That was very frightening! So, yes I like to be Fully Compensated for all my troubles with this vehicle.

NHTSA ODI #11589401

200,000 miles · Dec 11, 2020
EnginePower Train

WELL MY CAR WHILE DRIVING IT WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF IN ME WHILE IM DRIVING IT. AFTER IT CRANKS BACK UP IT IS VERY SLOW TO TAKE OFF

NHTSA ODI #11383102

111,320 miles · May 6, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineStructureFire

MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL IN THE ENGINE THE WHOLE FRONT OF MY CAR IS BURNED ME AND MY FAMILY WAS ASLEEP THE NEIGHBOR CAME AND KNOCKED ON THE WINDOW AND SAID MY CAR WAS ON FIRE I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THEY PUT THE FIRE OUT AND I ASKED HOW WAS THE FIRE STARTED THE FIREMEN TOLD ME THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE ENGINE

NHTSA ODI #11205771

85,000 miles · Oct 8, 2018
EnginePower TrainSteering

MY CAR WAS UNDER 90K MILES WHEN IT EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE, PREMATURE CLUTCH WEAR, OVERHEATING, AND OTHER PROBLEMS THAT ULTIMATELY RESULTED IN SERIOUS AND EXPENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLES TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #11139121

175,000 miles · Dec 9, 2017
Engine

THE CAR SHUTS DOWN IN THE MEST OF DRIVING OR A THE STOP SIGN. SOME TIMES IT WILL CRANK BACK UP AND SOME TIMES IT WILL NOT .SO NOW IT WILL NOT CRACK BACK UP.

NHTSA ODI #11053625

145,000 miles · Aug 12, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

BOUGHT CAR ONE YEAR AGO AT 120000 MILES. AFTER 2 MOS, CAR STARTED JUMPING WHILE PRESSING ACCELERATION AND THEN BEGAN TO JUST STOP WHILE I WAS DRIVING. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON , HAD CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS REPLACED. LESS THAN 2 MOS LATER, CAR WAS STARTING TO STALL AGAIN, ACCELERATOR STILL MAKING THE CAR STALL. HAD FUEL SYSTEM CHEC…

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BOUGHT CAR ONE YEAR AGO AT 120000 MILES. AFTER 2 MOS, CAR STARTED JUMPING WHILE PRESSING ACCELERATION AND THEN BEGAN TO JUST STOP WHILE I WAS DRIVING. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON , HAD CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS REPLACED. LESS THAN 2 MOS LATER, CAR WAS STARTING TO STALL AGAIN, ACCELERATOR STILL MAKING THE CAR STALL. HAD FUEL SYSTEM CHECKED, WAS FINE. THEN MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, NOW SAYING CAMSHAFT POSITION TIMING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM HE SEES IN NISSAN VEHICLES. SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE TIMING CHAIN IF THE PROBLEM IS SO COMMON. I RAN INTO A DITCH TWICE AND VERY NEARLY WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN MY CAR CUT OFF WHILE I WAS TURNING AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL AND NEARLY CRASHED! THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. I REPORTED THE ISSUE DIRECTLY TO NISSAN BUT SINCE NO ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY HELP OR ADVICE FROM THEM.

NHTSA ODI #11014809

116,000 miles · May 24, 2017
EnginePower Train

CAR 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.

NHTSA ODI #10991431

130,000 miles · Apr 10, 2017
EnginePower Train

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) …

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10971748

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2016
Engine

TIMING CHAIN KIT SLIPPING/ LOUD NOISES. CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE I AM SCARED IT WILL FAIL ON ME WHILE DRIVING. REALLY EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED VERY WELL. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AT 115000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10917976

124,000 miles · Sep 11, 2016
EnginePower Train

THE 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A MAJOR ISSUE OF VIOLENTLY JERKING AFTER 100K MILES, I HAVE SEEN REPORTS THAT IT DOES THIS EVEN BEFORE IT REACHES SUCH MILEAGE. I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA WORST CAR I HAVE EVER BOUGHT I WILL NEVER EVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN PRODUCT. THE CAR VIOLENTLY JERKS INTO GEAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR DRIVING OFF, …

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THE 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A MAJOR ISSUE OF VIOLENTLY JERKING AFTER 100K MILES, I HAVE SEEN REPORTS THAT IT DOES THIS EVEN BEFORE IT REACHES SUCH MILEAGE. I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA WORST CAR I HAVE EVER BOUGHT I WILL NEVER EVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN PRODUCT. THE CAR VIOLENTLY JERKS INTO GEAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR DRIVING OFF, THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY MANY OWNERS AND NISSAN HAS DONE NOTHING. I HAVE SPENT 1800 HUNDRED DOLLARS REPLACING THE ENGINE MOUNTS AND THE CAR STILL JERKS. THE CAR IS PAID FOR AND I WILL NOT SPEND ANYMORE REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THAT WOULD COST MORE THAN WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH.

NHTSA ODI #10905630

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.