← 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

What owners actually said

576 reports
82,000 miles · Nov 25, 2013
Power Train

PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD AND STOPPED .NO GEARS NOT EVEN REVERSE ,MY WIFE AND GRANDDAUGHTER WERE STUCK IN MIDDLE OF 4LANE WITH NO WAY TO GO ANYWHERE.NISSAN DOESN'T THINK THEY ARE LIABLE .NOW I HAVE TO PAY 2700 DOLLARS FOR A TRANSMISSION THAT HAS ONLY 82000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE OWNED 4 NISSANS IN PAST ,BUT N…

Read full complaint

PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD AND STOPPED .NO GEARS NOT EVEN REVERSE ,MY WIFE AND GRANDDAUGHTER WERE STUCK IN MIDDLE OF 4LANE WITH NO WAY TO GO ANYWHERE.NISSAN DOESN'T THINK THEY ARE LIABLE .NOW I HAVE TO PAY 2700 DOLLARS FOR A TRANSMISSION THAT HAS ONLY 82000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE OWNED 4 NISSANS IN PAST ,BUT NO MORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553764

101,823 miles · Nov 19, 2013
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 3 MPH WHEN THE WHEELS BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THE WHEELS WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING GEAR WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 3 MPH WHEN THE WHEELS BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THE WHEELS WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING GEAR WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,823.

NHTSA ODI #10552971

79,000 miles · Nov 18, 2013
Power Train

WHILE IN 3RD GEAR GOING INTO 4TH, IT WOULD HESITATE FOR A GOOD 2 SECONDS THEN POP INTO 4TH. IT ALSO STARTED DOING THE SAME THING WHILE GOING INTO REVERSE FROM DRIVE AND VICE VERSA. I JUST THINK IT'S QUITE SUSPICIOUS THAT THESE PROBLEMS I'VE BEEN HAVING WITH THIS CAR JUST STARTED HAPPENING WITHIN A COUPLE THOUSAND MILES OF MY WAR…

Read full complaint

WHILE IN 3RD GEAR GOING INTO 4TH, IT WOULD HESITATE FOR A GOOD 2 SECONDS THEN POP INTO 4TH. IT ALSO STARTED DOING THE SAME THING WHILE GOING INTO REVERSE FROM DRIVE AND VICE VERSA. I JUST THINK IT'S QUITE SUSPICIOUS THAT THESE PROBLEMS I'VE BEEN HAVING WITH THIS CAR JUST STARTED HAPPENING WITHIN A COUPLE THOUSAND MILES OF MY WARRANTY ENDING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10552832

75,000 miles · Nov 15, 2013
Power Train

I HAVE A 2006 MAXIMA WITH 78,000 MILES. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING WHEN SHIFTING FROM GEAR 1 TO GEAR 2. ALSO JERKING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. AFTER STOPPING, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE AND THE RPMS SKY ROCKET UNTIL THE GEAR ENGAGES. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED BUT THE PROBLEM STI…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2006 MAXIMA WITH 78,000 MILES. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING WHEN SHIFTING FROM GEAR 1 TO GEAR 2. ALSO JERKING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. AFTER STOPPING, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE AND THE RPMS SKY ROCKET UNTIL THE GEAR ENGAGES. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHERE STOPPING AND STARTING IS REQUIRED DUE TO STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS. IT COULD ALSO RESULT IN ANOTHER CAR REAR-ENDING ME BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY WHEN ACCELERATING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10552510

48,000 miles · Nov 12, 2013
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE LEFT REAR ABS SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE M…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE LEFT REAR ABS SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ODI #10551879

100,000 miles · Nov 2, 2013
Power Train

I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA, I BOUGHT IT USED IN 2011, ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER THE TRANSMISSION STARTING SMALL JERKING WHEN PUTTING IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. THEN IN JANUARY 2013 IT STARTED SLIPPING IN 1ST 2ND AND SOMETIMES 3RD GEARS, I HAVE ALSO HAD THE RPMS REV UP HIGH AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY ENGAGES IT JERKS SO HARD IT FEE…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA, I BOUGHT IT USED IN 2011, ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER THE TRANSMISSION STARTING SMALL JERKING WHEN PUTTING IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. THEN IN JANUARY 2013 IT STARTED SLIPPING IN 1ST 2ND AND SOMETIMES 3RD GEARS, I HAVE ALSO HAD THE RPMS REV UP HIGH AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY ENGAGES IT JERKS SO HARD IT FEELS LIKE EVERYTHING UNDER THE CAR IS GOING TO FALL OUT! I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT I AM LOOKING AT $3500 TO REPAIR AND IT WOULD BE A USED TRANSMISSION THAT IS GOING TO PRODUCE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MY CURRENT ONE. I FEEL NISSAN MOTOR CO SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550625

84,000 miles · Oct 28, 2013
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHEN I'M DRIVING SLOW IN MY 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA, THE RPMS JUMP UP TO 3000. WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS IT DOESN'T ACCELERATE, THE RPMS JUST JUMP HIGH. IT MAINLY HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING SLOW THROUGH RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10549891

70,000 miles · Oct 15, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10547952

130,000 miles · Oct 9, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN VEHICLE JERKED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN VEHICLE JERKED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10547434

119,000 miles · Oct 4, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE JERKED, WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE VALVE GASKET WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST FOR A SECOND OPINI…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE JERKED, WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE VALVE GASKET WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST FOR A SECOND OPINION AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ODI #10546778

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.