Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 27 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.
The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA SE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AS THE ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A COMPLETE STOP BUT WAS RESTARTED LATER AND THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A RECURRING ISSUE AND THE DEALER HAD PREVIOUSLY MADE REPAIRS TO THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE AND THE WIRING FOR THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE, TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE AUTO AIR CONTROL VALVE FAILED AND CAUSED THE COMPUTER TO BURN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE AUTO AIR CONTROL VALVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109,000. UPDATED 07/21/11 *BF UPDATED 07/29/11
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUNIMATED PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.
THE 2001 NISSAN MAXIM ECU BURNED UP WITHOUT ANY WARNING. WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS CHECK IT DID NOT INDICATE ANY CODE. THERE SHOULD BE A FUSE THAT WOULD PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR
2001 NISSAN MAXIMA EXHIBITING DIFFICULTY STARTING 3-4 TIMES, THEN DYING AT IDLE. THEN IT WOULD START, BUT DIE WHEN PUT IN GEAR. WE HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER - THEY SAY "BAD ENGINE MOUNTS" CAUSED THE WIRING HARNESS TO SHORT OUT, DESTROYING IT, THE ECM, AND THE IAC VALVE. THEY QUOTE 3875 TO REPAIR, AND SAY THAT SOMETIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE AIR FUEL METER NEEDS REPLACING TOO. FROM READING OTHER REPORTS, I DOUBT THE "BAD ENGINE MOUNTS" STORY. THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN ISSUE THAT HAS HAPPENED IDENTICALLY ON THIS MAKE/MODEL YEAR. WE ALSO HAVE UNEXPLAINED ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS, THAT CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY A FEW MONTHS AGO ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THEY REPLACED THE AIR FUEL METER WHICH FIXED THE ENGINE LIGHT. I SUSPECT THE HARNESS WAS DETERIORATED THEN, CAUSED THE AFM TO FAIL AND THE PHONY WARNING LIGHTS, AND NOW IT HAS DETERIORATED FURTHER. CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, SERVICED REGULARLY, DEALER SAID NOTHING ABOUT ENGINE MOUNTS WHEN IN FOR THE AFM REPLACEMENT A FEW MONTHS AGO. WE DID NOT HAVE A FIRE, AND WHEN THE CAR DIED IN TRAFFIC WE GOT THE POLICE THERE QUICKLY TO CONTROL TRAFFIC, BUT ONLY AFTER SEVERAL NEAR REAR-END COLLISIONS. AS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH RISK OF FIRE OR ACCIDENT, THIS SHOULD BE ESCALATED. *TR
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
THE "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT IS ON. A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER FOUND ONE IGNITION COIL FAILED. THE DEALER SUGGESTED TO REPLACE ALL THE COILS SINCE THEY WILL FAIL ONE BY ONE SOON. I HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE 6 COILS AT THE PRICE OF ~$800. THIS APPARENTLY IS A DEFECT OF THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
SERVICE ENGINE SOON INDICATOR- MISFIRE-COIL PACKS NISSAN REPAIR DIRECTIVE IS TO REPLACE ALL SIX COIL PACKS WHETHER GOOD OR NOT. THESE FAILED AT 48K MILES. VERY EXPENSIVE $600, $350 FOR LABOR AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY NISSAN. THEY ARE MAKING THE CONSUMER PAY FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAWS NEVER BUYING A NISSAN AGAIN.. *TR
CAR RUNNING ROUGH. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON. TOOK TO DEALER, TOLD THAT (1) IGNITION COIL BAD BUT HAVE TO REPLACE ALL (6) PER NISSAN REPAIR DIRECTIVE. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WIT 01 MAXIMA, NISSAN ISSUED TSB, BUT NO RECALL. *TR
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES OVER EVER 5 MONTHS. EVERY TIME ITS A CYLINDER MISFIRE BECAUSE OF ONE OR MORE IGNITION COILS. THIS STARTED HAPPENING SINCE 40,000 MILES. WHEN A ENGINE MISFIRES THE CAR SPUTTERS AND THE CES LIGHT COMES ON. THIS JUST KEEPS HAPPENING AND I'VE SPENT OVER $2000 FOR JUST THIS SAME ISSUE. THE INCIDENT DATE POSTED IS THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED BUT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 2004. *TR
NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASES NEW IN '01. FROM REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR, STRONG SHUTTER IN BREAKS EVEN AFTER REPLACING TWICE AND NEEDS AGAIN, REPLACED REAR OXYGEN SENSORS TWICE WITH NOW A THIRD NEEDED, REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, AND NOW VEHICLE IS OUT OF COMMISSION DUE TO NEEDING A NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM, IDLE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR, AND REAR O2 SENSORS(AGAIN)! ALSO A LEAKING POWER STEERING PUMP AND POWER WINDOW MOTORS ARE NEAR DEATH. I UNDERSTAND WEAR AND TEAR ON A VEHICLE BUT THIS IS AN EXTREME CASE! POTENTIAL EPA ISSUES DUE TO THE OXYGEN SENSORS FAILING TIME AFTER TIME. *CN
I HAVE READ MANY HORRIFIC STORIES ABOUT PEOPLES IGNITION COILS GOING BAD....I HAVE A FEELING MY COILS ARE HEADED FOR DOOM SOON. I HAVE A 2001 MAXIMA GLE, LOVE THE CAR, BUT NISSAN REALLY NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS. JUST BECAUSE OF THIS AND MANY OTHER PROBLEMS I'VE HAD, I DON'T THINK I WOULD EVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN. GO HONDA!! *TR
2001 MAXIMA 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION. HAD TO REPLACE ALL THREE OXYGEN SENSORS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AND RECENTLY THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. THE BOSE RADIO BLEW UP RECENTLY. THE RADIO BLEW UP WHILE DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK. POPPING SOUNDS THEN SMOKE FILLED MY CAR AND WITH AN AWFUL ODOR ALSO REPLACED FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ON PASSENGER SIDE TWICE WITHIN 3 MONTHS. REPLACED WHEEL BEARINGS ON FRONT DRIVERS' SIDE .
RECENTLY THE "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND SAID ONE COIL FAILED BUT THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING ALL SIX IGNITION COILS, BECAUSE THE OTHER ONES WILL FAIL ONE BY ONE SOON. *JB
PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS (AIRBAG LIGHT)/O2 SENSORS/ALTERNATOR/STARTUPS. *NM
7/6/06 SMELLED STRANGE ODOR 30 MINUTES LATER MY 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA LOST TOTAL POWER IN THE FAST LANE, ALL GAUGES WENT TO ZERO, HEARD A HISSING SOUND AS I DODGED TRUCKS GOING BY AT 80 MPH AS I COASTED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THE BATTERY WAS SQUIRTING FLUID OUT OF ALL THE VENT CAPS. I CALLED THE NEAREST DEALER IN WILKES-BARRE, PA AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR FOR A WEEK! I MADE THE DECISION TO TOW IT TO BRENNER NISSAN IN MECHANICSBURG,PA(90 MILES, $346 TOW BILL). THEY MADE AN INITIAL INSPECTION 7/7 AND DETERMINED I HAVE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM! I HAVE GATHERED INFORMATION ON NISSAN MAXIMA PROBLEMS AND WILL MEET WITH THE DEALER 7/10 TO DETERMINE HOW THIS PROBLEM WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITHOUT INCURRING $1000'S IN SERVICE CHARGES. THEY SEEMED UNWILLING TO REPLACE THE BATTERY AND THEN SEE WHAT ELSE WAS BROKE. *JB
WE OWNED A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA FOR 2 1/2 YEARS. WE PUT AN ALTERNATIVE ON IT AND THEN ON DEC 23, 2005 WE SMELLED SMOKE INSIDE OF THE CAR SITTING IN OUR GARAGE. CAR WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT FIRE. THE MECHANIC SAID THE COMPUTER HAD BURNED UP ON THE CAR & HAD BURNED OUT NUMEROUS RELAYS AND SENSORS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ON FOR 3 MONTHS. THE DEALER CHECKED IT AND SAID IT WAS AN O2 SENSOR. WE REPLACED THE UPPER INTAKE, LOWER INTAKE, GASKETS, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, FUEL PRESSER SWITCH, O2 SENSORS, A COMPUTER. (ALL THE ABOVE ARE NISSAN DEALER PARTS!!) THE COMPUTER STILL WOULD NOT MAINTAIN THE CODES FOR IT TO PASS INSPECTION SO WE BOUGHT A NEW COMPUTER FROM NISSAN. THE DEALER FLASHED THE COMPUTER AND BURNED THE NEW COMPUTER UP IN HIS DEALERSHIP & NOW CLAIMS WE OWE HIM FOR THE NEW COMPUTER ALSO. WE HAVEN'T EVEN DRIVEN IT OFF THE LOT & HAVE SPENT $3000 JUST IN PARTS NOT INCLUDING THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR. THE SALISBURY NISSAN DEALER WILL NOT SEND THE COMPUTER BACK TO NISSAN & WILL NOT WARRANTY THE NEW COMPUTER & MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE DEC 23, 2005. TODAY IS 5/31/06. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN. *JB
I HAVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN ITS WIRING HARNESS THAT COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) AND THROTTLE BODY INJECTION SYSTEM CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL UNDER 1700 RPMS THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN RPMS DROPPED BELOW THE STATED THRESHOLD I HAVE LOOKED AT THE NHTSAS SERVICE BULLETINS AND COMPLAINT BULLETINS AND THESE WIRING HARNESS SHORTS SEEM TO BE A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH NISSANS VEHICLES ESPECIALLY THE MAXIMA MODEL AND ALSO FIRE RELATED SHORTS. I SPOKE WITH NISSANS COMPLAINT DIVISION AND THEY JUST SAID DUE TO MILES ITS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOT THEIR PROBLEM. AFTER LOOKING AT VARIOUS WEB SITES DEDICATED TO NISSAN PROBLEMS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM EVEN THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT NORMALLY THE ALTERNATOR BURNS OUT BEFORE THE ECM WITH THESE WIRING SHORTS BUT SAID I WAS ONE OF THE UNLUCKY ONES, THE LAST I HEARD WIRING HARNESSES ARE SUPPOSE TO BE STRAPPED DOWN AND NOT MOVING AND PROPERLY WRAPPED AND INSULATED SO VIBRATION DOES NO WEAR THROUGH BUT APPARENTLY NISSAN DOES NOT THINK SO. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND SAFETY DEFECT THAT NHTSA SHOULD LOOK AT.. ALSO I AM STUCK WITH A NINETEEN HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL FROM THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM NOT HAPPY. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. SIMCERELY JEFF NELSON NISSAN REF NO.# #4951395
THE TRUCK WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK
HIGHWAY DRIVING, CAR JERKS AND SPUTTERS, COULD CAUSE A CRASH SES LIGHT CAME ON, CAR IDLES ROUGH, CAR STALLS REPLACED ALL 6 IGNITION COILS, PROBLEM RECURRED A FEW DAYS LATER. *JB
I HAVE HAD A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH MY 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA COLD START SENSOR AND THE DEALER SAYS NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. HAS ANYONE ELSE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM? ALSO, I WAS NEVER SENT A RECALL FOR THE SUSPENSION, CONTROL ARM: LOWER ARM. IS IT TO LATE TO HAVE THIS REPLACED? WHY WAS I NOT CONTACTED OR WHY DEALER DIDN'T NOTIFY ME? WHAT CAN I DO BECAUSE MY FRONT END IS MAKING NOISES? *NM
CONTROL FOR HEAT & A/C REFUSED TO WORK. THERE WAS N HEAT IN THE CAR AND A/C LIGHT STAYED ON. DEALER ALLEGEDLY REPAIRED SAME AND IT LASTED A FEW MINUTES AND HEAT WENT OFF AGAIN. CURRENTLY SITUATION IS REVERSED I NOW HAVE HEAT BUT NO A/C. COMPLAINED TO NISSAN ON 11/11/03 - COMPLAINT #4329371, & 4/29/04 COMPLAINT #4521901
APPROX 1 MO AGO MY BATTERY AND BRAKE LIGHT WOULD LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO MECHANICAL EFFECT NOTED. THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TESTED GOOD AND THE CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN. THEN ONE DAY ON THE HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL AT 75 MPH THE LIGHTS CAME ON. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF BY ITSELF AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. DURING SLOWING TO EXIT THE THE HIGHWAY ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANELS BEGAN 'BOUNCING' WITH UNSTABLE READINGS AND THE ENGINE SEEMED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO DIE. I EXITED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE CAR REQUIRED A JUMP TO RESTART IT. I REPLACED THE BATTERY SINCE ONE CELL WAS PARTIALLY BAD. NONETHELESS, THE BATTERY AND BRAKE LIGHT HAVE COME ON AGAIN. NISSAN INDICATES A NEW ALTERNATOR IS REQUIRED ON THE CAR AT 3 YEARS OLD AND 45,700 MILES. *AK
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.
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