2006 Nissan MAXIMA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
576 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
84,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 511 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 266 of 576 complaints (46.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 353 | 61.3% |
| Braking behavior | 84 | 14.6% |
| Engine operation | 41 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 18 | 3.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 266 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 127 |
| Engine | 47 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 34 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 31 |
| Electrical System | 24 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 18 |
| Unknown Or Other | 18 |
Power Train: 266; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 127; Engine: 47; Vehicle Speed Control: 34; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 31; Electrical System: 24; Engine And Engine Cooling: 18; Unknown Or Other: 18
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 26 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 38 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 111 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 184 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 125 |
| 150,000 and above | 27 |
Under 25,000: 26; 25,000 to 49,999: 38; 50,000 to 74,999: 111; 75,000 to 99,999: 184; 100,000 to 149,999: 125; 150,000 and above: 27
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (184). 65 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2010 | 88 |
| 2011 | 120 |
| 2012 | 63 |
| 2013 | 77 |
| 2014 | 62 |
| 2015 | 33 |
| 2016 | 41 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2006: 10; 2007: 9; 2008: 16; 2009: 16; 2010: 88; 2011: 120; 2012: 63; 2013: 77; 2014: 62; 2015: 33; 2016: 41; 2017: 19; 2018: 9; 2019: 6; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 353 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 84 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 41 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10149705 · 2006-02-08 (February 8, 2006)
THE PAINT OR COATING ON THE PAINT GETS SCRATCHED WITHOUT ANY EXTRA ORDINARY USAGE. I BELIEVE IT EVEN HAPPENS FROM RAIN. THE CAR IS ONLY 4 MONTHS OLD HAS SCRATCHES AL OVER IT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149705 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150619 · 2006-02-19 (February 19, 2006)
WE PURCHASED OUR 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA 3 WEEKS AGO. AS OF TODAY THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 2 TIMES, AND IS CURRENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS. IT WILL BE TAKEN BACK MONDAY AND HOPEFULLY WILL RECEIVE A NEW CAR. IT ALL STARTED WHEN ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING AND THE LOCKS ON THE DOORS STARTED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING BY THEMSELVES, THE WINDOWS WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN AND WHEN I GOT HOME I WASN'T ABLE TO TURN MY KEY IN THE IGNITION. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF TRYING TO HOLD DOWN THE LOCK MANUALLY IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF MY CAR, I FINALLY TIMES IT RIGHT BEFORE THE LOCK SLA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10150619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152737 · 2006-03-15 (March 15, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWERVES TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER STATED THIS WAS NORMAL FOR A VEHICLE WITH 18 INCH TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER THE REASON HE EXPERIENCED THE JERKING OF THE VEHICLE WAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS 18 INCH WHEELS AND THE WHEELS WANT TO FOLLOW THE ROAD IRREGULARITIES. UPDATED 04/06/06
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155927 · 2006-04-23 (April 23, 2006)
THERE IS AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD. MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT ON DEPTH PERCEPTION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155927 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156615 · 2006-05-02 (May 2, 2006)
SHIMMY IN STEERING WHEEL FROM THE DAY I GOT THE CAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 45 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161429 · 2006-07-05 (July 5, 2006)
VIBRATION IN STERRING WHEEL AT 55 MILES PER HOUR AND 70 MILES PER HOUR. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161429 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165921 · 2006-08-18 (August 18, 2006)
I BOUGHT A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA 2/27/06 AND IT HAS A RATTLING NOISE SOMEWHERE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. WHEN I NOTICE THIS NOISE BRING IT TO A NISSAN DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THEY WORK ON IT SEVERAL TIME AND STILL DIDN'T FIX IT. I WAS UNHAPPY WITH THIS AND LAUNCH A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIR. A CONSUMER AFFAIR SPECIALIST TOLD ME TO TAKE IT ANOTHER DEALER WHICH I DID. NOW IT'S BEEN A MONTH OR MORE GOING BACK AND FORTH TO GET THIS NOISE PROBLEM CORRECTED. I STILL HAVE THE CAR WHICH STILL HAVE THIS RATTLING NOISE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 3,639 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166753 · 2006-08-28 (August 28, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ON REVERSING THE VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE FRONT END WAS NOT CLEAR OF THE CURB. WHEN DRIVE WAS ENGAGED AND THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, THE FRONT LEFT BOUNCED OVER THE CURB. AS THIS HAPPENED, A METALLIC BANG WAS HEARD, THEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD OUT OF CONTROL. THE STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND AND THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER ANOTHER CURB KNOCKED DOWN A SIGN POST AND THEN ON IMPACT OF A STONE PILLAR, CAUSING ALL AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THE WEATHER WAS DRY AND CLEAR AND THE PARKING LOT WAS ASPHALT. A POLICE …
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166753 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V512000 · Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust
Reported: 2005-11-07 (November 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗06V046000 · Suspension:Rear
Reported: 2006-02-13 (February 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗