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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
105,000 miles · Mar 17, 2016
Power Train

ONCE THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR 30 MINUTES OR MORE, AFTER A STOP FOR A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THE TRANSMISSION WILL "JUMP" AS IT SHIFTS TO THE NEXT HIGHER GEAR USUALLY WHEN JUST AT. 20 -30 MILES AN HOUR. MY CAR HAS MILEAGE OF 106,000 AND HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR APPROX. 6 MONTHS OFF & ON. ITS SELDOM THAT I DRIVE IT ANY SIGNIFIC…

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ONCE THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR 30 MINUTES OR MORE, AFTER A STOP FOR A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THE TRANSMISSION WILL "JUMP" AS IT SHIFTS TO THE NEXT HIGHER GEAR USUALLY WHEN JUST AT. 20 -30 MILES AN HOUR. MY CAR HAS MILEAGE OF 106,000 AND HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR APPROX. 6 MONTHS OFF & ON. ITS SELDOM THAT I DRIVE IT ANY SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE & THAT'S WHEN IT IS NOTICED.

NHTSA ODI #10850239

121,000 miles · Mar 15, 2016
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, MERGING INTO THE EXIT LANE, I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN TO THE LIGHT, AS SOON AS I TAP THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR JUMPS OUT OF GEAR AND REVS TO APPROXIMATELY 6,000 RPM. CAR THEN VIOLENTLY KICKS BACK INTO GEAR, MORE THAN LIKELY DAMAGING ALL MOTOR MOUNTS AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS. IT DOES THE SAME …

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DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, MERGING INTO THE EXIT LANE, I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN TO THE LIGHT, AS SOON AS I TAP THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR JUMPS OUT OF GEAR AND REVS TO APPROXIMATELY 6,000 RPM. CAR THEN VIOLENTLY KICKS BACK INTO GEAR, MORE THAN LIKELY DAMAGING ALL MOTOR MOUNTS AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS. IT DOES THE SAME THING WHEN DRIVING AROUND SMALL BENDS AND TAKING TURNS. IT PUT MY CAR INTO LIMP MODE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR ROUGHLY THE PAST 6 MONTHS

NHTSA ODI #10849858

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2016
Air BagsPower TrainStructure

GOT THE CAR IN 2012 AND WAS DOING FINE FOR A WHILE UNTIL THE END OF 2014. CAR HAD STARTED JERKING WHEN SWITCHING BETWEEN PARK, DRIVE, AND REVERSE AND WOULD ALSO STALL IN BETWEEN. BY FEBRUARY, THE CAR STARTED REVVING AND STALLING DURING STOPS AND WAS BAD WHEN I WAS IN TRAFFIC. I HAD TO TRY AND GET ABOVE 25 MPH BECAUSE BELOW THAT,…

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GOT THE CAR IN 2012 AND WAS DOING FINE FOR A WHILE UNTIL THE END OF 2014. CAR HAD STARTED JERKING WHEN SWITCHING BETWEEN PARK, DRIVE, AND REVERSE AND WOULD ALSO STALL IN BETWEEN. BY FEBRUARY, THE CAR STARTED REVVING AND STALLING DURING STOPS AND WAS BAD WHEN I WAS IN TRAFFIC. I HAD TO TRY AND GET ABOVE 25 MPH BECAUSE BELOW THAT, THE CAR WOULD SERIOUSLY ACT UP. EVENTUALLY STOPPED DRIVING UNTIL THIS YEAR WHEN I TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO GET CHECKED OUT. WHILE DRIVING THERE THE CAR REVVED AND STALL AT EVERY LIGHT AND I ALMOST HIT THE BACK OF A CAR WHEN IT DECIDED TO REV AT A 4 WAY STOP ON A HILL. IT'S EITHER JERKING,STALLING, OR REVVING. I KNOW IT'S A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND WILL BE A COSTLY FIX. I HONESTLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR IT. IN BETWEEN ALL THIS, THE PAINT HAS SEVERELY STARTED TO FADE AND I HAVE NOTICED OTHER NISSANS IN MY AREA GOING THROUGH THE SAME ISSUES. ALSO, WHY DOES THE AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON EVEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT? THE CAR JUST HAS BEEN ONE ISSUE AFTER THE OTHER. WILL NOT BE PURCHASING ANOTHER NISSAN.

NHTSA ODI #10845997

125,000 miles · Mar 8, 2016
Unknown Or Other

ITS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMUM WHEN DRIVING IT. JERKS THEN IT SOUNDS REALLY LOUD WITH STRANGE NOISE S LIKE ITS TRYING TO SHIFT GEARS BUT STUCK WONT. DRIVE OR PULL IN A AUTOMATIC CAR ITS A VERY SCARY SITUATION

NHTSA ODI #10845546

131,000 miles · Mar 5, 2016
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 131,000 MILES. WAS AT THE SCHOOL TO PICK UP MY FOUR CHILDREN AND TRANSMISSION STARTED GRINDING AND ENDED UP HAVING IT TOWED. I AM A FULL TIME STUDENT, HAVE A FULL TIME JOB, SINGLE MOM OF FOUR CHILDREN STRANDED WITHOUT A VEHICLE. THIS WAS THE THIRD NISSAN I HAVE BOUGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE VERY …

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TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 131,000 MILES. WAS AT THE SCHOOL TO PICK UP MY FOUR CHILDREN AND TRANSMISSION STARTED GRINDING AND ENDED UP HAVING IT TOWED. I AM A FULL TIME STUDENT, HAVE A FULL TIME JOB, SINGLE MOM OF FOUR CHILDREN STRANDED WITHOUT A VEHICLE. THIS WAS THE THIRD NISSAN I HAVE BOUGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE VERY RELIABLE VEHICLES. I CALLED NISSAN BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN RECALLS ON THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL BUT WAS TOLD IT DID NOT COVER MY SPECIFIC CAR BUT I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS ALL THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10840078

144,777 miles · Mar 1, 2016
Power Train

I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA SL 5SPD AUTOMATIC FOR MY WIFE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH 144,000 MILES. IT HAD BEEN KEPT UP WITH A GOOD CAR FAX. WHEN I TEST DROVE IT I MADE SURE TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE TRANSMISSION & HOW IT SHIFTED FROM 1ST TO 2ND & DOWNSHIFT FROM THOSE GEARS SINCE I HEARD NOTHING BU…

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I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA SL 5SPD AUTOMATIC FOR MY WIFE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH 144,000 MILES. IT HAD BEEN KEPT UP WITH A GOOD CAR FAX. WHEN I TEST DROVE IT I MADE SURE TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE TRANSMISSION & HOW IT SHIFTED FROM 1ST TO 2ND & DOWNSHIFT FROM THOSE GEARS SINCE I HEARD NOTHING BUT BAD STORIES ABOUT THESE CARS FROM 2004-06' IT SHIFTED SMOOTHLY. SEEMED TO HAVE NO ISSUES OF WHAT I'VE READ IN REVIEWS. I THOUGHT GREAT! THIS IS THE CAR MY WIFE LIKES A LOT & HOW IT DRIVE! WE TAKE IT HOME.. REGISTERED & INSURED THEN A FEW DAYS LATER IT STARTS! MY WIFE SAYS IT SHIFTED/DOWNSHIFTED HARD A FEW TIMES ON HERE WAY TO WORK WHICH IS ONLY 8MILES AWAY ON BACK ROADS. WE BOUGHT IT FROM A PRIVATE SELLER SO I DON'T KNOW IF LEMON LAW APPLIES? I CAME ACROSS A SITE THAT HAD SIMALAR COMPLAINTS & THAT NISSAN HASN'T ADDRESSED THE ISSUE NOR SENT OUT ANY RECALLS. SO THAT LED ME TO HERE, AFTER READING A COMPLAINT SOMEONE SAID TO REGISTER MY ISSUE WITH NHTSA. SO I HOPE OUR VOICES WILL BE HEARD. BECAUSE OVERALL IT'S A GREAT CAR! BUT IF NISSAN MADE A MISTAKE? OWE UP TO IT! AND PLEASE FIX IT! DON'T TRY & PULL THE WOOL OVER EVERYONE'S EYES! WELL THANKS FOR LISTENING. I HOPE THEY RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10839147

124 miles · Feb 11, 2016
EngineCrash

I OWN A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA WORST CAR I EVER OWNED AND WILL NEVER AGAIN BUY ANOTHER NISSAN PRODUCT. I THINK NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE OF THE CAR JERKING AND SUDDENLY REVS FOR NO APPARENT REASON AFTER ABOUT 90K OR SO MILES THE CAR IS FAIRLY USELESS I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE MINES ANYMORE UNTIL I SHELL OUT 4K TO GET IT FIXED. WHENEVER…

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I OWN A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA WORST CAR I EVER OWNED AND WILL NEVER AGAIN BUY ANOTHER NISSAN PRODUCT. I THINK NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE OF THE CAR JERKING AND SUDDENLY REVS FOR NO APPARENT REASON AFTER ABOUT 90K OR SO MILES THE CAR IS FAIRLY USELESS I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE MINES ANYMORE UNTIL I SHELL OUT 4K TO GET IT FIXED. WHENEVER I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT JUST JERKS REAL HARD TO THE POINT WHERE I FEEL AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. MY WIFE ACTUALLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE JUST SUDDENLY REVS FORWARD. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT DOES THIS BUT ALL OWNERS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO SAID THE SAME THING.

NHTSA ODI #10825656

110,000 miles · Feb 4, 2016
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SLIPS, MAINLY BETWEEN 1ST/2ND GEARS AND ALSO IN REVERSE. THE RPMS REV UP HIGH AND CAR JERKS FORWARD VIOLENTLY. ONE TIME I PARKED THE VEHICLE AND AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, IT REVED UP AND DROVE ONTO THE CURB. DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS IS FINE BUT CITY DRIVING US A NIGHTMARE. IT'S EVEN SHUT OFF AT STOP LIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI #10824184

162,000 miles · Feb 3, 2016
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringCrash

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, GOING AROUND A CURVE, THE WHEEL STABILIZER TURNED ON FOR NO REASON. I COULD NOT REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND I GOT SLAMMED INTO TWO CONCRETE WALLS AND A DIESEL TRUCK AS A RESULT. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI #10823935

114,000 miles · Jan 28, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. AFTER DRIVING OVER A SNOW MOUND AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. AFTER DRIVING OVER A SNOW MOUND AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA ODI #10822749

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.