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 2006 Nissan Maxima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
This Vehicle is Severely Defective. This Vehicle is not safe to be on the road. This Vehicle has had several repairs for the same repair issue but the problem still exists. I have spent thousands on this Vehicle and this vehicle is still inoperative and not drivable. This Vehicle is a hazard for the road. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE! VEHICLE has still not been Repaired. Please I like to be Compensated and Reimbursed for the Loss I have suffered. Please compensate and/or reimbursed me for the $10,000.00 I lost in a Defective, Inoperable, and Unsafe Vehicle. Thank God My Child and I did not get seriously hurt while I was driving this vehicle. I remember one incident while I was driving this vehicle: Right in the middle of me driving this vehicle I was going about 40-45 mph on the highway, the vehicle just shut down all of a sudden. The entire Electrical System just Shutdown. …
My brakes dont work unless my 3 dashboard lights come on. Slip, tcs and abs. Sometimes I forget and drive off. When I brake at the light you could here the wires buzzing as if there was a short circuit. Finally on my passenger side in the 'back, the tire was wiggling and noticed some lugs were missing plus the hubs lugs were loose. I haven' t taken to go get it inspected because I dont have money at the moment.
My car caught fire due to electrical in the engine the whole front of my car is burned me and my family was asleep the neighbor came and knocked on the window and said my car was on fire I called the fire department they put the fire out and I asked how was the fire started the firemen told me the fire started from the engine
Bought car one year ago at 120000 miles. After 2 mos, car started jumping while pressing acceleration and then began to just stop while I was driving. Engine light came on , had camshaft position sensors replaced. Less than 2 mos later, car was starting to stall again, accelerator still making the car stall. Had fuel system checked, was fine. Then my engine light came on again, now saying camshaft position timing needs to be replaced. Mechanic told me this is the most common problem he sees in Nissan vehicles. Should be a recall on the timing chain if the problem is so common. I ran into a ditch twice and very nearly was in an accident when my car cut off while I was turning at a busy intersection. I couldn't turn the wheel and nearly crashed! This has happened numerous times. …
Although the car looks beautiful, it's quickly becoming one of my least favorite vehicles I've owned. When I start going forward, I have to wait and be very patient on the gas pedal to make sure it shifts properly or it will jerk myself and small children in the back forward. I park in a ramp at work and on more than one occassion the car was downshifting as I turned a corner going up the ramp and I was slowing for a pedestrian and the car jerked forward and the pedestrian jumped and gave me a scared look. Not only is that entirely embarassing as an executive but it is a huge safety hazard on multiple levels. The car seems to jerk the most from 1-2 and 2-3 and visa versa. I noted electrical as an affected part because no matter how many times I set the mirror and seats, every time I use reverse, the mirrors move and click until I adjust them to where I need them.
"Takata recall" in motion, shifting has a large clock sound I'd like to know if it's a recall on the coil. Both city street and highway, when accelerating it seems to stall in moving to the next gear or actually not even shift into the next gear in motion, so will not allow the car to pick up any momentum. Reverse is very loud with a somewhat bang to it. As I said before it could be the coil but I'd like to know how to identify if it's also a driveshaft.
Vehicle gauges stopped working with multiple warning lights coming on. Followed by smoke coming from one vent. Car would not change gears. Problem was 2 coins had slide down behind radio into the amplifier / ac controller shorting it out n several locations.
I have a 2006, Nissan Maxima se. I've been having severe problems with my transmission. The car jerks violently when its changes gears between 1st and 2nd, as well as between 2nd and 3rd gear. After doing research on this problem online, I've seen countless number of people who complain about the same problem. I re-built the transmission at my expense of $3,200 and it wasn't over yet, then currently my check engine light is on and my car wont start, I would have to turn the key on and off 4-6 times every time I need to drive for it to start. My speedometer stopped working, therefore I can't see how fast or slow I'm driving nor is the mileage calculation are working it has been stuck at 86,745. So many people have experienced this problem from 2004 to 2008. I don't see how this could go on. …
While driving approximately 65 MPH, the gages on my instrument panel began to read erratic. Speedometer, fuel and tachometer drifted between zero and thier maximums. The instrument panel background lighting also began to flicker. The vehicle made it home. At home the dash was tapped a few times to see if it was a loose connection. Upon doing this, some of the gages began to read normal, while others began to read erratic. The vehicle would start and all the major systems appeared to operate normal; other than the gages and background lighting, which were still unreliable. The next day, 5/26/11, while the vehicle was being driven into a parking lot the gages and lighting started acting erratic, except this time smoke appeared from the bottom of the sta.tus display screen (the screen in the center of the dash board used to give information on time, maint, temperature). …
As I turned on the ignition the battery exploded. The car had been sitting aprox. 5 minutes before the incident. I had driven aprox. 15 miles before stopping. I turned off the ignition and waited a minute or so to let the small amount of smoke to clear. I opened the hood and observed the battery. I was split in several places. The two cell covers were off the battery. The imprint of the battery cap top was left on the underside of the hood. The hood had a small dent up from the under side. It looks as if the other cap hit the underside of the hood where the information sticker is located, there is no insulating protection in that small area of the hood. The car was towed to the Nissan dealership. The battery was replaced at my expense. The engine compartment was sprayed off. I was told the battery was out of warranty. I asked what could be done about the hood. …
Electrical complaints in other Maxima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2006 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the electrical system of the 2006 Nissan Maxima, 5% of the model year's 576 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Nissan Maxima electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2006 Nissan Maxima, though it has 2 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 2006 Nissan Maxima electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 77,000 miles, and 5% 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.