Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 35 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 35, in the owner's own words
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.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT AND CRANK SHAFT PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NO FURTHER DETAILS WERE AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
ENGINE CODES PO 420 AND PO 174. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT CONTROL ARM AND MOTOR MOUNT FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE LOWER RADIATOR TIE BAR WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN DRIVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE SIMILAR FAILURE OCCURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
DRIVING TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR BUCKED AND RANDOMLY ACCELERATED AND IDLED HIGH. LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE IAC VALVE HAD ANTIFREEZE THAT LEAKED THROUGH A GASKET CAUSING IT TO SHORT OUT. SHORTLY AFTER ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE VALVE SHORTING OUT ($200 PART) CAUSE THE ECM TO SHORT OUT. AFTER LABOR AND PARTS THIS TURNS A $200 REPAIR INTO OVER A $2000 REPAIR AND CAUSES FOR UNSAFE DRIVING DUE TO THE ERRATIC IDLE AND SURGING AT THE TIME WHEN THE VALVE SHORTS OUT. *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
MY CAR SEEMED TO NOT BE GETTING ENOUGH GAS AND NUMEROUS LIGHTS INCLUDING CHECK ENGINE ARE ON. MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP COULD ONLY FIGURE OUT IT WAS ONE OF THE COILS BUT TOLD ME NISSAN WOULD BE ABLE TO TELL ME WHICH ONE SO I WOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE ALL OF THEM. AFTER BRINGING MY CAR TO NISSAN I AM NOW TOLD I NEED TO REPLACE ALL THE COILS SINCE THEY ARE DEFECTIVE. NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR. *TR
IN FEB. 2008, MY MAXIMA 2001, WITH 55000 MILES, STALLED OUT AT A STOP LIGHT--IT WOULD START UP AGAIN BUT THEN STALLED OUT WHEN I TRIED TO GO. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE IAC VALVE AND THE ECM WERE BOTH REPLACED FOR ABOUT $1700. THEN, ON OCT. 20, 2008, 8 MONTHS LATER WITH THE MILEAGE JUST UNDER 60,000 MILES, THE SAME THING HAPPENED BUT IT WAS PRECEDED BY A SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($2000 PARTS AND LABOR) AND THE IAC VALVE AND THE ECM AGAIN NEEDED TO REPLACED (ANOTHER $1700). AT FIRST, THE DEALER SAID THAT THE IAC VALVE AND ECM WERE COVERED UNDER THE NEW PARTS WARRANTY, BUT THEN I WAS TOLD THAT IF IT WAS THE ENGINE HARNESS THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE IAC VALVE AND THE ECM, THEY WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND I'D HAVE TO PAY THE TOTAL BILL OF $3700! I STARTED A CASE FILE WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND WAS TOLD BY A REGIONAL SPECIALIST THAT NISSAN COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME SINCE THE PARTS WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. FROM THE INTERNET (AND NOT FROM THE DEALERSHIP), I LEARNED THAT THE ECM IS COVERED UNDER THE EPA SPECIFIED MAJOR EMISSION CONTROL COMPONENTS WARRANTY FOR 8 YEARS/80,000 MILES BUT NISSAN HAS DECLINED MY CLAIM, SAYING THAT THE IAC VALVE CAUSED THE FAILURE OF THE ECM THAT FIRST TIME IN FEB. 2008, SO THE ECM IS NOT COVERED BY THAT WARRANTY. THERE IS NO LANGUAGE IN THE EPA WARRANTY THAT STATES THAT AS AN EXCLUSION AND THERE IS NO LANGUAGE IN NISSAN'S OWN NEW PARTS WARRANTY THAT STATES THAT AS AN EXCLUSION (I.E., A NEW PART IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY IF ITS FAILURE IS CAUSED BY ANOTHER NON-WARRANTED PART). I HAVE READ ONLINE MANY, MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THESE PARTS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS HARM. BOTH TIMES I NARROWLY AVOIDED ACCIDENTS. NISSAN HASN'T BEEN WILLING TO HONOR THE WARRANTIES. I HAVE YET TO AUTHORIZE THE REPAIRS AND I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NEXT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THEN IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR CONTROL VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $550. THE CONTACT HAS NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE HE BELIEVES IT IS A SAFETY DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AT 87,000 MILES. I HAVE NOTICED THAT OTHER MAXIMA OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING (MPH UNKNOWN) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TWICE, STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AT 90,000 AND AGAIN AT 121,000 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TIMING CHAIN, GUIDE OR TENSIONER WORN. RATTLE NOISE COMING FROM TIMING CHAIN COVER WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP OR AT LOW END OF RPMS WHEN REVVING MOTOR IN NEUTRAL. COULD PUNCTURE TIMING CHAIN COVER, CAUSING LOSS OF OIL OR CHAIN COULD FAIL. DEALERS STATES THAT REMOVAL OF ENGINE IS REQUIRED FOR SERVICE , AND BY THE TIME LABOR AND PARTS ARE TOTALED, IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. D DEALERS STATE THAT THIS WAS A PART THAT SHOULD NOT REQUIRE SERVICE. COST OF REPLACEMENT $4,000, HALF OR MORE OF THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE, DEPENDING ON WHAT PRICE REFERENCE WAS USED.*AK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS ORDERED FROM THE DEALER, BUT THE NEW SENSOR ALSO FAILED. THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS SHORT-CIRCUITED THE AAC WHICH CAUSED IT TO BLOW. ONCE THE AAC FAILED THE ELECTRIC SHOCK BLEW OUT THE EMC. IN ORDER TO PROPERLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT MUST PAY ALMOST $3,000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS PUT IN THE IGNITION AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. HOWEVER, AS SOON AS THE PEDAL WAS RELEASED THE CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000. *AK
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
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. NO PROBLEM WITH CAR OR THE EMISSION OR ENVIORMENTAL EQUIPMENT. SPENT $100 TWICE FOR NISSAN ANALYSIS. THEY WANT $1400 FOR LIGHT TO GO OFF. RIDICULOUS. CALLED NISSAN USA AFTER SEEING MANY MAXIMA 2001 CARS HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM AND FRUSTRATION. RECOMMEND ANOTHER $100 ANALYSIS AND NO SUPPORT WHATSOEVER. NEVER BUYING NISSAN AGAIN.
2001 NISSAN MAXIMA : IN DECEMBER 2004 SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I PULLED CODE P0420. VEHICLE WAS UNDER 80,000 EMISSIONS WARRANTY. DEALER "REPROGRAMMED THE ECM". FEB 2007 AT 81,800 MILES, BUT WITHIN THE 96 MONTH WARRANTY, SAME CODE APPEARS, HOWEVER NOW DEALER SAYS THAT O2 SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER ARE BAD. DEALER SAYS O2 SENSOR DAMAGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER, YET NO CODE APPEARED FOR THE O2 SENSOR, AND VEHICLE WAS ONLY DRIVEN LESS THAN 2 DAYS WITH LIGHT ON. IN PROCESS OF DEALING WITH NISSAN NORTH AMERICA FOR REPLACEMENT. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS NEW OUT OF ALIGNMENT, AND ALIGNMENT WAS NEVER PERFECT. *NM
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2001IDLE AIR CONTROL (IAC VALVE) F AND THE ENGINE COMPUTER UNIT (ECU) FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT 3 MONTHS AGO HE HAD DEALERSHIP LOOK AT VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BURNED OUT ECU CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSES A LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY AND LOCKED UP OF THE BRAKES. *AK
TL* - WHILE DRIVING HIS 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA AT A SPEED OF 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED COMPLETELY LOSING POWER. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, AS WELL AS, LOSING THE ABILITY TO BRAKE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT RESTART THE VEHICLE SO HE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IDOL AIR CONTROL VALVES CAUSED THE COMPUTER TO SHORT CIRCUIT, AND THAT THIS SEEMED TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH EMISSION SYSTEM AND CATALYST CONVERTER, LIGHT SERVICE ENGINE WENT ON,AND I REPLACED OXYGEN SENSORS WHILE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY 2 TIMES. AND NOW I NEED TO SPENT $700 TO FIX WILL NEVER BUY NISSAN CARS AGAIN. *NM
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS BROKEN CAUSING ENGINE TO MISFIRE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. WANT $700 TO FIX AND FROM RESEARCH IT APPEARS IT OFTEN BREAKS AGAIN. *NM
SOON AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRE ON MY NISSAN MAXIMA SE 2001. MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. I CALL THE COMPANY TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT AS I UNDERSTAND THE CONVERTER IS NOT A PART THAT IS LIKELY TO FAIL. I HAVE ALWAYS PURCHASED A 91 OCTANE GASOLINE OR HIGHER AND KEPT A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. I ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE MY EXHAUST SYSTEM BECAUSE OF CORROSION JUST RECENTLY AND AS IF THIS WAS NOT ENOUGH, DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE OTHER DAY, MY CAR STARTED SHAKING AND VIBRATING. I AM NOT QUITE SURE WHAT HAS CAUSED THE VIBRATION BUT WOULD LIKE TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION. *NM
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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