2.3

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
65,905 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.

2002 Nissan Maxima engine problems

engine problem

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2002 Nissan Maxima Owner Comments

problem #17

May 312020

Maxima 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at 60 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The dealer was not informed of the failure. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 03V455000 (engine and engine cooling) and would not receive a second free repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. Consumer states that when vehicle was purchased the service engine soon light came on. Consumer states that when vehicle is driven at 60 mph it shuts off. Consumer says the crank position sensors, cam shaft position sensors, and variable timing control sensors codes came up. Consumer says these are the same codes that were covered under the recall.

- Ware Shoals, SC, USA

problem #16

Jan 242016

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 68,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Maxima. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle started to make hissing noises and completely shut down. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired and the contact was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V287000 (air bags). The technician made the manufacturer aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 68,000. The consumer stated the air bag was replaced. Also, the check engine light illuminated. However, the dealer stated there would be a charge to diagnose it. Updated 03/17/16.

- Redding, PA, USA

problem #15

Apr 032014

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 98,000 miles
In reference to > NHTSA campaign number: 03V455000 component(s): Engine and engine cooling I nearly crashed when my car died while merging onto a freeway. My car doesn't start like it used to. Very rough starts, continuously to get the engine to turn. It will die while car is moving. This happens abruptly and suddenly while driving. Rpms idle higher than normal. Engine loss. I used obd scanner to decipher the problem. I looked for recall online and found the one located above. It is identical to my issues.I contacted Nissan and they refused. I could have died. Please help thank you!

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #14

Jul 062013

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 135,823 miles

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

While driving on they highway my vehicle "jerked" while I was going roughly 70mph. When that happened it kind of hesitated and then my "slip" and tcs light came on. Later on that day my vehicle completely stalled while stopped at a intersection. It started back up but started very hard. I arrived at my destination and turned it off for roughly 10 minutes. I tried to start it and it would not start. My vehicle sat for about 2 hours and when I tried it again, it started right up. I researched this problem and found that there was a recall for Nissan for the crank position sensor. All of these issues I had seemed to match up with this recall. Per Nissan my VIN number was not one of the affected vehicles. I find that hard to believe. I had to get my vehicle fixed so I did that today. The problem with my car was the cam position sensor and the crank position sensor. The auto service place called Nissan and Nissan stated to them "this is a known issue" I am not very happy with Nissan right now. I feel that my issues should be taken into consideration for the recall. Everything that happened relates back to the recall. Recall I am referring to is campaign id number: 03V455000. Please review my notes and maybe I can get some help!

- Sun Prairie, WI, USA

problem #13

Jul 232012

Maxima 6-cyl

  • miles
The radiator core support is rusting and has lead to a large hole on the bottom. The engine brace is mounted where the rust is forming. If the rust forms bad enough around the bolts the engine could fall down. Also the hood latch is connected the bottom of the core support. If this fails the rust can cause the hood to open while driving.

- Hawley, PA, USA

problem #12

Sep 192011

Maxima

  • 130,400 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Maxima. While the vehicle was parked the contact noticed the engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated the crank position sensor had to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. There was a recall under NHTSA campaign id number: 03V455000 (engine and engine cooling) that may be related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated the VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 130,400.

- Rego Park, NY, USA

problem #11

Jul 012011

Maxima 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Maxima. The contact was driving 40 mph when the vehicle stalled with the illumination of all of the warning lights. The vehicle would not immediately restart and approximately twenty minutes later, the vehicle successfully restarted but the failure recurred moments later. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the cam shaft position sensor failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was reimbursed for the cost of the parts, but not the labor. The failure mileage was 92,000. Updated 10/04/11 updated 01/03/12

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #10

Jul 152009

Maxima

  • 136,025 miles
Had a throttle body cleaning done on my car and as soon as I left the mechanic shop my engine light came on. I have since had to replace the throttle body and still my car will not relearn (and that was done at a Nissan dealer), now they say I need a new computer. I have also lost 75 miles a tank in gasoline sine the fuel system cleaner. The shop will not take responsibility, Nissan will not take responsibility, and the 3 step fuel system cleaner manufacturer will not take responsibility. In fact, they all blame eachother and still my car is not fixed, im -75 miles a tank, idle is high, idle's high when I push the brake pedal, engine light wont go off and still wont re-learn.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #9

Oct 012009

Maxima

  • 117,482 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Maxima. While driving 40 mph the service engine warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel, and then the vehicle stalled. He was able to restart the vehicle, but it stalled four times afterwards. The vehicle was taken to a local repair facility and a mechanic concluded that the cam-shaft position sensor failed. He notified the dealer in reference to recall# 03V455000 (engine and engine cooling). He was advised that since his vehicle identification number was excluded from the recall, he was ineligible for a free remedy. No repairs were made. He was in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure and current mileages were 117,482.

- Apex , NC, USA

problem #8

May 182009

Maxima

  • miles
The side mounted engine in Nissan (all models using this mounting method) seems to create a systemic problem with engine mount failure which seems to occur after the vehicle has been in use for some extended period of time. When I was checking on the repair of a young friend's Nissan, another driver came in with a Nissan that seemed to have the same problem. My young friend bought the car used so I don't know if there was ever a recall. Repairs (parts and labor) are about $500.

- Vicksburg, MS, USA

problem #7

Jan 102009

Maxima

  • 70,000 miles

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

I have a check engine light that codes to a "cam position sensor" problem. I was going to have my regular mechanic repair it, but then I was told that there was a previous recall on this part. I called Nissan and they said to take it to a certified Nissan dealer and verify it was a "cam position sensor" code. The dealer verified it was.the dealer said their records showed that part had been replaced once before, but Nissan said the repair would be taken care of. When I brought the car in for the repair, the dealer called me later to say he couldn't repair the part because the problem was the connector not the sensor. The cost just happened to be the same price as the cam position sensor. ($260) I found that to be a very coincidental. L told them not to replace the connector and I would like to research the cost of the connector to make sure they weren't pulling the wool over my eyes. To date the repair hasn't been made. Is there a danger to my wife if she drives this vehicle" I'd like Nissan to pay for the cost of the connector. My case file with Nissan is # 6381655. The representative I spoke with was marcus. His extension at Nissan's 800 phone number is # 41490. Are there any other complaints about this part going out twice" I'd appreciate any help you can give me. Greg thompson

- La Crosse, WI, USA

problem #6

Aug 012007

Maxima 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,000 miles
There was a voluntary recall (recall id # 03V455000) for my 2002 Nissan Maxima. The repair was performed in the spring of 2004. The recall specifies that they will replace both the "crankshaft position sensor and the camshaft position sensor(s), and in some cases the variable timing control sensor(s)". they only replaced the crankshaft sensor per their service order and they refuse to replace the camshaft sensor(s).

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #5

Jun 282007

Maxima 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,000 miles
Check engine light started coming on. Several weeks later, vehicle started stalling in traffic, almost causing me to get rear ended. Trouble scanner showed camshaft position sensor A- bank 1 circuit malfunction. Started checking the problem on the computer, and found someone else had the problem and paid dearly to get it fixed. Using campaign number provided, 03V455000, discovered 2002 Maxima gle, VIN [xxx], was not covered. Read complaint number [xxx]. obviously, the 2002 Maxima was not in the recall. I was sure this is an expensive repair. Do I have an option in this case. Updated 07/10/2012

- Miami Gardens, FL, USA

problem #4

Jun 042007

Maxima 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,550 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Maxima gle. When accelerating from a stop, the vehicle will completely shut off and not restart. The incident occurred twice and the vehicle was towed to a mechanic on both occasions. The first time the battery was replaced and the second time the cause of failure was determined to be the crank position sensor. The contact is experiencing the same failure as noted in recall # 03V455000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in the recall. The current and failure mileages were 54,550. The consumer stated Nissan did not find the cause of the problem, when the vehicle was taken to an independent dealer he determined the cause was a fluctuating voltage given out by the alternator and a worn wire harness which could of shorted the system. Upon the repair of the defects, there is no further investigation needed. Updated 07/18/07

- Marlton, NJ, USA

problem #3

Mar 182006

Maxima

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Engine broke down on a 2002 niacin maxim & could not steer car correctly. It could not go without weaving back & forth, even though there is only 15,000. Miles on car & it is regularly serviced & maintained greatly (e.g. kept in garage, never left unlock, etc.)there could have been serious consequences & involved a $900. Repair bill, for which niacin did nothing to compensate for or apologize for. If I had not had aaa tow it to the dealer, there would have surely been a terrible accident. Fortunately, this occurred at night & I had I only 3 blocks to get it home when there weren't any cars the road.

- Livingston, NJ, USA

problem #2

Feb 182003

Maxima

  • 8,100 miles
Faulty engine crank sensors. The sensor had been replaced three times. The third incident nearly resulted in an accident. The consumer requested that his vehicle be replaced with a new one. Recall#03V455000

- Clemmons, NC, USA

problem #1

Feb 152004

Maxima

  • miles
The dealership did not have the parts to perform the crank position sensor weld recall 03V455000 for almost 3 months.

- Warwick, RI, USA

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