Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Nissan Maxima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
THE FRAME IS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT ON MY 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH 158,000 MILES. MY MECHANIC HAD IT UP ON HIS LIFT LAST WEEK AND POINTED OUT THAT THE LEFT DRIVER SIDE PORTION HAD A BREAK IN IT AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ONE MORE POT HOLE AND THE ENGINE/TRANNY WILL BE IN THE STREET. WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN VEHICLE AGAIN.
I AM THE ORIGINAL AND CURRENT OWNER OF A 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH ABOUT 115,000 MILES. MY MECHANIC RECENTLY TOLD ME THAT THE MAXIMA NEEDS ABOUT $2000 OF BODY WORK DUE TO RUSTED FLOOR BOARDS AND ENGINE MOUNT. THE MAXIMA WAS IMMACULATELY KEPT IN A GARAGE FOR MOST OF ITS LIFE SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS RUST PROBLEM SHOULD BE HAPPENING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT NISSAN SHOULD ADDRESS AND RECTIFY.
I HAVE A 2000 MAXIMA WITH 150,000 MILES. I CARRIED IT FOR INSPECTION AND IT FAILED DUE TO THE FRONT END BEING RUSTED OUT. THE PIECE THAT HOLDS THE FRONT ENGINE MOUNT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT.
FRAME SECTIONS CRUMBLED, TOTAL RUST DETERIORATION, VEHICLE LOOKS GOOD BUT IS UNSAFE AND WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. *TR
VIN [XXX] WHEN I TRY AND DO A SEARCH WITH THIS VIN NUMBER, THIS MESSAGE APPEARS: "AN ERROR OCCURRED WITH YOUR REQUEST. RECALL INFORMATION FOR YOUR VEHICLE IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. PLEASE CONTACT NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. BY PHONE AT 1-800-647-7261 OR GO TO THEIR WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.NISSANUSA.COM/APPS/CONTACTUS?NEXT=FOOTE FOR RECALL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR VEHICLE." NISSAN HAS "ARCHIVED" THIS VIN AND WILL NOT ACTIVATE SO THAT I CAN DO A VIN SEARCH ON THIS WEBSITE OR ON NISSAN'S WEBSITE. I HAVE REQUESTED THAT THEY RE-ACTIVATE THIS VIN BUT THEY REFUSE TO DO SO. CAN YOU PERSUADE THEM TO ACTIVATE IT? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DROVE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION LOWER SUPPORT BEAM WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
WE OWN A 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA SE. WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH IT. AT AROUND 68,000 MILES WE HAD TO PAY AROUND $1000 TO REPLACE ALL OF THE IGNITION COIL WIRES ON THE CAR BECAUSE IT WOULD STALL AND QUIT RUNNING. WE TOOK IT TO WALLACE NISSAN IN KINGSPORT TENNESSEE AND HAD IT REPAIRED. THEY TOLD US THEN THAT IT WAS A " KNOWN ISSUE" WITH NO OFFICIAL RECALL FROM NISSAN SO WE WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE FULL COST OUT OF POCKET. NEXT WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD THESE "NOISES" IN THE FRONT WHEELS THAT THEY KEEP TELLING US IS FROM RUSTED BRAKE DUST SHIELDS. NOW THE CAR VIBRATES ALL OVER THE ROAD, GOING TO A MECHANIC TOMORROW, MOST LIKELY RACK & PINION ISSUE. WHILE UNDER THE HOOD TODAY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE STEERING ISSUE, HUBBY NOTICED THAT THE BRACE THAT HOLDS THE MOTOR & RADIATOR IS SEVERELY RUSTED....WE'VE REPLACED MULTIPLE O2 SENSORS, MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS, CONSTANT ISSUES WITH BRAKES SINCE WE'VE OWNED THIS THING... ETC ETC NISSAN HAS MAJOR ISSUES WITH THIS CAR FROM WHAT I AM READING..... WHAT A SHAME THEY REFUSE TO FIX THEIR MISTAKES. *TR
THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE CAR AND IT WAS TIME FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE PAINT JOB HAS DETERIORATED BADLY EVEN I HAD KEPT IT CLEAN AND WAXED. *TR
THE SUB FRAME IS RUSTING OUT. THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT IS ONLY PARTIALLY ATTACHED AS THE MAIN BEAM IS SEVERELY RUSTED. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON SOMETHING SO DANGEROUS, AS A FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT CAN RESULT IN THE HOOD LATCH GIVING WAY OR THE MOTOR DROPPING FROM THE CAR. *TR
I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT THE SUB FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT IS ONLY PARTIALLY ATTACHED AS THE MAIN BEAM IS SEVERELY RUSTED. HE TOLD ME THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON SOMETHING SO DANGEROUS, AS A FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT CAN RESULT IN THE HOOD LATCH GIVING WAY OR THE MOTOR DROPPING FROM THE ENGINE. *TR
THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT BEAM IS SEVERELY CORRODED IN THE CENTER WHERE THE LOWER ENGINE MOUNT BRACKET IS BOLTED. THIS IS ALSO WHERE THE HOOD LATCH BRACKET IS ATTACHED. THE REMAINDER OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE SUB-FRAME COMPONENTS ARE RELATIVELY INTACT. *TR
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. MOTORCYCLES EVERYWHERE. TRAFFIC. IM IN THE FAR LANE ON THE BELTWAY AND MY EXITS COMING UP. MOTORCYCLES EVERYWHERE. HEAVY TRAFFIC TOO BUT ITS MOVING. I CANT CUT OFF THE MOTORCYCLES. SO I WAIT TO PASS THEM. IM MERGING, LOOKING TO THE SIDE, LOOKING BEHIND ME. I WASN'T PAYING TO MUCH ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS COMING UP IN FRONT OF ME. I MEAN, WHAT ELSE IS THERE BUT CARS IN FRONT OF ME. THAT'S ALL I NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR RIGHT? SO I THOUGHT. I MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT LANE, MERGING INTO EXIT LANE. "OH NO!" THERE'S A CURB. A TRIANGLE CURB RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I SWERVE TO MY LEFT. REAR RIGHT TIRE HITS THE CURB AND TAKES LIFT OFF. AND SO DOES THE CAR, RIGHT INTO THE CENTER OF THE BELTWAY. I HAVE IT, I CAN FEEL ME GAINING CONTROL. THEN I FEEL THE FRONT TIRES LOOSE IT. AND THERE'S THE WALL. SMACK. FACE FIRST. SPIN AROUND ONE GOOD TIME. ROLL TO A STOP PERFECTLY ON THE SMALL SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. WELL IM STICKING OUT A LITTLE BUT IM OUT OF THE WAY. NO ONE HIT ME. NO OTHER ACCIDENTS WERE CAUSED. ONLY ONE COUPLE STOPPED BUT THAT'S OK. AND ONLY AFTER THE SHAKING WORE OFF, AND I STOPPED CRYING DID I REALIZE. "HEY, WHY DIDN'T THE AIR BAGS GO OFF?" THIS WAS A PRETTY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THERE'S FRAME DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR. TOTALED! EVERYONE WAS OK. NECK PAINS AND A BRUISED KNEE. BUT CONSIDERING THE CONDITIONS OF THIS ACCIDENT, IT COULD HAVE GONE WAY WORST. AND NO AIRBAGS? *TR
MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE WAS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE REAR SUBFRAME RUSTING. THE RUST PROBLEM ON MY MAXIMA CONCERNS A COMPONENT AT LEAST AS IMPORTANT AS THE SUBFRAME ON THE SUBARU. THE VEHICLE HAS A METAL RADIATOR SUPPORT AT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THAT RUNS THE WIDTH OF THE CAR. THIS RADIATOR SUPPORT NOT ONLY HOLDS THE RADIATOR UP, BUT IS ALSO CONNECTED TO AN ENGINE SUPPORT IN THE CENTRE. THIS RADIATOR SUPPORT IS RUSTING THROUGH RIGHT IN THE CENTRE WHERE THE ENGINE SUPPORT BOLTS TO THE RAD SUPPORT. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD ON THE 2000-2003 AND THE 1995 - 1999 MAXIMA. A GOOGLE SEARCH WILL REVEAL THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM. IMAGINE THE CONSEQUENCES IF THE RAD SUPPORT SHOULD FAIL AND THUS, THE ENGINE BECOME UNSUPPORTED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION? WHETHER THIS IS POOR METAL QUALITY, OR A LACK OF PROPER RUSTPROOFING PAINT (AS IT WAS WITH THE OUTBACK) I DON'T KNOW. THERE ARE VEHICLES OUT THERE WITH MINOR RUST IN OTHER MAJOR COMPONENTS, BUT A COMPLETELY ROTTED RADIATOR SUPPORT. I BELIEVE SOME INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA IS WARRANTED. I'M IN CANADA, BUT THIS PROBLEM IS RAMPANT IN THE US AS WELL. *TR
RADIATOR SUPPORT ON MY 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA IS ROTTED ON THE BOTTOM CENTER. I FOUND OUT COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WONDERING WHAT WAS THE NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT END. WHILE DRIVING ON THE THROUGH WAY, AT 55MPH I COULD SEE MY HOOD SHAKING IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE ITS GOING FLY OUT WHICH IS KINDA SCARY, BASICALLY THE HOOD LATCH THAT IS ON THE RADIATOR SUPPORT IS LOOSE, BECAUSE THE ROD THAT HOLDS THE HOOD LATCH IS ROTTED AND BROKE FROM THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT, IT LOOKS LIKE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT CAN BRAKE ANYTIME IN HALF FROM THE CENTER, WHICH WOULD DROP THE MOTOR DOWN WHILE IM ON THE ROAD. AND THIS I HAVE SEEN ON MANY MAXIMA OF THIS GENERATION AND MANY MAXIMA OWNERS OF THIS GENERATION OF MAXIMA 2000-2003 TALK ABOUT IT. *TR
MY SON WAS DRIVING THIS CAR AND HEARD THE ENGINE MAKING UNUSUAL NOISE AND A CLUNKING NOISE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND FOUND OUT THE FRONT SUB FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT ISN'T ATTACHED TO ANYTHING. THE MOTOR ISN'T SUPPORTED UP FRONT. HE TOLD ME THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON SOMETHING SO DANGEROUS. I'M FILING THIS REPORT IN CASE I HAVE TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AT A LATER DATE. *TR
MY VEHICLE, AS WITH MANY NISSAN MAXIMA'S FROM 2000 TO 2003, IS AFFECTED BY A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR CORE SUPPORT. THE PART IS EXTREMELY PRONE TO RUSTING AND DECAYING WHILE THE SURROUNDING PARTS REMAIN INTACT. THE PART ON MY CAR HAS DEVELOPED HOLES AND CHUNKS ARE CONSTANTLY FALLING OFF, POSSIBLY CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
I RECENTLY HAD MY TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED (NOV. 2010) ON MY 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA SE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RADIATOR SUPPORT IS CORRODED WITH RUST DUE TO VERY POOR QUALITY. I WAS TOLD BY THE AUTO MECHANIC THAT THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING AND THAT IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THIS COULD RESULT IN THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION FALLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD TO FILE A COMPLAINT SINCE THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING WITH MANY NISSAN MAXIMAS. *TR
I HAVE A MODEL YEAR 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA. I ALSO OWNED A 1990 NISSAN MAXIMA AND A 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA ALL WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THE RADIATOR SUPPORT RUSTS OUT COMPLETELY AND ITS NOT DUE TO RADIATOR FAILURE OR ACCIDENT DAMAGE. THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THESE CARS NEED TO BE BETTER PROTECTED FROM THE WEATHER OR BETTER QUALITY PARTS NEED TO BE USED. BUT SPECIFICALLY THE RADIATOR SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN THESE MAXIMAS ARE OF VERY POOR QUALITY. FAILURE OF THESE PARTS WOULD RESULT IN THE ENGINE AND OR TRANSMISSION FALLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
2000 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH CORRODED MOUNT FOR ENGINE CENTER MOUNT THAT IS ALLOWING ENGINE TO DISLODGE FROM CAR'S CHASSIS. FAILED ANNUAL INSPECTION. *TR
THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT (TIE BAR) HAS RUSTED OUT TO THE POINT THAT IT IS AFFECTING THE ALIGNMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE RUST IS CONCENTRATED AROUND THE PLACE WHERE THE LOWER ENGINE SUPPORT BOLTS TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. IT IS ENTIRELY CONCEIVABLE THAT THE ENGINE COULD CAUSE THE LOWER ENGINE SUPPORT TO BREAK FREE FROM THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT. ADDITIONALLY, THE EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE CRASH PERFORMANCE ON THIS PART OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
2000 MAXIMA ENGINE FAILED. PISTON ROD BROKE INTO PIECES AND TOTALLY DAMAGED THE ENGINE. *TS THE ROTORS WERE TURNED AND THE DOORS WERE HARD TO OPEN. THE DRIVE BELTS WERE REPLACED. *JB THE DECK LID LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PULL OUT THE DIP STICK. UPDATED 03/20/06. *JB
VEHICLE KEEPS PULLING TO RIGHT.*AK THERE IS A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE WHILE DRIVING. UNEVEN HEATING AND DEFROST IMPROPER. THEFT WARNING ALARM WILL SOUND FOR NO REASON. TRUNK AND HOOD IS ASYMMETRICAL. VEHICLE GETS BAD GAS MILEAGE. *SLC
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .