2006 Nissan Maxima: problems, recalls and reliability
2 recalls and 576 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (63% of complaints); the 2007 and 2008 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Feb 2006
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 576 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact filed the complaint on behalf of the owner of the 2006 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stationary and being serviced with the engine running, the service technician closed the front driver's side door and moments later the front and rear driver's side curtain air bags deployed. The contact stated that during the failure, there was no one seated in the vehicle. The contact stated that there was no impact to the vehicle to cause the air bags to deploy. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 90,948.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2023
“My brakes dont work unless my 3 dashboard lights come on. Slip, tcs and abs. Sometimes I forget and drive off. When I brake at the light you could here the wires buzzing as if there was a short circuit. Finally on my passenger side in the 'back, the tire was wiggling and noticed some lugs were missing plus the hubs lugs were loose. I haven' t taken to go get it inspected because I dont have money at the moment.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Mar 2021
“Well my car while driving it will completely shut off in me while im driving it. After it cranks back up it is very slow to take off”Owner report · Power Train · Sep 2020
Show 7 more owner reports
“When you're driving in hazardous conditions the car loses stability and it caused me to go into a spin and hit a wall, anytime it rains you can feel that the car starts to lose grip of the road and I fear for my life every time it remotely starts to rain or the road is wet. And there's a recall on the Nissan Maxima regarding the rear suspension something and the effect of the recall on that vehicle is what's happening to my vehicle.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2020
“Transmission slipping from 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th with a hard knock going from park to drive. While driving and slowing to 25mph to go around a turn the car jerked and hard kicked downshifting causing me to almost to hit from behind.”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2020
“I was driving in a residential area and suddenly steering wheel got stiff, brakes seemed to be on, dashboard lights appeared with "tcs off" "slip" and "check engine " all appeared on dashboard. I almost crashed due to this.”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Nov 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2006 nissan maxima. While driving approximately 20 mph with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle suddenly failed to accelerate and began to roll backwards down a slight incline. After restarting the engine, the vehicle would not drive forward. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000. The VIN was unknown.”Owner report · Power Train · Oct 2019
“When accelerating in low gears, the vehicle jumps and jerks and sometimes revs up the engine. Bad transmission. When placed into reverse, it stops and jerks.”Owner report · Power Train · Sep 2019
“My car caught fire due to electrical in the engine the whole front of my car is burned me and my family was asleep the neighbor came and knocked on the window and said my car was on fire I called the fire department they put the fire out and I asked how was the fire started the firemen told me the fire started from the engine”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2019
“Passenger side floor boards rusting out. My 2006 maxima has 106701 miles and has been garaged since I bought it new. It now failed inspection”Owner report · Structure · Apr 2018
When filing, owners marked a crash in 21 of these complaints and injuries in 12 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 2 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2006 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Maxima by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Nissan Maxima reliable?
NHTSA has 576 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on record for the 2006 Nissan Maxima. The most complained-about area is power train (63% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2006 Nissan Maxima problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 84,250 miles or less.
Does the 2006 Nissan Maxima have open recalls?
2 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning seats:front assembly:power adjust. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.