IllustrationEXCESSIVE/HARSH TRANSMISSION SHIFT 1ST, 2ND AND 2ND TO 1ST, PROBLEM GETS WORSE AFTER VEHICLE HEATS UP. REPAIRS RANGE FROM $3,000 AND UP. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY NISSAN DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 2,2015, I WAS ADVISED THAT WITHOUT REPAIR COULD CAUSE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
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 reportsWHAT A NIGHTMARE!!!!
PULLING AWAY FROM A STOPLIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION JERKED VIOLENTLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO "LIMP MODE" ONLY GOING TO 20 MILES PER HOUR ON A VERY BUSY STREET WITH NO TURN OFF. CAR WAS TOWED, AND NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED. NISSAN WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR
TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING HARD AND OCCASIONALLY REVVING BEFORE GOING INTO GEAR WHEN STARTING OUT OR BACKING UP. WE HAD THE FLUID CHANGED AND ADDED LUCAS TRANSMISSION FIX. THIS SEEMED TO FIX THE ISSUE FOR 3 MONTHS OR SO THEN IT STARTED AGAIN. GOING TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED AT A LOCAL SPECIALIST SHOP. WITH SO MANY P…
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TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING HARD AND OCCASIONALLY REVVING BEFORE GOING INTO GEAR WHEN STARTING OUT OR BACKING UP. WE HAD THE FLUID CHANGED AND ADDED LUCAS TRANSMISSION FIX. THIS SEEMED TO FIX THE ISSUE FOR 3 MONTHS OR SO THEN IT STARTED AGAIN. GOING TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED AT A LOCAL SPECIALIST SHOP. WITH SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE WHY HAS NISSAN NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THEY PRIDE THEMSELVES IN SELLING RELIABLE AND QUALITY PRODUCTS THIS IS NOT SO. *TR
MY MAXIMA HAS BEEN JERKING AND HESITATING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT IS ONLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A BIT AND IS WARMED UP. A FEW TIMES IT HAS SLAMMED INTO GEAR SO HARD I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN REAR ENDED. IT IS SO BAD THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY HAZARD LIGHT ON. I'M AFRAID FOR MY LIFE AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. THIS PROBLEM…
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MY MAXIMA HAS BEEN JERKING AND HESITATING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT IS ONLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A BIT AND IS WARMED UP. A FEW TIMES IT HAS SLAMMED INTO GEAR SO HARD I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN REAR ENDED. IT IS SO BAD THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY HAZARD LIGHT ON. I'M AFRAID FOR MY LIFE AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. THIS PROBLEM SHOULDN'T BE TAKEN LIGHTLY AND I BELIEVE NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *TR
EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF FLOORBOARDS. ONLY CARPET IS BETWEEN ROAD AND GROUND ON BOTH DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. CAR NEVER IN ACCIDENT AND EXTERIOR/BODY SHOWS NO SIGNS OF CORROSION. BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND COULD BE DANGEROUS IF CARPET LETS LOOSE AND FEET CAN HIT GROUND. *TR
MY CAR STALLS AND SHUTS OFF UNEXPECTED WHEN AT A STOP, IT ALSO WILL NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH IN TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL AUTO STORE TO TEST THE (SERVICE ENGINE SOON) LIGHT, COMES BACK WITH CODES RELATING TO THE CAMSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. I WAS GOING 30 MPH, I HIT A TRUCK THAT WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. $4870 IN DAMAGE BUT MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH DAMAGE TO BE CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS ($170 AWAY FROM BEING CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS). *TR
IT STARTED HARD SHIFTING AND JERKING IN THE BEGINNING AND THEN IT WOULD LEVEL OUT. AFTER AWHILE IT WOULDN'T GO IN GEAR. TOOK IT TO GET IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $3000 OR MORE. I HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY THE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE, WITH SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE WHY…
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IT STARTED HARD SHIFTING AND JERKING IN THE BEGINNING AND THEN IT WOULD LEVEL OUT. AFTER AWHILE IT WOULDN'T GO IN GEAR. TOOK IT TO GET IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $3000 OR MORE. I HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY THE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE, WITH SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE WHY HAS NISSAN NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THEY PRIDE THEMSELVES IN SELLING RELIABLE AND QUALITY PRODUCTS THIS IS NOT SO. *TR
MY CAR BEGAN JERKING AND SHIFTING UNEXPECTEDLY. IT ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MY CAR CRASHED INTO MY FRIEND'S HOME. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
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.