Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Nissan Maxima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT BAR AND SURROUNDING LOWER STRUCTURE STARTED RUSTING AWAY AFTER ABOUT 4-5 YEARS FROM NEW. THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT IS NOW ALMOST ENTIRELY GONE. THE DEALER QUOTED $5400 TO REPAIR. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE REP THAT IF/WHEN THE CORE SUPPORT LET GO, THE ENGINE COULD FALL CAUSING A WRECK.
I WAS TRAVELING ON SOUTH BOWENS MILL RD. IN DOUGLAS GA WHEN A VEHICLE THAT HAVE ON THEIR TURN SIGNAL INVOLVED ME HITTING THE BACK OF HER VEHICLE. THERE WASN'T MUCH DAMAGE TO HER VEHICLE BUT MY VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED SEVERELY. THE AIRBAG SHOULD'VE CAME OUT BUT DIDN'T. IN 2015, I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM NISSAN STATING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON NISSAN AIRBAGS, SO I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN TIFTON, GA. I'M NOT EVEN SURE IF THEY REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG OR NOT BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABOUT TO CLOSE WHEN THEY BEGAN TO WORK ON MY VEHICLE. MY APPOINTMENT WAS AT 9AM AND I DIDN'T GET OUT OF THEIR TO CLOSING. THE EMPLOYEES WAS READY TO GO ABOUT THE TIME THEY BEGAN TO WORK ON MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, LOOKING AT THE DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE, THE AIRBAG SHOULD'VE CAME OUT BUT IT DIDN'T. I WILL BE SUBMITTING PHOTOS OF DAMAGES.
THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT BEAM RUSTED OUT CAUSING THE ENGINE SUPPORT TO BRAKE FREE FROM THE BEAM. NOW THE ENTIRE LOWER SUPPORT BEAM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH COST OF LABOR AND PARTS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO ALL THE CAR WEBSITES AND THE YOUTUBE VIDEOS SHOWING HOW TO CHANGE OUT THE BEAM. I DO NOT SEE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS. FOR AS MANY PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. PEOPLE WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM 5 YRS AGO ACCORDING TO THE VIDEOS AND REPORTS. ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THIS TYPE OF CORROSION ISSUES WITH THIS NISSAN MODEL AND YEAR. ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT CAN OCCUR WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IF THE BEAM BREAKS WHILE IN MOTION AT HIGH SPEED. THERE ARE STILL A LARGE NUMBER OF THIS YEAR AND MAKE ON THE STREET AND NO WARNINGS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC.
WENT TO FIX THE PASSENGER AIR BAG RECALL AND DEALER INFORMED THAT FRONT CROSS FRAME/BAR'S METAL IS FALLING APART BECAUSE OF SEVERE CORROSION/RUSTING WHICH IS MAIN SUPPORT FOR THE RADIATOR AND THE ENGINE. ALSO ADVISED THAT IT'S HIGHLY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE SINCE ENGINE/RADIATOR CAN JUST FALL ANYTIME WHEN IT LACKS THE SUPPORT. WHEN NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS IS APPROACHED THEY FAILED TO ADMIT THE DEFECTIVE MATERIAL USED BUT RESPONDED THAT VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT COVER. ALSO OBSERVED SIMILAR RECENT COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS, HOPE OUR COMPLAINTS GETS FURTHER ATTENTION AND CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED. *TR
FRONT CROSS SUB FRAME STEAL DEFECT. SO RUSTED...ENGINE AND TRANS COULD DROP LEADING TO IMMINENT DANGER. *TR
AFTER HEARING A RATTLE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR, I FOUND THAT THE FRAME SUPPORT UNDER THE RADIATOR WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND FULL OF LARGE HOLES FOR ABOUT 8 INCHES AT THE CENTER OF THE BEAM. THIS POINT IN THE BEAM IS WHERE THE ENGINE SUPPORT BEAM AND FRONT HOOD LATCH SUPPORT ARE BOLTED. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP WHICH TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED 'NUMEROUS' NISSAN MAXIMA'S WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. AS THE RUSTED AREA SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND HOOD LATCH, IT APPEARS THAT IT SEVERELY COMPROMISES THE INTEGRITY OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR, BOTH FROM AN ENGINE SUPPORT PERSPECTIVE AND IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN IN THE NORTHEAST WHERE SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER, BUT THE REST OF THE UNDERBODY HAS NO SIGNIFICANT RUST LIKE WHAT IS FOUND ON THIS BEAM. IN SEARCHING YOUR DATABASE, I FOUND NO DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS OR SAFETY RECALLS, BUT DID SEE TWO OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. AT THE VERY LEAST, THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS, AS IT APPEARS TO BE MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD THAN THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN. I'M NOT A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, BUT IF YOU SAW THE CONDITION OF THIS STRUCTURAL POINT IN THE CAR, YOU WOULD NOT DRIVE IT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE SERVICE, THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM THAT THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS SEVERELY ROTTED AND NEARLY FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000. UPDATED 10/04/11*LJ UPDATED 01/20/12
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE STRUCTURE OF THE FRONT RADIATOR SUPPORT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE OF CORROSION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 152000.
VEHICLE WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL REGARDING THE SUSPENSION DUE TO THE VIN, BUT EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM STATED ON THE RECALL. *LA 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. *SC *JB
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
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