Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
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. …
I own a 2006 Nissan Maxima worst car I ever owned and will never again buy another Nissan product. I think Nissan knows about the issue of the car jerking and suddenly revs for no apparent reason after about 90K or so miles the car is fairly useless I can't even drive mines anymore until I shell out 4K to get it fixed. Whenever I put it in drive it just jerks real hard to the point where I feel afraid to drive it. My wife actually got into an accident because just suddenly revs forward. I don't know why it does this but all owners that I have spoken to said the same thing.
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
I have a 2006 Nissan Maxima. I was going 30 MPH, I hit a truck that was stopped at a red light. My airbags did not deploy. $4870 in damage but my insurance company said there was not enough damage to be considered a total loss ($170 away from being considered a total loss).
Exhaust/emission - catalytic converter failed and makes terrible noise - not fixed yet. Dealer says, car will work without any problems at 103,000 miles (8th year) body frame - under carriage on driver side rusted, with a bulge. Dealer said, rusting it not enough, you should be able to put the screw driver or finger through the rusted portion. 35000 miles ( after 5years and 2 days) transmission - it jerks and is very dangerous on the road. Repair estimation is around $3500 from the dealer. When the car comes to a stop in the traffic light, then sometimes, it does not move. After accelerating a bit, it just jumps. It is very very hard to go in a stop and go traffic. So I maintain a certain distance keeping this in mind. Nissan motor corporation does not care for any of the issues. Dealer comes up with one or the other reason. …
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.
The 2006 Nissan Maxima has a major issue of violently jerking after 100K miles, I have seen reports that it does this even before it reaches such mileage. I have a 2006 Nissan Maxima worst car I have ever bought I will never ever buy another Nissan product. The car violently jerks into gear when coming to a stop or driving off, this problem has been identified by many owners and Nissan has done nothing. I have spent 1800 hundred dollars replacing the engine mounts and the car still jerks. The car is paid for and I will not spend anymore replacing the transmission because that would cost more than what the car is worth.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Nissan Maxima. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle suddenly jerked independently. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the motor mount failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic (the contact's brother) and repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact's brother then diagnosed that the motor mount failed because the transmission was not shifting properly. The vehicle was not repaired again. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Nissan Maxima. While driving 20 MPH, the vehicle suddenly pulled to the right and the contact crashed into the vehicle next to him. The contact's vehicle flipped over several times. She sustained injuries to her left arm. No one else was injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle is currently being diagnosed by the contact's insurance company. Prior to the crash, she noticed that the vehicle would stall while driving at any speed. The current and failure mileages were 38,500.
Engine complaints in other Maxima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2006 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA has 71 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2006 Nissan Maxima, 12% of the model year's 576 complaints. The component named most often is engine (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Nissan Maxima engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling 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 engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 2 fires and 2 injuries to engine & cooling 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.