2001 Nissan Maxima problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (20) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor (15) · Vehicle Speed Control (10)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Nissan Maxima model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
117 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2022-08-09 · campaign 22E066000 · 375 vehicles
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that may have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair. The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti 2002-2003 QX4, 2006-2010 M35 and M45; Nissan 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, and both driver and passenger-side inflators designed to fit 2007-2012 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback vehicles. Please see Nissan's recall report for the specific
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the inflators as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 14, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2020-01-09 · campaign 20V008000 · 307,962 vehicles
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. T
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.
Air Bags 2015-05-15 · campaign 15V287000 · 1,090,569 vehicles
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 vehicles.
Service bulletins (105)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-107G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB17-019H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
window glass warranty information this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB13-028I · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
removing foreign material from the window glass this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB09-081K · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
windshield cracking this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Steering 2023-09-21 · NTB08-097L · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
diagnosis of vehicle pull (drift) and/or steering wheel off-center this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Electrical System 2023-06-16 · NTB23-053 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
silicone-based lubricant or grease can damage electrical components service information do not apply silicone-based lubricants or grease to, or around, any interior electrical components. to avoid the risk of death or severe personal injury, do not directly spray silicone-based lubricant or
Showing the 6 most recent of 105 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2022-10-16 · Suspension“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 rec…”
2021-07-02 · Air Bags“2001 nissan maxima. consumer writes in regards to airbag safety recall. the consumer stated mileage is incorrect on the dealer's documentation.…”
2019-08-25 · Air Bags · 250,000 mi“takada recall my airbag light has been blinking continuously for the past 6 months and it won't stop blinking i would like to know what the problem is…”
2019-07-18 · Air Bags · 15 mi“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.…”
2018-02-04 · Air Bags · 130,000 mi“blinking airbag light. blinks all the time. been doing this for 5 months.…”
2017-12-11 · Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly“tl* the contact owns a 2001 nissan maxima. while driving 60 mph, with the sun roof opened, the glass detached as the sun roof was being closed. the failure occurred without warning. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and a claim was opened. the manufactu…”
2017-12-07 · Air Bags · 128,478 mi“takata recall hi, the reason why i'm writing is i had a recall quite some time ago about a year maybe and it was done but a week later it came back on the dash flashing and it still flashing and i do know that this should not be on like this so i need to know if there is a recall for this, if so could you please set up an appointment so i can fi…”
2017-11-06 · Air Bags“airbag warning light is contuiously blinking…”
2017-10-27 · Air Bags · 120,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2001 nissan maxima. while operating the vehicle, the air bag sensor indicator illuminated and flashed off and on. the cause of the failure was not diagnosed. the vehicle was not repaired. the local dealer was not notified. the manufacturer was informed of the failure, but no assistance was offered. the failure mileage was 120…”
2017-10-25 · Structure:body · 12,000 mi“the lower radiator support bar and surrounding lower structure started rusting away after about 4-5 years from new. the lower radiator support is now almost entirely gone. the dealer quoted $5400 to repair. i was told by the service rep that if/when the core support let go, the engine could fall causing a wreck.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.