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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
90,000 miles · Jan 22, 2013
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

CAR HAS A SERIOUS TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2006 MAXIMAS. IN LOWER GEARS AND IN REVERSE, CAR LURCHES VIOLENTLY AND SLIPS. WHEN ACCELERATING, CAR REVS VERY FAST, BUT GETS NO POWER. THIS IS STARTING TO HAPPEN MORE AND MORE AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE WAS…

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CAR HAS A SERIOUS TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2006 MAXIMAS. IN LOWER GEARS AND IN REVERSE, CAR LURCHES VIOLENTLY AND SLIPS. WHEN ACCELERATING, CAR REVS VERY FAST, BUT GETS NO POWER. THIS IS STARTING TO HAPPEN MORE AND MORE AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2006 AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TRANSMISSION ISSUES AT 90K MILES. GIVEN THE MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON VARIOUS AUTOMOBILE FORUMS, NISSAN SHOULD TAKE STEPS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493711

65,000 miles · Jan 12, 2013
EnginePower Train

WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IT WAS WORKING FINE BUT JUST TWO DAYS AFTER THE CAR STARTED TO JERK HARD THE MPH WOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO THE LAST NUMBER LIKE IT WAS REVING UP TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER SHIP THEY TOOK IT TO ONE OF THERE MECHANICS AND TOLD THEM THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAD TO BE REPLACE AND FORD WOULDNT PAY FOR IT …

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WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IT WAS WORKING FINE BUT JUST TWO DAYS AFTER THE CAR STARTED TO JERK HARD THE MPH WOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO THE LAST NUMBER LIKE IT WAS REVING UP TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER SHIP THEY TOOK IT TO ONE OF THERE MECHANICS AND TOLD THEM THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAD TO BE REPLACE AND FORD WOULDNT PAY FOR IT NOT ONE PENNY ARE EVEN HALF I PUT DOWN 5000 FOR THE CAR AT THEY COULD OF PAID HALF ARE GAVE US A NEW CAR I HAVE TWO KIDS WITH ME IN THE CAR EVERY DAY AM JUST SCARED IT MY STALE WHEN AM ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10492351

77,654 miles · Jan 10, 2013
Power Train

TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP IN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS MARKED BY ENGINE RPM SPIKES THEN HARD SHIFTS INTO GEAR IN BOTH UP AND DOWN SHIFTS. FUEL MILEAGE AS A RESULT DROPPED APPROXIMATELY 2 MPG DUE TO SURGING ENGINE RPM. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WERE MARKED BY A VIOLENT CONTINUAL VIBRATION AT CRUISING SPEEDS UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION IN 3RD AND…

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TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP IN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS MARKED BY ENGINE RPM SPIKES THEN HARD SHIFTS INTO GEAR IN BOTH UP AND DOWN SHIFTS. FUEL MILEAGE AS A RESULT DROPPED APPROXIMATELY 2 MPG DUE TO SURGING ENGINE RPM. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WERE MARKED BY A VIOLENT CONTINUAL VIBRATION AT CRUISING SPEEDS UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION IN 3RD AND 4TH GEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10492074

72,000 miles · Jan 9, 2013
Power Train

MY CAR SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN 1 AND 2 GEAR. GOT NEW MOTOR MOUNTS THINKING THIS IS THE PROBLEM NO SUCH LUCK STILL SHIFTING HARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10492047

96,000 miles · Dec 22, 2012
Power Train

***FAULTY TRANSMISSION*** MY 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA JERKS, TAKES TIME TO ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC, AND IT BARELY WANTS TO MOVE ONCE STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT. THE GEAR SPONTANEOUSLY GETS STUCK IN EITHER 1ST OR 5TH AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON SO THAT I CAN GET TO MY DESTINATION. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS. …

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***FAULTY TRANSMISSION*** MY 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA JERKS, TAKES TIME TO ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC, AND IT BARELY WANTS TO MOVE ONCE STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT. THE GEAR SPONTANEOUSLY GETS STUCK IN EITHER 1ST OR 5TH AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON SO THAT I CAN GET TO MY DESTINATION. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS. MY CAR HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND UPON MY RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT OTHERS (HAVE HAD/AND ARE STILL HAVING) THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I AM EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW. THIS IS NOT SAFE OR FAIR TO ME AS A CONSUMER. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE ASAP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10489525

75,125 miles · Dec 14, 2012
Power Train

THE CAR WOULD NOT GO WHEN I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AFTER STOPPING AT THE LIGHT. IT HAS CONTINUED TO HAVE SUDDEN STOPS. WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE THE CAR WILL NOT EXCEED 40 MILES PER HOUR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10488800

75,000 miles · Dec 13, 2012
Service Brakes

ABS ACTIVATES DURING NORMAL BRAKING MAKING HORRIBLE GRINDING SOUND. NISSAN DEALER TOLD ME THE ACTUATOR AND REAR HUB NEEDED REPAIR FOR AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF MONEY OVER $2,000.00. I HAD THE SIMILAR PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY WITH MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA, THE ONLY REPAIR NEEDED WAS TO DISMANTLE REAR BRAKE ROTOR, CLEAN THE CORROSION, GRIND A N…

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ABS ACTIVATES DURING NORMAL BRAKING MAKING HORRIBLE GRINDING SOUND. NISSAN DEALER TOLD ME THE ACTUATOR AND REAR HUB NEEDED REPAIR FOR AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF MONEY OVER $2,000.00. I HAD THE SIMILAR PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY WITH MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA, THE ONLY REPAIR NEEDED WAS TO DISMANTLE REAR BRAKE ROTOR, CLEAN THE CORROSION, GRIND A NOTCH IN THE KNUCKLE, AND REASSEMBLE IT BACK. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH ALL CARS IN MIDDLE EASTERN AND CENTRAL STATES BECAUSE OF THE COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. IN MY OPINION IT SHOULD BE A NATIONAL RECALL, FOR ALL THE PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE IS THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10488690

67,000 miles · Nov 27, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THE ENGINE WOULD SOON FAIL AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #10485681

108,983 miles · Nov 15, 2012
Power Train

FROM 0 TO 60 SECOND AND THIRD GEAR JERKS VIOLENTLY, HESITATING BETWEEN GEARS. AFTER STOPPING AT THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN 5TH GEAR AND WOULD NOT DOWN SHIFT BACK TO FIRST. STRANDED IN TRAFFIC ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE FORWARD, ENGINE IS REVVING AT 3500 TO 4500 RPMS, BUT NOT ACCELERATING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484835

65,000 miles · Nov 15, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED WHENEVER IT WAS PLACED INTO GEAR AND IT SHIFTED HARD WHENEVER THE TRANSMISSION SWITCHED GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE DID NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT WAS RE-OCCURRING FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A DEALER W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED WHENEVER IT WAS PLACED INTO GEAR AND IT SHIFTED HARD WHENEVER THE TRANSMISSION SWITCHED GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE DID NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT WAS RE-OCCURRING FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE WAS NOT OCCURING THE VEHICLE RUNS COMPLETELY FINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 01/02/2013*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURES WITHTHE TRANSMISSON HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED, SO, A NEW TRANISSION WOULD LIKELY FAIL IN 60,000 MILES UPDATED 1/9/2013 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10484759

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.