Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Nissan Maxima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Nissan Maxima se. The contact was driving 65 MPH when the vehicle lost power as the engine started to smoke. The vehicle coasted to a complete stop but was restarted later and then taken to the dealer. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring issue and the dealer had previously made repairs to the idle air control valve and the wiring for the idle control valve, to no avail. The vehicle was not further repaired and the failure persisted. The current and failure mileage was 73,000.
I have a complaint about a 2001 Nissan Maxima that had an electrical short in its wiring harness that completely destroyed the ECM (electronic control module) and throttle body injection system causing the car to stall under 1700 rpms this caused the car to stall at highway speeds when rpms dropped below the stated threshold I have looked at the nhtsas service bulletins and complaint bulletins and these wiring harness shorts seem to be a consistent problem with nissans vehicles especially the Maxima model and also fire related shorts. I spoke with nissans complaint division and they just said due to miles its out of warranty and not their problem. …
2001 Nissan Maxima exhibiting difficulty starting 3-4 times, then dying at idle. Then it would start, but die when put in gear. We had it towed to dealer - they say "bad engine mounts" caused the wiring harness to short out, destroying it, the ECM, and the iac valve. They quote 3875 to repair, and say that sometimes when this happens the air fuel meter needs replacing too. From reading other reports, I doubt the "bad engine mounts" story. This sounds like an issue that has happened identically on this make/model year. We also have unexplained ABS and traction control warning lights, that came on simultaneously a few months ago along with the check engine light. They replaced the air fuel meter which fixed the engine light. I suspect the harness was deteriorated then, caused the afm to fail and the phony warning lights, and now it has deteriorated further. …
We owned a 2001 Nissan Maxima for 2 1/2 years. We put an alternative on it and then on dec 23, 2005 we smelled smoke inside of the car sitting in our garage. Car would turn over but not fire. The mechanic said the computer had burned up on the car & had burned out numerous relays and sensors. The check engine light had been on for 3 months. The dealer checked it and said it was an o2 sensor. We replaced the upper intake, lower intake, gaskets, fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel presser switch, o2 sensors, a computer. (all the above are Nissan dealer parts!!) the computer still would not maintain the codes for it to pass inspection so we bought a new computer from Nissan. The dealer flashed the computer and burned the new computer up in his dealership & now claims we owe him for the new computer also. …
Approx 1 mo ago my battery and brake light would light intermittently with no mechanical effect noted. The battery and alternator tested good and the cause was unknown. Then one day on the highway with cruise control at 75 MPH the lights came on. Several minutes later the cruise control shut off by itself and the ABS light came on and the airbag light began flashing. During slowing to exit the the highway all the instrument panels began 'bouncing' with unstable readings and the engine seemed as if it was going to die. I exited to the shoulder of the highway and put the car in park and turned the car off. The car required a jump to restart it. I replaced the battery since one cell was partially bad. Nonetheless, the battery and brake light have come on again. Nissan indicates a new alternator is required on the car at 3 years old and 45,700 miles.
7/6/06 smelled strange odor 30 minutes later my 2001 Nissan Maxima lost total power in the fast lane, all gauges went to zero, heard a hissing sound as I dodged trucks going by at 80 MPH as I coasted to the right shoulder. I opened the hood and the battery was squirting fluid out of all the vent caps. I called the nearest dealer in wilkes-barre, pa and they told me they couldn't even look at the car for a week! I made the decision to tow it to brenner Nissan in mechanicsburg,pa(90 miles, $346 tow bill). They made an initial inspection 7/7 and determined I have an electrical problem! I have gathered information on Nissan Maxima problems and will meet with the dealer 7/10 to determine how this problem will be diagnosed without incurring $1000's in service charges. They seemed unwilling to replace the battery and then see what else was broke.
Nothing but problems since the vehicle was purchases new in '01. From replacing the alternator, strong shutter in breaks even after replacing twice and needs again, replaced rear oxygen sensors twice with now a third needed, replaced mass air flow sensor, and now vehicle is out of commission due to needing a new computer system, idle speed control sensor, and rear o2 sensors(again)! Also a leaking power steering pump and power window motors are near death. I understand wear and tear on a vehicle but this is an extreme case! Potential epa issues due to the oxygen sensors failing time after time.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Nissan Maxima. While driving 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated as he noticed smoke coming from the center console. The dealer advised the contact that the auto air control valve failed and caused the computer to burn. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who confirmed that the auto air control valve failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileages were 109,000. Updated 07/21/11 updated 07/29/11
Vehicle wasn't part of the recall regarding the suspension due to the VIN, but experienced the problem stated on the recall. The vehicle had to get a realignment, the bottom cover was loose and the vehicle constantly pulled to the right/left and there was an alternator problem where the battery did not charge. The consumer requested assistance with getting the vehicle fully checked since the problems encountered occurred during the warranty period. Recall#02V146000.
Check engine light comes over ever 5 months. Every time its a cylinder misfire because of one or more ignition coils. This started happening since 40,000 miles. When a engine misfires the car sputters and the ces light comes on. This just keeps happening and I've spent over $2000 for just this same issue. The incident date posted is the last time this happened but this has been happening since 2004.
Electrical complaints in other Maxima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2001 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the electrical system of the 2001 Nissan Maxima, 16% of the model year's 172 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Nissan Maxima electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2001 Nissan Maxima, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Nissan Maxima electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 3 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.