← New search

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

Power Train complaints

393 reports
Clear category filter
119,000 miles · May 9, 2017
Power Train

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.

NHTSA ODI #10984543

181,592 miles · May 7, 2017
Power TrainStructure

PAINT IS FADING HOOD, TRUNK AND ROOF. TRANSITION IS BUCKING.

NHTSA ODI #10983936

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) …

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.

NHTSA ODI #10971748

134,000 miles · Mar 27, 2017
Power Train

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

NHTSA ODI #10968633

107,000 miles · Mar 15, 2017
Power Train

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.

NHTSA ODI #10966097

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2017
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT AFTER REPLACING IT AT 74,000 MILES. WENT OUT ON THE FREEWAY WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #10960078

110,000 miles · Feb 11, 2017
Power Train

INITIALLY THE CAR WOULD HAVE A DELAY SHIFTING INTO PARK AND WOULD STICK IN 5TH GEAR WHILE DRIVING. I CHANGED THE FRONT CAM POSITION SENSOR, CPS, MYSELF FOR $80 IN PARTS AT AUTOZONE. THIS FIXED THE PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT 4 WEEKS. STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN AND THE REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS THE CAM POSITION SENSOR AGAIN. SO WENT BACK T…

Read full complaint

INITIALLY THE CAR WOULD HAVE A DELAY SHIFTING INTO PARK AND WOULD STICK IN 5TH GEAR WHILE DRIVING. I CHANGED THE FRONT CAM POSITION SENSOR, CPS, MYSELF FOR $80 IN PARTS AT AUTOZONE. THIS FIXED THE PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT 4 WEEKS. STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN AND THE REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS THE CAM POSITION SENSOR AGAIN. SO WENT BACK TO AUTOZONE AND THEY PROVIDED A NEW FRONT CPS FOR FREE. PROBLEM KEPT HAPPENING SO I TOOK IT TO NISSAN AND THEY CHANGED THE BACK CAM POSITION SENSOR. SEAMS TO HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. IT IS NOW IS INTERMITTENT WHEN SHIFTING HARD INTO DRIVE, BUT HAS STARTED SHIFTING HARD AROUND 20-25 MPH, NOT SURE IF IT IS THE SENSOR AGAIN OR WHAT. VERY IRRITATING AND SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE SENSORS THAT TELL THE TRANNY WHEN TO SHIFT? NOT SURE IF SENSORS KEEP GOING OUT OR IF THE WIRING HARNESS FOR IT KEEPS SHORTING THE SENSORS OUT OR WHAT THE ISSUE TRULY IS. IT WOULD BE NICE IF NISSAN WOULD FIGURE IT OUT AND TELL US WHAT TRULY NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX THE ISSUE. TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE IN WORKING ORDER OTHERWISE, BUT JUST SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN 1-2 GEARS? OTHERWISE THE CAR IS OUTSTANDING.

NHTSA ODI #10953963

80,443 miles · Dec 19, 2016
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS DURING TAKE-OFF AND ACCELERATION. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CROSS TRAFFIC OR CLEAR INTERSECTIONS.

NHTSA ODI #10936205

20 miles · Dec 12, 2016
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND KNOCKS RANDOMLY, IS NOT SAFE AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI #10934907

5 miles · Dec 5, 2016
Exterior LightingPower TrainSteering

MY 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA IS SHIFTING GEARS ON ITS ON AS IF THERE IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE STEERING WHEEL KEEPS SHIFTING TO ONE SIDE THE GUYS AT THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT PLACE TOLD ME IT'S THE RACK AND PINION. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE RACK AND PINION GOES OUT VERY FAST AND THE PART IS ABOUT 400$. THE GAS LIGHT AND THE LIGHT T…

Read full complaint

MY 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA IS SHIFTING GEARS ON ITS ON AS IF THERE IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE STEERING WHEEL KEEPS SHIFTING TO ONE SIDE THE GUYS AT THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT PLACE TOLD ME IT'S THE RACK AND PINION. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE RACK AND PINION GOES OUT VERY FAST AND THE PART IS ABOUT 400$. THE GAS LIGHT AND THE LIGHT THAT TELLS YOU THAT YOU NEED COOLANT HAS BEEN ON AND STAYS ON. THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING HOT AND MY CAR HAS A FULL TANK OF GAS.

NHTSA ODI #10930058

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.