Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Nissan Maxima problems

Owners filed 181 complaints about the 2001 Nissan Maxima with NHTSA between Feb 2001 and Oct 2022. The most-cited component is air bags (30).

Complaints
181
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags30
  2. Electrical system30
  3. Engine and engine cooling29
  4. Suspension24
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic23
  6. Vehicle speed control12
  7. Equipment10
  8. Structure9
  9. Power train8
  10. Fuel system, gasoline8
  11. Engine7
  12. Steering6
  13. Tires6
  14. Seats5

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 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20013
200212
200319
200419
200515
200615
200722
200812
20098
201010
20119
20122
20134
20147
20159
20164
20176
20181
20192
20200
20211
20221

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

30 reports5 crashes3 related recalls
“FEW DAYS AGO THE AIR BAG RED SYMBOL START BLINKING. THEN, I TURN OFF THE CAR AND TRY TO RE-START THE ENGINE BUT DOESN'T START ENGINE ANYMORE. CAR IS UNUSABLE. THANKS TO GOD! ITS JUST HAPPENED CLOSE TO MY HOUSE. CAR WAS LEFT AT THE FRONT OF MY HOME.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 18, 2019Air bagsODI 11233024

Electrical system

30 reports3 fires
“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. IDENTIFIED THAT THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE AND GASKET NEED TO BE REPLACED. IDENTIFIED ALSO THAT ECM IS NOW BURNED OUT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 1, 2014Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 10586020

Engine and engine cooling

29 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE LOWER RADIATOR TIE BAR WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2013Engine and engine coolingODI 10542283

Suspension

24 reports1 related recall
“Unknown. Recently bought vehicle, it's in great condition other than there is noticeable problems with the front and rear steering and suspension, missing airbags with no sign of being wrecked, windows and window buttons don't work as well as power seat, and a awful gas smell and fume. Inside vehicle after. Pumping gas. Wanting to see about any recalls or defects that can be fixed without out of pocket costs if at all possible . Don't know the vehicles recall or repair history.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 16, 2022Steering, Suspension, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11489486

Service brakes, hydraulic

23 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A CONSTANT KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND DIAGNOSED IT AS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE NOISE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT ALSO BEGAN EXPERIENCING STEERING FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECENT FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE LOWER ARM SUSPENSION. SHE FOUND A RECALL REGARDING THE SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, BUT NISSAN STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT HER VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2008Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10219040

Vehicle speed control

12 reports1 crash
“I WAS AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL AND IT WOULD GO. I HAD TO USE EXTREME FORCE FOR THE CAR TO GO. EVER SINCE FEBRUARY 2014, ITS BEEN HAPPENING EVERY DAY. I'M SCARED THE GAS PEDAL'S GOING TO GET STUCK AND ILL CRASH. WHEN I TURN I HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TIRE/SUSPENSION. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 2, 2014Suspension, Air bags, Vehicle speed controlODI 10576786
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.