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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
65,000 miles · Jul 16, 2010
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ABNORMALLY JERK BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER PLACE OF RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MOTOR MOUNTS BUT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ABNORMALLY JERK BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER PLACE OF RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MOTOR MOUNTS BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT DEALER WHERE A TRANSMISSION FLUSH WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,323.

NHTSA ODI #10343602

58,300 miles · Jul 15, 2010
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 55 MPH OR LESS, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK EXCESSIVELY BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALVE AND MOTOR MOUNTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE BE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 55 MPH OR LESS, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK EXCESSIVELY BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALVE AND MOTOR MOUNTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH REPAIRS, AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,300.

NHTSA ODI #10343405

80,000 miles · Jul 14, 2010
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SHIFT DELAY FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE, TRANSMISSION SLIP DURING ACCELERATION AS IF IN NEUTRAL THEN CATCHES AND JERKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343107

151,000 miles · Jul 10, 2010
Power Train

I JUST BOUGHT A NISSAN MAXIMA 2006 IT IS A REALLY NICE CAR, BUT I DID START NOTICING THAT THE SHIFTING OF GEARS SPECIALLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD JERKS, IT'S BEING LIKE THAT LATELY, TODAY WHEN ENTERING A BUSY STREET WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION SLEEPS AND DID NOT MOVE , A TRUCK ALMOST HIT THE CAR, WE STAY P…

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I JUST BOUGHT A NISSAN MAXIMA 2006 IT IS A REALLY NICE CAR, BUT I DID START NOTICING THAT THE SHIFTING OF GEARS SPECIALLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD JERKS, IT'S BEING LIKE THAT LATELY, TODAY WHEN ENTERING A BUSY STREET WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION SLEEPS AND DID NOT MOVE , A TRUCK ALMOST HIT THE CAR, WE STAY PARKED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FOR 2 OR 3 SECONDS UNTIL THE CAR MOVE AGAIN, BUT THOSE 2 OR 3 SECONDS CAN COST MY HOLD FAMILY LIVES. I DID START SEARCHING FOR THIS CAR DEFECTS AND IT LOOKS LIKE A VERY COMMON ISSUE, A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY AND NISSAN AND THE GOVERNMENT DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SHAME ON NISSAN AND THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY FOR MAKING THIS BIG COMPANIES TO SALE SAFE AND GOOD QUALITY PRODUCTS, AND STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT FREE OF THIS TYPE OF DEFECTS, ACCORDING TO WHAT I DID FIND OUT, IT IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT IT MAY COST THOUSANDS, AND THE FACTORY KNOWING ABOUT IT, DON'T LIFT A FINGER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342453

103,000 miles · Jul 7, 2010
Power Train

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10341894

89,000 miles · Jul 4, 2010
Power Train

I OWN A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH 89000 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY, THE CAR JERKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. T\AT LOW SPEEDS, IT REVS TO 5000 RPM AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT STOPS. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT PROBLEMS WORD-FOR-WORD. SOME HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS UNCONTROLLABLE PROBLE…

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I OWN A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH 89000 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY, THE CAR JERKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. T\AT LOW SPEEDS, IT REVS TO 5000 RPM AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT STOPS. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT PROBLEMS WORD-FOR-WORD. SOME HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS UNCONTROLLABLE PROBLEM. OTHERS HAVE OPTED TO PARK THEIR VEHICLES DUE TO THE UNSAFE CONDITIONS. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT OFFERS NO RECALL OR ASSISTANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10341406

60,000 miles · Jul 1, 2010
Power Train

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA SE WITH 60,000 MILES FROM A DEALERSHIP HERE IN TUCSON, AZ. AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS, I STARTED TO NOTICE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING RATHER ROUGH. I ALSO NOTICED IT WAS "REVVING UP" ON ITS OWN WHEN I WOULD PUSH THE GAS, AND WHILE IT WAS TRYING TO SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, OR FROM 2ND TO 3…

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I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA SE WITH 60,000 MILES FROM A DEALERSHIP HERE IN TUCSON, AZ. AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS, I STARTED TO NOTICE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING RATHER ROUGH. I ALSO NOTICED IT WAS "REVVING UP" ON ITS OWN WHEN I WOULD PUSH THE GAS, AND WHILE IT WAS TRYING TO SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, OR FROM 2ND TO 3RD. I ALSO NOTICED A "JERKING" WHILE SHIFTING, WHETHER IT BE UPSHIFT, OR DOWNSHIFTING. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE COULD FIND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MYSELF, AND I WAS HORRIFIED! I CANNOT BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. TOYOTA RECENTLY HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENCE WHERE THE GAS PEDAL WOULD PUSH DOWN, AND THE DRIVER WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO STOP AND WOULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS! THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE MAXIMA. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT MUST TAKE A FATALITY, TO MAKE NISSAN DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE ANYONE IS HURT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10341001

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2010
Power Train

WE OWE A 2006 AUTOMATIC NISSAN MAXIMA WITH NOW APPROXIMATELY 112,000 MILES. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR WILL JERK REALLY HARD WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT BETWEEN 2 AND 3; WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE AND WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND …

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WE OWE A 2006 AUTOMATIC NISSAN MAXIMA WITH NOW APPROXIMATELY 112,000 MILES. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR WILL JERK REALLY HARD WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT BETWEEN 2 AND 3; WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE AND WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND HAD OTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED. HOWEVER, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THEIR ARE NO ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, WE TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER COMPANY WHO FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED AS REQUIRED: THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN FLUSHED AND FILTERS REPLACED; SPARK PLUGS REPLACED, FUEL INJECTION FLUSHED, AND OIL FILTERS AND OIL CHANGED. AFTER GOING ON THE WEBSITE AND SEEING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER NISSAN MAXIMAS, I'M FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THEIR APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH NISSAN MAXIMA'S TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY EXPENSE AND ONE THAT I BELIEVE NISSAN NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 MAXIMA TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340509

33,000 miles · Jun 28, 2010
Visibility

VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH A FEATURE THAT ALLOWS THE SIDE MIRRORS TO TILT DOWN WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. HOWEVER, WHEN THE FEATURE IS ACTIVATED FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR, THE MIRROR DOES NOT ADJUST PROPERLY BACK TO ITS NORMAL POSITION, WHICH MAY HINDER DRIVERS VIEW, POSSIBLY CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN…

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VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH A FEATURE THAT ALLOWS THE SIDE MIRRORS TO TILT DOWN WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. HOWEVER, WHEN THE FEATURE IS ACTIVATED FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR, THE MIRROR DOES NOT ADJUST PROPERLY BACK TO ITS NORMAL POSITION, WHICH MAY HINDER DRIVERS VIEW, POSSIBLY CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MIRROR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THE REPLACED MIRROR BEGAN EXHIBITING SAME PROBLEM AS THE DEFECTIVE MIRROR.RETURNED VEHICLE BACK TO NISSAN TWICE AND THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NORMAL. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY, PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR BEGAN ADJUSTING ON ITS OWN TO A POINT WHERE I COULD NOT SEE VEHICLES ALONGSIDE THE RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS NOT EVEN PLACED IN REVERSE! RETURNED VEHICLE BACK TO NISSAN, THEY DETERMINED THAT MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT AT MY EXPENSE, BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED, DESPITE THE FACT THAT I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340418

97,000 miles · Jun 25, 2010
Power Train

2006 MAXIMA TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING IT STARTED SLIPPING AROUND 97,000 MILES, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, NOW IT IS GETTING WORSE, WHILE I AM DRIVING THE CAR JERKS VERY HARD AND THEN IT STARTS TO NOT CHANGE OUT AND WHEN IT DOES CHANGE OUT IT SPEEDS THE CAR…

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2006 MAXIMA TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING IT STARTED SLIPPING AROUND 97,000 MILES, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, NOW IT IS GETTING WORSE, WHILE I AM DRIVING THE CAR JERKS VERY HARD AND THEN IT STARTS TO NOT CHANGE OUT AND WHEN IT DOES CHANGE OUT IT SPEEDS THE CAR UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340159

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.