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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
110,000 miles · Feb 11, 2017
Power Train

INITIALLY THE CAR WOULD HAVE A DELAY SHIFTING INTO PARK AND WOULD STICK IN 5TH GEAR WHILE DRIVING. I CHANGED THE FRONT CAM POSITION SENSOR, CPS, MYSELF FOR $80 IN PARTS AT AUTOZONE. THIS FIXED THE PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT 4 WEEKS. STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN AND THE REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS THE CAM POSITION SENSOR AGAIN. SO WENT BACK T…

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INITIALLY THE CAR WOULD HAVE A DELAY SHIFTING INTO PARK AND WOULD STICK IN 5TH GEAR WHILE DRIVING. I CHANGED THE FRONT CAM POSITION SENSOR, CPS, MYSELF FOR $80 IN PARTS AT AUTOZONE. THIS FIXED THE PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT 4 WEEKS. STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN AND THE REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS THE CAM POSITION SENSOR AGAIN. SO WENT BACK TO AUTOZONE AND THEY PROVIDED A NEW FRONT CPS FOR FREE. PROBLEM KEPT HAPPENING SO I TOOK IT TO NISSAN AND THEY CHANGED THE BACK CAM POSITION SENSOR. SEAMS TO HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. IT IS NOW IS INTERMITTENT WHEN SHIFTING HARD INTO DRIVE, BUT HAS STARTED SHIFTING HARD AROUND 20-25 MPH, NOT SURE IF IT IS THE SENSOR AGAIN OR WHAT. VERY IRRITATING AND SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE SENSORS THAT TELL THE TRANNY WHEN TO SHIFT? NOT SURE IF SENSORS KEEP GOING OUT OR IF THE WIRING HARNESS FOR IT KEEPS SHORTING THE SENSORS OUT OR WHAT THE ISSUE TRULY IS. IT WOULD BE NICE IF NISSAN WOULD FIGURE IT OUT AND TELL US WHAT TRULY NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX THE ISSUE. TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE IN WORKING ORDER OTHERWISE, BUT JUST SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN 1-2 GEARS? OTHERWISE THE CAR IS OUTSTANDING.

NHTSA ODI #10953963

80,443 miles · Dec 19, 2016
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS DURING TAKE-OFF AND ACCELERATION. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CROSS TRAFFIC OR CLEAR INTERSECTIONS.

NHTSA ODI #10936205

20 miles · Dec 12, 2016
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND KNOCKS RANDOMLY, IS NOT SAFE AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI #10934907

62,000 miles · Dec 11, 2016
Structure

PURCHASED A 2006 MAXIMA WITH 62,000 MILES ON IT. BODY IS RUST FREE, CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. HOWEVER, WHILE INSPECTING THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, NOTICED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FLOOR BOARDS ARE RUSTED CLEAR THOUGH AND THAT A HOLE AROUND 10-12 INCHES IS FORMING. THE ONLY THING HOLDING YOUR FEET FROM HITT…

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PURCHASED A 2006 MAXIMA WITH 62,000 MILES ON IT. BODY IS RUST FREE, CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. HOWEVER, WHILE INSPECTING THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, NOTICED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FLOOR BOARDS ARE RUSTED CLEAR THOUGH AND THAT A HOLE AROUND 10-12 INCHES IS FORMING. THE ONLY THING HOLDING YOUR FEET FROM HITTING THE ROAD IS THE CARPET. THIS CAR HAS NO OTHER SIGNS OF RUST ISSUES ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER DISCOVERY, I WENT TO THE INTERNET ONLY TO LEARN THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH ALTIMAS AND MAXIMAS AND THAT NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT, BOTH BY NISSAN AS WELL AS THE SAFETY WATCH DOGS. I'VE OWNED MANY CARS WITH THE TAKATA AIRBAGS, AND NEVER AN ISSUE, EVEN IN ONE MY WIFE HAD AN ACCIDENT IN. AIRBAG WORKED LIKE IT SHOULD, YET THAT RECALL IS WIDELY KNOWN AND IS BEING ADDRESSED. HERE, YOU CAN LITERALLY FALL THOUGH THE FLOOR OF THE CAR, ON A CAR WITH 62,000 MILES ON IT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, AND NOT ONE THING APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. WHY? THIS CAR COST $32,500 NEW IN 2006 AND ONLY PROVIDED A USEFUL LIFE OF 62,000 MILES BEFORE IT BECAME SO UNSAFE THAT DRIVING IT IS FOOLISH. AT WHAT POINT WILL NISSAN, WHO COLLECTED THAT $32,500 BE FORCED TO COUGH SOME OF THAT BACK UP TO CORRECT ISSUES LIKE THIS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE SELLING VEHICLES IN THE UNITED STATES?

NHTSA ODI #10934515

5 miles · Dec 5, 2016
Exterior LightingPower TrainSteering

MY 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA IS SHIFTING GEARS ON ITS ON AS IF THERE IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE STEERING WHEEL KEEPS SHIFTING TO ONE SIDE THE GUYS AT THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT PLACE TOLD ME IT'S THE RACK AND PINION. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE RACK AND PINION GOES OUT VERY FAST AND THE PART IS ABOUT 400$. THE GAS LIGHT AND THE LIGHT T…

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MY 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA IS SHIFTING GEARS ON ITS ON AS IF THERE IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE STEERING WHEEL KEEPS SHIFTING TO ONE SIDE THE GUYS AT THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT PLACE TOLD ME IT'S THE RACK AND PINION. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE RACK AND PINION GOES OUT VERY FAST AND THE PART IS ABOUT 400$. THE GAS LIGHT AND THE LIGHT THAT TELLS YOU THAT YOU NEED COOLANT HAS BEEN ON AND STAYS ON. THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING HOT AND MY CAR HAS A FULL TANK OF GAS.

NHTSA ODI #10930058

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2016
Power Train

MY 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.

NHTSA ODI #10927602

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2016
Power Train

HARD 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.

NHTSA ODI #10924468

106,598 miles · Nov 5, 2016
Power Train

TRANSMISSION,HESITATION BETWEEN GEARS, ROUGH SHIFTING, SUDDEN STOPS OR DIMINISHED ACCELERATION, IN CITY DRIVING AFTER 1/2 HR OF DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10924398

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2016
Power Train

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.

NHTSA ODI #10920419

62,000 miles · Oct 26, 2016
Power TrainSuspensionWheels

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

NHTSA ODI #10918966

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.