Traction Control complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 | 6% | 61,000 miles |
| 2017 | 3 | 3% | 30,000 miles |
| 2016 | 5 | 4% | 51,000 miles |
| 2014 | 2 | 2% | 40,000 miles |
| 2013 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2011 | 5 | 5% | 114,000 miles |
| 2010 | 4 | 1% | 82,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 1% | 76,000 miles |
| 2007 | 3 | 2% | 129,000 miles |
| 2006 | 19 | 3% | 105,000 miles |
| 2005 | 8 | 1% | 98,000 miles |
| 2004 | 8 | 1% | 86,000 miles |
| 2003 | 3 | 1% | 123,000 miles |
| 2002 | 3 | 1% | 150,000 miles |
| 2001 | 1 | 1% | 120,000 miles |
| 2000 | 1 | 0% | 63,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (electronic stability control and traction control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The car is becomes unstable and difficult to control when going over bumps, even at moderate speeds (20+ MPH). When going over bumps, there is a loud thump / clunk / bang from the rear suspension - and then the rear of the car looses traction/stability. Nissan must be aware of a design issue issue as it has issued a TSB trying to solve the inferior bushings it chose for the rear suspension - service bulletin ntb17-107. However this does not solve the instability problem. I find myself driving at half the legal speeds to keep the car stable - the need to slow down for each bump is creating a road hazard. Driving on the same roads with my other cars at much higher speeds (road legal speeds), I do not experience anything like that. The stability control function does not seem to help and it lights up frequently when driving on bumpy roads. …
Car idling, jerking and hesitating at 30mph. When accelerating it does not. The car is going but from a slow speed going to a higher MPH, it will stay stuck and if you floor it, it just won't move. This is dangerous. It's happened on the freeway three times. Now the brake fluid is leaking everywhere. This is a second issue. Transmission. Engine. CVT, ECM issue and mass air flow sensor and pvc sensor must not be on correctly. I have videos. The service dept has seen them but they can't seem to duplicate the issue.
I went in a restaurant and when I came out to start my car it would not start out of now where no warning signs it just made some clicking sound like it was attempting to start but would not catch. I replaced the battery but the engine light was on and it lacked power. It would not accelerate past 60 with it being floored... I had diagnostic done which gave me a could that the ECM (electric control module) shorted..
On my way to work as I was driving down the highway my 2011 Nissan Maxima all of the sudden would no longer speed up. The vehicle was on and as I tried to accelerate while driving down the highway the speedometer went to 0 MPH but the RPM would climb. I luckily was able to steer the car into an empty parking lot. My car had no check engine/service engine lights on. There were no warnings. I thought it was the speed sensor due to the original diagnostic code of p0500 and tried replacement but that did not solve the issue. My vehicle was towed to a Nissan dealership who said it was showing 'pages full of codes' and they told me that my transmission needed to be completely replaced and that 'it just happens.' prior to this total failure I experienced absolutely zero signs of transmission failure. …
My brake light and battery light come on at the same time. My went dead in the middle of a turn. I replaced the battery. Had the alternator checked. Was told it was fine. After a new battery my car runs fine but loses power and hesitates like its going to stall from take off or entering a turn and my brake and battery are still coming on at the same time. I googled the issue and it appears be a long standing issue no real resolution. I took it to autozone they did diagnostic test and I got code p0011 the same one I paid to be repaired previously.
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the front wheels. The stabili-trak and ABS warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the tire pressure warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed passenger's side CV axle, cracked struts on the front driver's side and front passenger's side. In addition, the axle on the front driver's side would need to be replaced soon. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 260,000.
Nissan has on its site that the newer model Nissan Maxima after 2009 does not have the escl malfunction (electric steering column lock) but I just experienced it two weeks ago after dropping off my daughter to school. Luckily I was in my driveway when it occurred. When the car goes into that state, the entire car is on lock down it will not move. It can happen to you anywhere and you can be stranded.Nissan knows it's a malfunction and they are refusing to make it a recall, plus they promised that it would not happen to the newer models after 2009 but it happened to me on 11/1/16. In the site they tell you what they will do but it is not honored.
When driving the car would loose power and not accelerate. Driving onto on ramp to highway and car would not accelerate and started to loose speed while merging. No lights came on dash or anything. Seems like the car went into limp mode or something.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Maxima years have traction control problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2006 (19), 2004 (8), 2005 (8), 2011 (5) and 2016 (5) model years. Traction Control complaints make up 3% of all complaints for the 2006.
Is there a recall for Nissan Maxima traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for any Nissan Maxima model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Nissan Maxima traction control problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 95,000 miles; 16% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic (asc) (1 mentions).
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.