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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags30
- Electrical system30
- Engine and engine cooling29
- Suspension24
- Service brakes, hydraulic23
- Vehicle speed control12
- Equipment10
- Structure9
- Power train8
- Fuel system, gasoline8
- Engine7
- Steering6
- Tires6
- 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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
12
19
19
15
15
22
12
8
10
9
2
4
7
9
4
6
1
2
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 19 |
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2007 | 22 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 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
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.”
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”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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”
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.