Problems · NHTSA complaints
2000 Nissan Maxima problems
Owners filed 376 complaints about the 2000 Nissan Maxima with NHTSA between Jan 2000 and Feb 2025. The most-cited component is electrical system (181).
Complaints
376
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
27
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
30
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system181
- Engine and engine cooling75
- Service brakes, hydraulic26
- Air bags25
- Structure23
- Power train23
- Suspension17
- Vehicle speed control13
- Tires11
- Fuel system, gasoline10
- Engine9
- Steering8
- Exterior lighting7
- Seat belts6
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
21
16
28
36
70
51
44
24
19
3
10
8
7
6
13
5
8
1
4
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 21 |
| 2001 | 16 |
| 2002 | 28 |
| 2003 | 36 |
| 2004 | 70 |
| 2005 | 51 |
| 2006 | 44 |
| 2007 | 24 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
181 reports1 crash3 fires
“SINCE I OWNED THIS CAR I HAVE MULTIPLE ISSUES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND I WAS TOLD THE CODE WAS INDICATING THE COILS WERE BAD. ALSO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SLIP AND TCS LIGHT COME ON. THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND LOSES POWER. ON TOP THAT I CAN'T GET THE CAR TO PASS INSPECTION. MY RADIO ALSO HAS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, IT WENT DARK. I FEEL WE SHOULD ALL FILE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
75 reports1 fire
“THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE CAR AND IT WAS TIME FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE PAINT JOB HAS DETERIORATED BADLY EVEN I HAD KEPT IT CLEAN AND WAXED. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
26 reports2 crashes
“2000 MAXIMA ENGINE FAILED. PISTON ROD BROKE INTO PIECES AND TOTALLY DAMAGED THE ENGINE. *TS THE ROTORS WERE TURNED AND THE DOORS WERE HARD TO OPEN. THE DRIVE BELTS WERE REPLACED. *JB THE DECK LID LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PULL OUT THE DIP STICK. UPDATED 03/20/06. *JB”
Air bags
25 reports22 crashes
“I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY ON FREEWAY WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, AND THE ROAD WAS FLAT AND HAD NO OBSTACLE. THEN THE AIRBAGS ON DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT HIT ANYONE OR ANYONE HIT ME. I DID HAVE ONE COLLISION ONE YEAR EARLIER IN WHICH THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.”
Structure
23 reports1 crash
“THE FRAME IS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT ON MY 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH 158,000 MILES. MY MECHANIC HAD IT UP ON HIS LIFT LAST WEEK AND POINTED OUT THAT THE LEFT DRIVER SIDE PORTION HAD A BREAK IN IT AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ONE MORE POT HOLE AND THE ENGINE/TRANNY WILL BE IN THE STREET. WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN VEHICLE AGAIN.”
Power train
23 reports
“THE SUB FRAME IS RUSTING OUT. THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT IS ONLY PARTIALLY ATTACHED AS THE MAIN BEAM IS SEVERELY RUSTED. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON SOMETHING SO DANGEROUS, AS A FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT CAN RESULT IN THE HOOD LATCH GIVING WAY OR THE MOTOR DROPPING FROM THE CAR. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.