IllustrationLOUD WHINING TICKING SOUND. TIMING CHAIN AND SENSOR. HORRIBLE NOISE AND CAR RIDES TERRIBLE
2007 Nissan Maxima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2007 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 99.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Maxima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
100–25K
925–50K
2350–75K
2475–100K
31100–150K
8150K+
105 reports with mileage · 24 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.
- Structure. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports
Engine complaints
18 reportsMY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR A SQUEAKY NOISE IN THE ENGINE, THEY TOLD ME THE TIMING CHAIN WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY HOOD AND ROOF ALSO HAVE THE CLEAR COAT PEELING UP AND FADING. SINCE TIMING CHAIN IS A SAFETY ISSUE, I PAID 2,000 FOR THEM TO FIX THIS. I CONTACTED TH…
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MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR A SQUEAKY NOISE IN THE ENGINE, THEY TOLD ME THE TIMING CHAIN WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY HOOD AND ROOF ALSO HAVE THE CLEAR COAT PEELING UP AND FADING. SINCE TIMING CHAIN IS A SAFETY ISSUE, I PAID 2,000 FOR THEM TO FIX THIS. I CONTACTED THEIR CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND SINCE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY CANNOT HELP ME.
ON 10/05/2015 THE CAR STARTED TO SHIFT FUNNY AND FELT LIKE LOSS OF FUEL ON STARTS AND TURNING CORNERS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE RESTATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MAN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE RESTATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ; UPDATED 03/23/18 *JB
TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND GUIDE IS DEFECTIVE. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE (SINCE 2004) BUT NISSAN REFUSES TO PAY FOR IT AND PASS THE COSTLY REPAIRS ONTO THE CONSUMER.
THIS FRIDAY OCTOBER 24TH I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME IN MY 2007 MAXIMA SE (VIN: [XXX]) WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING WITH NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING WHEEL. LUCKILY I WAS AT THE ENTRANCE OF MY SUBDIVISION MINUTE AFTER TAKING EXIT FROM A 50 MPH STATE ROUTE. MY CAR RAN OVER THE CURB BARELY MISSING A RARE COLLISION WITH A…
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THIS FRIDAY OCTOBER 24TH I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME IN MY 2007 MAXIMA SE (VIN: [XXX]) WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING WITH NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING WHEEL. LUCKILY I WAS AT THE ENTRANCE OF MY SUBDIVISION MINUTE AFTER TAKING EXIT FROM A 50 MPH STATE ROUTE. MY CAR RAN OVER THE CURB BARELY MISSING A RARE COLLISION WITH A SUV WHOSE DRIVER HAD NO CLUE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY CAR. I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE CAR STALLED ON 50 MPH STATE ROUTE DURING THE RUSH HOUR. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE A FAULTY CAM SHAFT SENSOR THAT I'VE ORDERED AND WILL BE ARRIVING IN A DAY OR TWO. REGARDLESS OF THE FAULTY PART I BELIEVE THE CAR BEHAVIOR IS UNACCEPTABLE AS A RESULT OF THAT. I DID SPENT TIME RESEARCHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND IT LOOKS I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE AS THERE ARE MANY NISSAN OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE THEIR OWN HORROR STORIES TO TELL. I GUESS I'M EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT I'M WRITING THIS EMAIL IN PERSON VS. SOMEONE ELSE DOING IT FOR ME. IT'S EXTREMELY HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE CAR WOULD STALL DUE TO A FAULTY ISSUE AND I'M SURE NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT THERE IS STILL NO RECALL. I URGE NISSAN TO CONSIDER THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY AND MAKE REMEDY AVAILABLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE ITS TOO LATE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,631 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,800. *TR
THE CAR MAKES A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER. THE COST FOR REPAIR IS 2500. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER HEARD OF A TIMING CHAIN GOING BAD WITH A CAR WITH THIS MILEAGE. I AM VERY UPSET LOOKED THE PROBLEM UP ON THE INTERNET AND N…
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THE CAR MAKES A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER. THE COST FOR REPAIR IS 2500. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER HEARD OF A TIMING CHAIN GOING BAD WITH A CAR WITH THIS MILEAGE. I AM VERY UPSET LOOKED THE PROBLEM UP ON THE INTERNET AND NOTICED ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THIS ON THEIR CARS. I FEEL NISSAN SHOULD REPLACE THIS AT THEIR COST. *TR
Official recalls
106V402000 · Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device
Oct 23, 2006
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN 'INTELLIGENT KEY' FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." DURING AN INSPECTION OF SOME VEHICLES AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED WITH THE IGNITION KNOB IN THE "OFF" POSITION BUT THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION NOT BEING IN THE "PARK" POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE KEY IS TURNED TO THE "OFF" POSITION WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION BEING IN THE "PARK" POSITION, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL CAN LOCK WHEN TURNED TO THE RIGHT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 18, 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
1PE08045 · Transmission Hose Leak
Opened Jul 23, 2008 · Closed Oct 24, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
THIS PE WAS OPENED FOR MODEL YEAR (MY) 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA VEHICLES BASED ON EARLY WARNING DATA THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE MAY HAVE PINHOLES AND/OR CRACKS RESULTING IN A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK.THE LEAKED FLUID CAN CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND IGNITE.NISSAN HAS SHOWN THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PINHOLES AND/OR CRACKS IN THE HOSE IS EXCESSIVE STRESS DURING THE MANUFACTURE FORMING PROCESS RESULTING IN HOSE DEFORMATION AT LOADING ONTO A MANDREL, OR DAMAGE DURING UN-LOADING.REGARDING LOADING STRESS, NISSAN STATES, WHEN EXCESSIVE STRESS IS APPLIED WHILE LOADING THE HOSE ONTO THE MANDREL, HOSE DEFORMATION (WHICH LOOKS LIKE A BULGE) CAN OCCUR AROUND THE BENDING AREA.A CRACK WILL START TO FORM ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOSE AT THE AREA OF DEFORMATION.REGARDING UNLOADING STRESS, NISSAN STATES, AFTER THE CURING PROCESS, IN SOME INSTANCES THE HOSE STUCK TO THE MANDREL TIGHTLY AND THE OPERATOR HAD TO APPLY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FORCE TO PULL THE HOSE FROM THE MANDREL.IF THIS OPERATION WAS PERFORMED ROUGHLY, THE INTERIOR OF THE HOSE COULD BE DAMAGED BY THE MANDREL EDGE. NISSAN ALSO STATES, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE HOSES RECEIVED INTERNAL DAMAGE, A DAMAGED HOSE WAS PRODUCED AS A RARE, RANDOM EVENT RATHER THAN SYSTEMATICALLY.THE TRANSMISSION HOSE SUPPLIER, COOPER STANDARD AUTOMOTIVE, IMPLEMENTED PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS THAT LIMIT EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE HOSE DURING MANUFACTURE. NISSAN HAS SHOWN THAT THIS TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE WAS ASSEMBLED ON MY 2007 AND MY 2008 MAXIMA VEHICLES.NISSAN REDESIGNED THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE ON MY 2009 MAXIMA, AND THE HOSE IS MANUFACTURED BY A NEW SUPPLIER.NISSAN HAS ALSO SHOWN THAT THE LEAKS MOSTLY OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST 2000 MILES OF SERVICE WITH A SEVERE DROP IN INCIDENTS BEYOND 2000 MILES OF SERVICE.MOST LEAKS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED, AND THE ONE FIRE WAS MINOR. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
THIS PE WAS OPENED FOR MODEL YEAR (MY) 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA VEHICLES BASED ON EARLY WARNING DATA THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE MAY HAVE PINHOLES AND/OR CRACKS RESULTING IN A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK.THE LEAKED FLUID CAN CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND IGNITE.NISSAN HAS SHOWN THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PINHOLES AND/OR CRACKS IN THE HOSE IS EXCESSIVE STRESS DURING THE MANUFACTURE FORMING PROCESS RESULTING IN HOSE DEFORMATION AT LOADING ONTO A MANDREL, OR DAMAGE DURING UN-LOADING.REGARDING LOADING STRESS, NISSAN STATES, WHEN EXCESSIVE STRESS IS APPLIED WHILE LOADING THE HOSE ONTO THE MANDREL, HOSE DEFORMATION (WHICH LOOKS LIKE A BULGE) CAN OCCUR AROUND THE BENDING AREA.A CRACK WILL START TO FORM ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOSE AT THE AREA OF DEFORMATION.REGARDING UNLOADING STRESS, NISSAN STATES, AFTER THE CURING PROCESS, IN SOME INSTANCES THE HOSE STUCK TO THE MANDREL TIGHTLY AND THE OPERATOR HAD TO APPLY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FORCE TO PULL THE HOSE FROM THE MANDREL.IF THIS OPERATION WAS PERFORMED ROUGHLY, THE INTERIOR OF THE HOSE COULD BE DAMAGED BY THE MANDREL EDGE. NISSAN ALSO STATES, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE HOSES RECEIVED INTERNAL DAMAGE, A DAMAGED HOSE WAS PRODUCED AS A RARE, RANDOM EVENT RATHER THAN SYSTEMATICALLY.THE TRANSMISSION HOSE SUPPLIER, COOPER STANDARD AUTOMOTIVE, IMPLEMENTED PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS THAT LIMIT EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE HOSE DURING MANUFACTURE. NISSAN HAS SHOWN THAT THIS TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE WAS ASSEMBLED ON MY 2007 AND MY 2008 MAXIMA VEHICLES.NISSAN REDESIGNED THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE ON MY 2009 MAXIMA, AND THE HOSE IS MANUFACTURED BY A NEW SUPPLIER.NISSAN HAS ALSO SHOWN THAT THE LEAKS MOSTLY OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST 2000 MILES OF SERVICE WITH A SEVERE DROP IN INCIDENTS BEYOND 2000 MILES OF SERVICE.MOST LEAKS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED, AND THE ONE FIRE WAS MINOR. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
THIS PE WAS OPENED FOR MODEL YEAR (MY) 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA VEHICLES BASED ON EARLY WARNING DATA THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE MAY HAVE PINHOLES AND/OR CRACKS RESULTING IN A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK.THE LEAKED FLUID CAN CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND IGNITE.NISSAN HAS SHOWN THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PINHOLES AND/OR CRACKS IN THE HOSE IS EXCESSIVE STRESS DURING THE MANUFACTURE FORMING PROCESS RESULTING IN HOSE DEFORMATION AT LOADING ONTO A MANDREL, OR DAMAGE DURING UN-LOADING.REGARDING LOADING STRESS, NISSAN STATES, WHEN EXCESSIVE STRESS IS APPLIED WHILE LOADING THE HOSE ONTO THE MANDREL, HOSE DEFORMATION (WHICH LOOKS LIKE A BULGE) CAN OCCUR AROUND THE BENDING AREA.A CRACK WILL START TO FORM ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOSE AT THE AREA OF DEFORMATION.REGARDING UNLOADING STRESS, NISSAN STATES, AFTER THE CURING PROCESS, IN SOME INSTANCES THE HOSE STUCK TO THE MANDREL TIGHTLY AND THE OPERATOR HAD TO APPLY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FORCE TO PULL THE HOSE FROM THE MANDREL.IF THIS OPERATION WAS PERFORMED ROUGHLY, THE INTERIOR OF THE HOSE COULD BE DAMAGED BY THE MANDREL EDGE. NISSAN ALSO STATES, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE HOSES RECEIVED INTERNAL DAMAGE, A DAMAGED HOSE WAS PRODUCED AS A RARE, RANDOM EVENT RATHER THAN SYSTEMATICALLY.THE TRANSMISSION HOSE SUPPLIER, COOPER STANDARD AUTOMOTIVE, IMPLEMENTED PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS THAT LIMIT EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE HOSE DURING MANUFACTURE. NISSAN HAS SHOWN THAT THIS TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE WAS ASSEMBLED ON MY 2007 AND MY 2008 MAXIMA VEHICLES.NISSAN REDESIGNED THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE ON MY 2009 MAXIMA, AND THE HOSE IS MANUFACTURED BY A NEW SUPPLIER.NISSAN HAS ALSO SHOWN THAT THE LEAKS MOSTLY OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST 2000 MILES OF SERVICE WITH A SEVERE DROP IN INCIDENTS BEYOND 2000 MILES OF SERVICE.MOST LEAKS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED, AND THE ONE FIRE WAS MINOR. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.