CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2004-2006 Nissan Maxima has widespread transmission problems. It starts with the vehicle jerking when shifting, & progresses to full-blown transmission failure.

Maxima owners report spending $3,000 to replace the transmission, typically around when the odometer hits 100,000 miles.

There's a class action lawsuit filed in late 2011, & it is still in the "discovery" stage. Apparently, these things take time ... far too much time.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
79,634 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 Nissan Maxima engine problems

engine problem

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2006 Nissan Maxima Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #14

May 302012

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car has a serious transmission issue and it seems like this is a common problem with 2006 Maximas. In lower gears and in reverse, car lurches violently and slips. When accelerating, car revs very fast, but gets no power. This is starting to happen more and more and I have been told I need a new transmission. This vehicle was bought new in 2006 and should not have transmission issues at 90K miles. Given the multitude of complaints about this exact problem on various automobile forums, Nissan should take steps to fix this problem.

- Crofton, MD, USA

problem #13

Jun 012012

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 61,579 miles
I brought my Maxima from a dealer on February 6, 2012 beginning at 61587miles the transmission has stopped engaging properly when accelerating between 1st & 2nd gear of the automatic transmission. This occurs between 20 and 35mph and causes the vehicle to slam into gear with a force that negatively impacts the my ability to control the car causing an unsafe driving event. It is as powerful as being hit from the rear while driving. It will drive fine for a few miles and start lurching again. The vehicle would jerk violently before stalling. After researching the issues I was having with this car, I found that it is common in 2005 and 2006 Maxima and Nissan has not recalled these models for these issues.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #12

Aug 272012

Maxima

  • 109,000 miles
There are many incidents of erratic speed changes. More precisely, exiting from highway I slowed to near stop, light changed I accelerated and vehicles RPM increased then banged into gear and jumped into lane. Other examples when vehicle is put into drive or reverse it will hesitate then leap forward, this may not happen for awhile then next day it happens again. At times when decelerating vehicle will down shift then shift up causing erratic stopping distances.

- Independence, MO, USA

problem #11

Mar 012012

Maxima

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am having a problem with my car jerking profusely when switching gears. It will do this as well when I come to a stop and then take off. There is something definitely wrong with this make/model/year vehicle. I love my car but after seeing throughout the internet alot of people having the exact same problem, I do not believe my next purchase will be a Nissan. The manufacturer should be recalling and fixing this issue. Maybe families that have lost loved ones while driving this vehicle should investigate the cause of accident a little further.

- Falmouth, KY, USA

problem #10

Jun 102012

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
I was going through a stop sign, and after I stopped, I pressed the gas only to see the rpms shoot up without the vehicle moving for five seconds, then the car finally kicked into gear. This is very unsafe and this is not the first incident.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #9

Feb 012012

Maxima

  • 123,241 miles
Car began to jerk forward in traffic, and upon going uphill would lose power, due to transmission jerking at speeds 35mph and up, RPM would redline at 55mph on freeway, which would cause traffic behind me to gain distance, leaving me no power to move or avoid them. Would jerk from reverse to drive out of driveway. Transmission sensors and trasmission were replaced total $3900

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #8

Feb 102012

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 28,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated while entering a park area. The rpms increased to 6,000 abnormally as the contact applied the brake and shifted into park. The vehicle returned to normal function. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 28,000. Updated 03/05/12 updated 03/08/12

- Boynton Beach , FL, USA

problem #7

Jan 112011

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
The vehicle violently jerks. Takes up to ten seconds to shift into gear after changing from park to drive. When accelerating, the vehicle hesitates at first, then jerks forward as though someone has hit you from behind. When decelerating, the vehicle has a back-kick around the 20mph area. Lags during acceleration, does not engage or function properly.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #6

Jun 232011

Maxima 6-cyl

  • miles
I purchased a 2006 Nissan Maxima in February 2011..when I purchased the car it appeared to be in good running condition..there were a few visible problems such as the headlights, running light, power seats, or windows weren't working properly..that problem was fixed and the owner agreed to fix the brakes and the remainder of the problems however almost a year later my anti brake light is still on & the dealership have not made any attempt to fix my car. 4months after having the car the speedometer stopped working and the odometer, the gas gauge goes back & forth, the service engine light remains on and the car jerks while driving and sometimes when shifting the car out of drive into reverse it jerks hard. I have quite a few friends who have Maxima's also and have the same problem with their cars..it's obvious it's a defect with the transmissions, speed gauge & so many other defects with these cars. Somewhere there has to be someone who can help myself as well as others who are experiencing these problems. I have read far too many complaints about these particular cars. The cost to repair these cars are expensive & not to mention the cost to have your transmission replaced & on top of all that you are still responsible for paying your car note. Hopefully soon there will be a solution to this problem. Thanks in advance!!!

- Donaldsonville, LA, USA

problem #5

Mar 152010

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 43,000 miles
Vehicle started showing warning lights and responding sporadically, working smoothly then failing in various manners including: Failing to accelerate after stopped at traffic light, lost power when exiting highway, lurched while driving on interstate, lights failed then turned back on, flashing failure lights, loss of fuel errors, others. Investigation revealed that a faulty design in the car computer housing and location made it possible for dimes to fall from the dash into an opening, which appeared to be a test port, in the computer causing shorts resulting in the sporadic behavior and ultimate complete failure of the unit. The mechanic was able to find technical publications that documented this known defect and the associated dangerous implications.

- Clinton, NJ, USA

problem #4

Jun 302011

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 77,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2006 Nissan Maxima has been jerking very badly, and having trouble getting into gear. This happens everytime I drive, speed up, slow down, and reverse. Sometimes I can barely accelerate on the freeway. This happened at around 77,000 miles, which is past my warranty. I have an extended warranty that I paid for, but of course, the transmission is not covered totally, and I would have to pay a $500 deductible just to get it looked at, and maybe get it fixed. I've spoken to a mechanic and he told me I needed a new transmission. He also told me that he has had several complaints from fellow Maxima owners over the transmission, I also spoke to a service manager at a Nissan dealership. He asked me what car I had, as soon as I told him a Maxima, he said "it's the transmission right" they are all bad." So if the Nissan people actually know there is something wrong with the transmission on the Maximas, then why are they not recalling them? I went online and saw numerous complaints from other Maxima owners about the same thing at several different forums, and consumer complaint websites. What is Nissan waiting for to fix this? are they waiting for someone to get killed before they decide that something needs to be done about their faulty equipment" I have two kids, and I do not feel safe driving that car, but I have no choice. It is my only car, and I can not afford to just replace a transmission every 20,000 miles. It's sad, and the fact that Nissan knows about this and chooses to do nothing is truly pathetic.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #3

Feb 252011

Maxima

  • 86,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that when shifting into drive, the engine exhibited an abnormal increase in rpms. The vehicle then rapidly accelerated at full force. The contact stated that the failure was a sporadic occurrence. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 86,000 and the current mileage was 87,830.

- Bishopville , SC, USA

problem #2

May 012010

Maxima

  • miles
I bought the car brand new and have maintained this vehicle with 3K mile oil changes and replaced the tires. It has started to make jerk when shifting from 1-2 gear or 2-3 and recently the engines revs up to 4rpms but does not go any faster. Unfortunately my car is out of warranty but from looking around other blogs and forums it looks as this is quite a common problem. The engine is making a noise as if it is running on turbo. I don't understand why there is not a recall there is so many issues with this car its ridiculous. This is the first brand new car I have purchased and I cannot believe how many issues it has.

- Casa Grande , AZ, USA

problem #1

Sep 182010

Maxima

  • 26,000 miles
Unintended acceleration 3 times, each more violent then the first time, of a new 2006 Nissan Maxima, only 26,000 miles on it, this is the 3rd. Time it has happened, on Sept. 18, kahului, maui. Terrifying, I could not stop the car at the stop sign of intersection, this was the worse of the past two accelerations that I had with this car. My husband was with me on the passenger side of car. It took off like a "race car" I could not break it or stop car from going. Had to pull the keys out and put in neutral, then reverse to get it to stop.! took it to the dealer, jimfalk, the service dept. Could not find what is wrong, kept car for a week, driving it to "recreate" the problem, but it seems to do it after so many months, not back to back, something triggers it off it seems. We are stuck with his car now, it is dangerous to drive, as the problem cannot be found. Nissan sent a independent investigator to maui to check the car out, Nissan headquarters in Tennessee said it will take 6-8 weeks to get a answer back to us, meanwhile we are stuck now with a rental car bill as our warranty onlycovers a loaner if there is a problem with the cars to be "fixed" and so far, the problem annote be found, so we are up the creek so to speak and technically have to wait for another "acceleration" to take place in which event we could be killed. What can we do? we have rights! some one must be able to find this death feature in our car! help!

- Lahaina, HI, USA

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