RoadVitals

2001 Nissan Maxima Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest May 1, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 172 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. 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. 12 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.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system
Filed May 1, 2014

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. IDENTIFIED THAT THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE AND GASKET NEED TO BE REPLACED. IDENTIFIED ALSO THAT ECM IS NOW BURNED OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10586020
Incident
May 31, 2013
Mileage
148,746 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceSuspension
Filed Apr 2, 2014

I WAS AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL AND IT WOULD GO. I HAD TO USE EXTREME FORCE FOR THE CAR TO GO. EVER SINCE FEBRUARY 2014, ITS BEEN HAPPENING EVERY DAY. I'M SCARED THE GAS PEDAL'S GOING TO GET STUCK AND ILL CRASH. WHEN I TURN I HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TIRE/SUSPENSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10576786
Incident
Feb 1, 2014
Mileage
187,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 8, 2010

I BOUGHT A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA BRAND NEW IN JUNE 2001. ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING IN 2004 I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE RACING. IT DID STOP AFTER A FEW SECONDS BUT I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD CAR MECHANIC. HE COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT FOUND A DEFECTIVE AIR POLLUTION PART AND REPLACED IT. THE NEXT DAY, WHILE WAITING TO TAKE A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY RACED AGAIN AND WITH ME PRACTICALLY STANDING ON THE BRAKE WE SLID ACROSS THE INTERSECTION HEADED TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY PEOPLE SLOWED ENOUGH FOR ME TO SLIDE ACROSS THE INTERSECTION WITH RUBBER BURNING, ENGINE WHINING, ETC. A FEW SECONDS LATER IT STOPPED. I WAS ONLY ABOUT A MILE FROM THE DEALER THAT I HAD PURCHASED IT FROM SO I IMMEDIATELY DROVE THERE AND PULLED INTO THE SERVICE DEPT. AREA. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T LOOK AT IT TODAY BUT COME BACK TOMMORROW. I SAID THAT I WASN'T ABOUT TO KEEP DRIVING IT WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THAT I COULD PARK IT IN THEIR LOT AND THEY WILL LOOK AT IT TOMMORROW. I SAID "YOU CAN PARK IT IN YOUR LOT, I'M NOT DRIVING IT." THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED AND SAID IT MUST BE SOMETHING WITH THE ONBOARD COMPUTER AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE IT, COST $1100 NOT UNDER WARRANTY. WHAT COULD I DO? SO OF COURSE I DID IT AND COMPLAINED BUT IT APPEARS TO HAVE FIXED IT SINCE IT HASN'T HAPPENED AGAIN. I STILL OWN IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10354432
Incident
Sep 1, 2004
Mileage
75,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Mar 22, 2010

WE OWN A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA, WHICH WE PURCHASED NEW FROM A NISSAN DEALER. IT HAS, ON 3 OCCASIONS, EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH "SURGING"/HIGH REVVING.*DT THE CAUSE IN EVERY CASE HAS BEEN A PART KNOWN AS AN "IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE" (IACV), WHICH FAILS AND IN DOING SO, CAUSES THE "ECM" (THE "ENGINE COMPUTER") TO FAIL. WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT HITACHI IS THE SOLE SOURCE FOR THE IACV, WHETHER THE PART IS OBTAINED FROM A NISSAN DEALER OR ANY OTHER SOURCE UNDER ANY OTHER BRAND. THIS ISSUE IS APPARENTLY A PARTICULARLY WELL-KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL SERIES OF VEHICLE, BOTH NISSAN AND INFINITI. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE HAD THIS ISSUE, IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED BY NISSAN. HOWEVER, THE SAME ISSUE HAS RECURRED ON 2 SUBSEQUENT OCCASIONS, AND BOTH TIMES NISSAN HAS WHOLLY FAILED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. WE HAVE REPEATEDLY ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH NISSAN, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, NISSAN CONSUMER RELATIONS, NISSAN'S VP OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, THE "EXECUTIVE OFFICES" ESCALATION DEPARTMENT, ETC., ALL WITH NO SUBSTANTIVE RESPONSE FROM NISSAN BEYOND THEIR STATING THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, IT ISN'T NISSAN'S PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT IN THIS LATEST OCCURRENCE, NISSAN INITIALLY STATED THAT THEIR REFUSAL TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WAS DUE TO OUR ALLEGEDLY HAVING INSTALLED "AN AFTERMARKET ECM" (WE HAD NOT). HOWEVER, WHEN THE NISSAN DEALER CONFIRMED TO NISSAN THAT THE ECM WAS IN FACT A FACTORY NISSAN PART, AND WE DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "AN AFTERMARKET ECM," NISSAN THEN REFUSED TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION. FROM OUR LAYPERSON'S INVESTIGATION OF THIS ISSUE, IT APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW IN THE CIRCUITRY, AND IS GENERALLY WIDELY KNOWN IN THE REPAIR INDUSTRY, BY ENTHUSIASTS, MAJOR AUTO REVIEWING COMPANIES, ETC. THEREFORE, IT SEEMS THAT NISSAN'S CLAIM TO NOT KNOW OF THIS ISSUE IS DISINGENUOUS AT BEST. *TR *DT

NHTSA ID
10321367
Incident
Feb 1, 2010
Mileage
40,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 1, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. AFTER HAVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REPAIRED, IT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. HE ALSO EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THEY WOULD RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR TWO DAYS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. HE NISSAN MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ID
10315218
Incident
Feb 23, 2010
Mileage
95,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Apr 26, 2009

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, HAD TO REPLACE IDLE CONTROL MODULE TWICE FOR 500.00 EACH TIME BECAUSE ENGINE DIAGNOSIS INDICATED FAILURE. CAR DOES NOT START RIGHT AWAY, HAD TO PRESS PEDAL LIGHTLY TO RESTART EVEN AFTER IDLE CONTROL FIXED. FAILED SMOG CHECK, DISCOVERED CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED, HAD TO REPLACE FOR 800.00 FURTHER DIAGNOSIS: IGNITION COIL NUMBER 4 AND AIR FLOW METER FAILED, SERVICEMAN SAID THIS IS RATHER COMMON WITH MAXIMA. *TR

NHTSA ID
10266731
Incident
Mar 10, 2009
Mileage
120,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 22, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVERAL 02 SENSORS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED AROUND 60,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 120,000 MILES. WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY TRAVEL 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED FOR THE SPEED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 150,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID
10191429
Incident
Apr 25, 2003
Mileage
40,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Mar 20, 2007

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND DECELERATING THE CAR BEGAN TO SLIGHTLY BUCK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION TRIED TO DOWN SHIFT. AFTER APPROXIMATELY ONE TO TWO MINUTES I SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL BURN. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK THE ENGINE RACED TO APPROXIMATELY 1600 TO 1900 RPMS AT IDLE. THE OBD-II INDICATED CODES OF P0505: IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE AND P0420: THREE WAY CATALYST FUNCTION. MY LOCAL MECHANIC INSPECTED THE CAR AND REPLACED THE FAULTY IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. HE CONTACTED THE LOCAL NISSAN SERVICE SHOP, AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE FAILED AND SHORTED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, ECM. THIS SEEMED TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM THE DEALER NOTED, AND CURRENTLY HAD ANOTHER 2001 MAXIMA IN THE SHOP THAT WAS EXHIBITING THE SAME FAILURES. THE DEALER INSPECTED MY CAR AND REPORTED THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE FAILED AND SHORTED THE ECM. THE FAILURE OF THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE SHOULD NOT SHORT THE ECM. THIS IS A DESIGN FAILURE AND SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CAR OWNER. THE ECM IS A $915 PART PLUS LABOR. THE ECM WAS REPLACED. THIS IS SIMILAR TO ODI ID NUMBERS: 10179328 AND 10179390. *AK

NHTSA ID
10185642
Incident
Mar 15, 2007
Mileage
95,025 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 23, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE DURING DRY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING REDUCING TO 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF OF THE INTERSTATE. AFTER SITTING FOR A WHILE AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE RAN NORMALLY. THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. AT TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD REDUCE IN SPEED AND OTHER TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. DURING EACH INCIDENT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. BOTH THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10166290
Incident
Aug 23, 2006
Mileage
79,200 mi
BrakesHeating & air conditioningDriver assistance+1 more
Filed Aug 11, 2003

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S FRONT ROTORS. *MR THIS WAS THE CONSUMER'S THIRD SET OF FRONT ROTORS AND THE LATEST SET WARPED. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND PULLED TO THE SIDE WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR BRAKE WORK SIX TIMES. THE CONSUMER OWNED MANY NISSAN'S AND STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST MAJOR PROBLEM EVER EXPERIENCED. THERE WAS STILL A SLIGHT VIBRATION COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES, MOANING/GROANING SOUNDS FROM THE FRONT RIGHT, CREAKING/POPPING WHEN TURNING, WHEN SETTING THE CRUISE AT 70 MPH(CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS NOT PROPERLY ADJUSTED), IT FELT AS IF THE GAS WAS APPLIED, AND BUMPS COULD BE FELT IN THE ROAD THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. *SCC. IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR THE AIR CONDITION TO COOL THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10033931
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 12, 2003

VEHICLE SPEED DIAL INDICATOR STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS COULD BE AS A RESULT OF A SENSOR FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10022954
Mileage
82,732 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed May 3, 2002
Crash reported

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, CONSUMER SHIFTED TO PARK, INSTANTLY VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND HIT THE GARAGE WALL. DAMAGE WAS $5000.00. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT BODY SHOP, NOT INSPECTED BY DEALER.*AK *YD

NHTSA ID
8009123
Incident
Mar 22, 2002

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.

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