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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.

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
110,900 miles · Jun 20, 2013
Power Train

WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, GOING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, A HARD SHIFT IS HEARD AND FELT AND THEN FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, SAME THING....ABNORMAL. THERE ARE HARD SHIFTS AND RELUCTANT SHIFTS DURING DRIVE TIME. DRIVING TO AN APPOINTMENT, TAXI IN FRONT PULLED TO LEFT TURN LANE AND ALMOST CHANGED THE DIRECTION TO COME BACK T…

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WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, GOING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, A HARD SHIFT IS HEARD AND FELT AND THEN FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, SAME THING....ABNORMAL. THERE ARE HARD SHIFTS AND RELUCTANT SHIFTS DURING DRIVE TIME. DRIVING TO AN APPOINTMENT, TAXI IN FRONT PULLED TO LEFT TURN LANE AND ALMOST CHANGED THE DIRECTION TO COME BACK TO MY LANE. I APPLIED BRAKES ASSERTIVELY (NO SKID) AND TAXI REMAINED IN TURN LANE SO I CONTINUED BY ACCELERATION (NOT AGGRESSIVELY). THE CAR SOUNDED AS THOUGH IT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND THEN SPUN THE TIRES. THIS WAS A NORMAL MANEUVER AND SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE SPIN RESULT. THE PROBLEM WILL BE EVALUATED IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE BY A REPUTABLE MECHANIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520866

102,000 miles · Jun 17, 2013
EnginePower Train

AFTER MY CAR WARMS UP IF I GO FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE IT DOES NOT CHANGE IMMEDIATELY. IT TAKES ABOUT 3 TO 5 SECONDS THEN IT SLAMS INTO GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520218

193,629 miles · Jun 16, 2013
Power Train

TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTS HARD WHEN PUT IN REVERSE AND DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING CAR TENDS TO SHIFT HARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520019

100,000 miles · Jun 6, 2013
Power TrainCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE D…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10515426

17,000 miles · Jun 4, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED ABNORMALLY HARD WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION SLOWED AND SLAMMED INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED AN INTERNAL FAILURE, WHI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED ABNORMALLY HARD WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION SLOWED AND SLAMMED INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED AN INTERNAL FAILURE, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 149,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10514997

99,000 miles · Jun 1, 2013
Power Train

I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT JERKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1-2 AND R- D. THE ENGINE REEVES WHILE THE SHIFTING . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10514634

85,000 miles · May 30, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED ABNORMALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MAN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED ABNORMALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10514361

114,000 miles · May 15, 2013
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE TCS, ABS, AND THE SLIP WARNING LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A REAR SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE TCS, ABS, AND THE SLIP WARNING LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A REAR SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ONE WEEK LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STOP, AND WOULD NOT MOVE. ONCE HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUST TAKE OFF. UPDATED 12/16/13

NHTSA ODI #10512250

90,800 miles · May 14, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT 40 MPH IN LIGHT RAIN. AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT, I LIGHTLY GOT ON THE BRAKES. IMMEDIATELY, THE ABS KICKED IN. THE AMOUNT OF BRAKING FORCE WAS WELL BELOW THE MARGIN WHERE ABS SHOULD KICK IN. THINKING IT WAS A ONETIME DEAL, I DROVE CAUTIOUSLY AND TRIED BRAKING AGAIN. THIS ABS AGAIN KICKED IN IMMEDIATE…

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I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT 40 MPH IN LIGHT RAIN. AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT, I LIGHTLY GOT ON THE BRAKES. IMMEDIATELY, THE ABS KICKED IN. THE AMOUNT OF BRAKING FORCE WAS WELL BELOW THE MARGIN WHERE ABS SHOULD KICK IN. THINKING IT WAS A ONETIME DEAL, I DROVE CAUTIOUSLY AND TRIED BRAKING AGAIN. THIS ABS AGAIN KICKED IN IMMEDIATELY. THE ABS KICKING IN DID LENGTHEN THE STOPPING DISTANCE AS I WAS NOT APPLYING THE BRAKES HARD ENOUGH TO EFFECTIVELY SLOW DOWN. ON THE NEXT ATTEMPT, ACCELERATION, TRACTION CONTROL KICKED IN UPON ACCELERATION, CAUSING THE CAR TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. MY CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP WHERE THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR HAD BUILD UP ON IT. CHECKING FORUMS ABOUT MY CAR, THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, A COLLISION COULD HAVE RESULTED DUE TO THE ISSUE. NISSAN HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT IN MY EYES, THIS ISSUE IS SHOULD BE A INVESTIGATED FURTHER AS CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED IS COMPROMISED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511868

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2013
Power Train

WE JUST PURCHASED THIS MAXIMA APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AGO. ONCE THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES STRAIGHT, THERE IS SEVERE JERKING AND HESITATION AS IT ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT GEARS. WE EVEN EXPERIENCE THIS WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. IT ALMOST FEELS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO FALL OUT. IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP DUE TO …

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WE JUST PURCHASED THIS MAXIMA APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AGO. ONCE THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES STRAIGHT, THERE IS SEVERE JERKING AND HESITATION AS IT ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT GEARS. WE EVEN EXPERIENCE THIS WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. IT ALMOST FEELS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO FALL OUT. IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP DUE TO TRANSMISSION REPAIR. I SEE THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED AGAIN NISSAN DUE TO THE FACT THE THEY HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION AND ARE NOT ATTEMPTING TO FIX THE ISSUE. WE ARE NOW OUT OF MONEY FOR AN ISSUE THAT I BELIEVE SHOULD BE MADE VERY PUBLIC. HAD WE KNOWN IN THE BEGINNING ABOUT THIS INCIDENT, WE WOULD HAVE CHOSEN A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. LUCKILY FOR US, WE WERE NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT LIKE MANY PEOPLE IN THE CASES. I THINK THAT A RECALL NEEDS TO BE PLACED IN ORDER DUE TO THIS DEFECT. I DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO EXPERIENCE WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING. NO ONLY ARE WE STILL PAYING ON THE VEHICLE, WE ARE NOW OUT OF ROUGHLY $3,000 FOR A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511262

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.