IllustrationMY 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA 3.5SL HAS A TRANSMISSION THAT'S GOING OUT IT SLIPS AND SLAMS INTO GEAR ALL THE TIME ONLY 110,000 MILES.
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
Power Train complaints
393 reportsHARD SHIFTING WHEN ENGINE IS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE OR NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. SAW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME NATURE THROUGH NISSAN FORUMS.
TRANSMISSION,HESITATION BETWEEN GEARS, ROUGH SHIFTING, SUDDEN STOPS OR DIMINISHED ACCELERATION, IN CITY DRIVING AFTER 1/2 HR OF DRIVING.
THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP AS WITH ALL OTHER MAXIMAS. IT'S JERKING AND SLIPPING ON THE STREET.IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. CALLED UP THE DEALER AND NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD COST $3000.
I BROUGHT MY 2006 MAXIMA NEW AND HAD ALL KIND OF PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AT THE VERY BEGINNING. EVERYTHING WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WHEN MY CAR HAD ABOUT 62000 MILES THE CAR STARTED SLIPPING AND MISSING GEARS SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY TRANSMISSION WASN'T COVER UNDER THE POWER TRAIN BECAUSE THERE …
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I BROUGHT MY 2006 MAXIMA NEW AND HAD ALL KIND OF PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AT THE VERY BEGINNING. EVERYTHING WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WHEN MY CAR HAD ABOUT 62000 MILES THE CAR STARTED SLIPPING AND MISSING GEARS SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY TRANSMISSION WASN'T COVER UNDER THE POWER TRAIN BECAUSE THERE WERE 2 TYPES OF TRANSMISSION PUT INTO THE MAXIMA AND THE ONE THAT MY CAR HAD WAS NOT COVER UNDER THE POWER TRAIN. I CALLED NISSAN CORPORATE OFFICES AND DIDN'T GET ANY SATISFACTION. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANS AND MANY OTHER THINGS ON THIS CAR. I WOULD NOT EVER OR SUGGEST THAT ANYONE BUY A NISSAN. I BELIEVED THAT NISSAN KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THE FIRST COMPLAINT WAS EVER MADE. SAME ON YOU NISSAN
WITH 152193 MILES THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AND JERKING BADLY WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. TOOK IT INTO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
BOUGHT THE CAR 1 MONTH BACK AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING UP.IT STALLS AND JUMPS INTO DRIVE.THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING WITH ALL MAXIMA OWNERS. SOMETIMES THE GEAR SLIPS TOO. IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR,PLEASE FORCE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. HARSH UPSHIFTS OR DOWNSHIFTS DURING MODERATE ACCELERATION OR SLOWING DOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED. WHILE ATTEMTPING TO SHIFT GEARS, THE SHIFTER LOCKED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP LEAKED WATER INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED THE GEAR SHIFTER TO FAIL. THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED. WHILE ATTEMTPING TO SHIFT GEARS, THE SHIFTER LOCKED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP LEAKED WATER INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED THE GEAR SHIFTER TO FAIL. THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
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.
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.