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:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
83,218 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2006 Nissan Maxima Owner Comments

problem #17

Aug 142020

Maxima

  • miles

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

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.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #16

Apr 012016

Maxima

  • 150,000 miles
Transmission has a wicked vibration. Have had sensors replaced, but that didn't help. Was told that I need a new transmission... apparently I'm not the only one!

- Thomasville, AL, USA

problem #15

Feb 022017

Maxima

  • 117,000 miles
I bought this car from a buy here pay here had the car for 1 month and the transmission went in it. I was told there was a recall on these transmissions from several people. The dealer will not help me because it was sold as is. But they never told me anything was wrong with the car. It actually drove fine for a month. I was driving and the car just shut off. I tried to turn it back on when it did it would not drive. I had a mechanic heck it out. I now have to purchase a new transmission.

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #14

Jun 202012

Maxima

  • 69,000 miles

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

The transmissions are built and designed to fail on all 2006 Nissan Maxima models and have to be replaced between 70,000 and 90,000 miles, costing consumers between $3500-$5000 to repair. Even when the transmission is rebuilt or valve body job consumers will face the same dilemma within a couple of years.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #13

Mar 072016

Maxima

  • 125,000 miles
Its a 2006 Nissan maximum when driving it. Jerks then it sounds really loud with strange noise S like its trying to shift gears but stuck wont. Drive or pull in a automatic car its a very scary situation

- Pleasant, MO, USA

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problem #12

May 152015

Maxima

  • 173,000 miles
What a nightmare!!!!

- Ruskin, FL, USA

problem #11

Mar 142015

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 101,000 miles

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

I have a 2006 Nissan Maxima. I was going 30 mph, I hit a truck that was stopped at a red light. My airbags did not deploy. $4870 in damage but my insurance company said there was not enough damage to be considered a total loss ($170 away from being considered a total loss).

- Denham Springs, LA, USA

problem #10

Jan 012012

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
Immediately after purchase, various instances of electrical malfunction, including mirror lights flickering, dash lights flickering/half doesn't come one, as well as faulty wiring in sun roof causing it to open and closes randomly on it's own. Shortly thereafter, transmission started to slip and knock hard into gears, even though proper maintenance was always completed. Brakes replaced several times. Suspension lacking. As of last week, the traction/slip lights come on and the car will not accelerate properly, almost causing several accidents. This problem has yet to be resolved, as no one seems to know what the problem is. This vehicle has caused financial harm as well as near physical harm on several occasions.

- Lincoln, NE, USA

problem #9

Nov 012013

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 105,000 miles
Brake "actuator" started humming or running as soon as car ('06 Nissan Maxima SE) was turned on away from home. Continued to kick in ABS at every brake application creating unsafe (or at least not normal) braking situations and continued to run when car was shut off. ABS light, tcs light, and slip light all activated continually. Codes C1110 & C1105 & C1106 were present after scanning at local garage. Battery drained after car shut off due to actuator continuing to run with car shut off. Per research and other tsb or Nissan-issued technical bulletins, the rear hub ABS sensor frequently malfunctions due to a design flaw in the car. If driven while malfunctioning (as in this case) the controller/actuator may malfunction. Turning off "ABS" while driving seems to keep the actuator from running, but also makes driving less safe, especially in inclement weather due to turning off tcs/ABS. I've had to replace this out-of-pocket (despite being an extremely common problem with this model vehicle). Sensors and actuator were replaced. Vehicle driven again. Less than 8 months later, same issues return. Nissan dealership replaced rear sensor per codes, new code for actuator shows again (after sensors placed in) and they require me to pay out of pocket again for new actuator. This is obviously a design flaw in the car (per many other reports) and should be recalled immediately for repair.

- Attleboro, MA, USA

problem #8

Jun 172014

Maxima

  • 60,000 miles
Car will not completely start, (and the start is fine) alarm states its stole etc. Anti-thief... been in shop for weeks and they can't figure out what is how to fix it.

- Parker, FL, USA

problem #7

Jan 022012

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 59,860 miles

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

My car was bought at a Nissan dealership in 2011 of December, in January I noticed the car jerking and shifting while driving 20 to 30 miles. So I took the car back at the dealership and they said that they will only give me another car only if the problem is in the transmission, they told me that the problem is my motor mount is broken, and they don't cover anything outside the transmission or engine only the inside.. the total amount to fix was 500 but I had no money to do it.they gave me an option of taking an extended warranty which it was expensive for me so I shopped for a warranty and I got a full bumper to bumper for a cheaper price than what they gave me. It took me 3months to go back to the dealer with a new warranty they fixed the motor mount but the issue is still their. A Nissan technician took it for a test drive they suggested that I need a new transmission and there's no way I'm willing to give them my car again to fix because it took them along time to realize the problem telling me to fix your car we need to get it out of idle and emission needs to be checked that's what they were saying before they realize its a transmission..I love Nissan Maxima but in order to keep a customer like me to stay loyal please fix the issue and do the right thing by recalling the vehicles.

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #6

Nov 302011

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 119,152 miles
I was driving my 2006 Nissan Maxima home on the interstate in 5-O-clock traffic and the transmission gave out. I was in the left lane and was luckily able to get into the right lane without hitting another car or causing a serious accident. I then rolled to the nearest exit and was able to break to a stop, but of course with the transmission gone I couldn't even roll the car home. I had the car towed. This wasn't too much of a surprise as I had spoken with a transmission repair shop just a few months prior and was told that I needed a new valve body, the one on this particular car is commonly seen and replaced all the time. At that time he quoted me $1800 for the part/labor, which I didn't have so I agreed to come back when I received more financial aid for the spring semester. When I contacted the shop this time around they told me that it sounds like I'd unfortunately need a new transmission altogether. A used one only has a 90 day warranty and he quoted me around $2700-$3000. The valve body could be the same defective one as before, and being used, I could easily wind up in the same boat 90 days later. He said he'd call back to give me a quote on a rebuilt transmission, but that it would cost more and come with a longer warranty, possibly 2 years. I have contacted Nissan about the problem and they have not responded. Apparently since I didn't die yet or cause anyone else to die it's ok.

- Columbia, MO, USA

problem #5

Apr 052011

Maxima

  • 96,700 miles
I bought this car two months ago and have been happy with it until now. When I have to back the car up in reverse and then switch into drive it kicks very hard. It started earlier this week and has been doing it ever since. The first time, it kicked so hard that I thought I had hit something, and my passengers were thrown forward so hard that the seat belts took their breath out of them. Later that same day I had trouble getting the car to start when I put the key in the ignition nothing happened for several minutes. When I tried again it started up, but kicked again when I switched from reverse to drive.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #4

Jan 242011

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 98,000 miles
The ABS system, specifically the actuator, in the 2006 Nissan Maxima failed. Initially, the ABS system would activate every time the brakes are applied. It first occurred on dry pavement at highway speed (55mph) braking and then all subsequent braking thereafter, regardless of speed or road condition. Now the car is in fail-safe model where the ABS system, traction control system, and electronic brake force distribution are inactive on the vehicle. Nissan dealers estimate the fix to be approximately $3000, with the majority of the repair in replacing the ABS actuator. The vehicle has never been flooded and has only been in very minor fender-benders (repainting of exterior parts). From my prospective, it seems very unusual for the actuator to go bad and appears to be a defective unit.

- North Wales, PA, USA

problem #3

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 #2

Nov 102009

Maxima

  • 42,000 miles
The drivers side seat recently started to rocking toward the drivers side door which alerted me to having a problem. This happens every time I get into the car the seat is leaning to the left door. I contacted the dealer in which I purchased the car, they said it is nothing they can do because the warranty is up. I should contact the manufacture Nissan which I have also done.

- Somerset,, NJ, USA

problem #1

Feb 082006

Maxima 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 9,000 miles
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.

- Lakewood, NJ, USA

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