RoadVitals

2002 Nissan Maxima Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
21
Latest Feb 18, 2020
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.
10%
of 205 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.
2
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 service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Nissan Maxima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 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 brake

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

AirbagsBrakesFuel system+2 more
Filed Feb 18, 2020
Crash reported

[XXX] POWER STEERING SYSTEM TIRES FUEL PUMP AIR BAGS BATTERY EVERYTHING HAS BEEN FALLING APART SINCE 2018, IT'S BEEN FIXED AND COUPLE MONTHS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM COMES UP. EVERY MECHANIC THAT TOUCHES THIS CAR, SAID THE SAME THING TO CHECK UP THE RECALL STATUS. BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY ISSUES WITH IT, AND THE MILEAGE IS LOW. SO THERE IS A FAULTY PARTS, THAT KEEP BRAKING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AND I HAVE BEEN CALLING ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AT LEAST 4 TIMES SINCE DECEMBER. BRAND NEW TIRES AND BRAKES WERE INSTALLED AND STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
11309769
Incident
Mar 1, 2018
Mileage
68,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 3, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, WHEN THE BRAKE WAS ENGAGED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO AGGRESSIVELY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND NO DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ID
10630312
Incident
Aug 29, 2014
Mileage
95,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 18, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS SENSOR ACTIVATES ON ITS OWN SPORADICALLY. THE DEALER SPECULATED THAT DIRT OR MUD ENTERS THROUGH THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND CAUSES THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CLEANED THE COMPONENT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY AFTER THE REMEDY. THE CONTACT WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. UPDATED 07/08/09 *BF UPDATED 07/08/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10274262
Incident
Aug 21, 2002
Mileage
19,000 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed Feb 5, 2009

2002 NISSAN MAXIMA HAD ABS MODULE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH A VERY LOUD EAR PIERCING SCREECHING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE SOUND WAS INTERMITTENT, SO IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE DEALER TO DUPLICATE. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED, BUT THEY WERE FOUND TO BE OK. THE CONSUMER STATED ON ONE OCCASION, HER HUSBAND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, THE ABS CAME ON AS HE APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ABS ACTUATOR AND THE REAR ABS SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE SCREECHING NOISE WAS DUE TO A BAD WHEEL BEARING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10257896
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Brakes
Filed Jan 10, 2008

ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO TOWN. BRAKES SEEMED TO WORK OK, SO I CONTINUED. GOT TO TOWN (40 MILES), DID MY BUSINESS, GOT IN THE CAR TO GO HOME. STARTED CAR, ABS LIGHT STILL ON, DROVE 1 1/2 BLOCKS, APPLIED BRAKES AS I APPROACHED INTERSECTION, AND THE PEDAL LOCKED. TAPPED THE PEDAL, STILL LOCKED. CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS STILL GETTING THROTTLE. PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND LUCKILY STOPPED BEFORE THE INTERSECTION. PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, PUSHED THE BRAKE, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. PARKED THE CAR, AND TURNED IT OFF. THEN, I DECIDED TO MOVE IT TO ANOTHER LOCATION IN THE PARKING LOT AND LEAVE IT FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHEN MOVING IT, I PUSHED THE BRAKE AGAIN, HEARD A NOISE, ABS LIGHT WENT OFF, AND BRAKES WORKED AGAIN. DROVE HOME. I AM GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP SOON. COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10214415
Incident
Jan 9, 2008
Mileage
70,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 28, 2007

UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE - BRAKE FAILURE ON DRY PAVEMENT. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THERE WAS ONLY A CLICKING SOUND AS IF THE ABS WAS TRYING TO ENGAGE FOR NO REASON - BUT BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE AT ALL. DEALER LATER REPORTED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY ABS SENSOR ON LEFT REAR BUT I AM DISTURBED THAT THIS ABS FAILURE WOULD CAUSE TOTAL BRAKE LOSS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR FOR FEAR OF ANOTHER ABS SENSOR GOING WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED NEW IN 2002. THE ROTORS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES ON VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 55K MILES (MAINLY HIGHWAY MILES). DEALER ADMITTED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ROTORS WARPING ON THIS CAR FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IN ADDITION,I HAD THE BACK BRAKE CALIPERS SEIZE UP ON ME FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING ON TURNPIKE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10213127
Incident
Dec 28, 2007
Mileage
55,055 mi
BrakesEngineFuel system
Filed Mar 22, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE SKIP AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE GAS LEVEL SENSOR, EMISSION AND FUEL INJECTOR AND FLUSHED THE BRAKE LINES. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. UPDATED 4/11/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10153399
Incident
Mar 21, 2006
Mileage
15,450 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 18, 2006

ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. SUBSEQUENT TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKNIG WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH BETWEEN MY VEHICLE AND ANOTHER. ONLY BY ACCELERATNG VERY HARD THROUGH A STOP SIGN, AT WHICH I WAS UNABLE TO STOP, WAS I ABLE TO AVOID AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO MY OWNERS MANUAL, WHENEVER THE ABS WARNIGN LIGHT ILLUMINATE, I WILL LOSE ONLY MY ABS BUT WILL RETAIN NORMAL BREAKING. THIS PROVED NOT TO BE THE CASE. I LOST THE ABLITY TO STOP. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S DEALERSHIP REPAIR FACILITY, THE LOSS OF ABS WAS A RESULT OF A NON-FUNCTIONING REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY THIS REPAIR FACILITY. I WILL REQUEST THAT THE FAILED PART BE KEPT AND GIVEN TO ME. *NM

NHTSA ID
10150590
Incident
Feb 16, 2006
Mileage
64,800 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 9, 2006

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS HAD FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. DURING THE FIRST OCCURRENCE THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE RIGHT ABS SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE RIGHT SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN THROUGH THE CARWASH. THE BRAKES REQUIRED MORE PRESSURE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE SENSOR LIGHT STAYED ON FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY BY ITSELF. IN OCTOBER 2005 THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS. WHEN THE PROBLEM RETURNED THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON AND WENT OFF TWO DAYS LATER. THE BRAKES WORKED WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON AND FAILED WHEN THE LIGHT WENT OFF. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE LEFT ABS SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS HAD NOT BEEN MADE.

NHTSA ID
10149923
Incident
Feb 6, 2006
Mileage
35,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 7, 2006

AFTER WASHING MY AUTOMOBILE, THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING (ABS) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT I NO LONGER HAVE ABS. THE CONSEQUENCE IS REDUCED BRAKING PERFORMANCE IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. IN AN EMERGENCY SUCH A FAILURE WOULD ELIMINATE MY ABILITY TO PERFORM AVOIDANCE MANEUVERS WHILE BRAKING WHICH IS THE PURPOSE OF THE ABS SYSTEM. UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES. THE MANUFACTURER'S AUTHORIZED DEALER REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE LEFT REAR SPEED SENSOR FAILED AND THAT THE COST OF REPLACEMENT WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE. THE CAR HAS 64,500 MILES. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE SUCH DRIVE COMPONENTS ARE WARRANTED FOR THE FIRST 60,000 MILES ONLY. THIS SYSTEM SHOULD BE IMPERVIOUS TO THE EFFECTS OF A GARDEN HOSE RINSE. THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE IS TO REPLACE THE SPEED SENSOR AND HOPE THAT SUCH A FAILURE DOES NOT OCCUR WHILE I AM DRIVING. *NM

NHTSA ID
10149643
Incident
Jan 29, 2006
Mileage
64,400 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 29, 2005

MY 2002 NISSAN MAXIMA SE HAD A TOTAL BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE CAR USING THE BRAKES. I HAD TO THROW THE GEARS INTO PARK AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. I STOPPED ON A SIDEWALK ALMOST HITTING TWO PEDESTRIANS. I HAD TO HAVE MAJOR REPAIRS DONE TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE ACTUATORS, FRONT AND REAR SENSORS WERE REPLACED. MY CAR ONLY HAD 15,840 MILES. THIS COULD BE A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM. *JB *NM

NHTSA ID
10142408
Incident
Oct 24, 2005
Mileage
15,840 mi
BrakesTires & wheels
Filed Aug 16, 2004

I HAVE A THREE YEAR LEASE. TWO YEARS INTO THE LEASE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES AND NOW THE BRAKES. THE REAR BRAKES FROZE UP. THE CAPLIERS, ROTORS, AND PABS NEED TO BE REPLACED ON THE REAR AND THE ROTORS ON THE FRONT. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO THIS WITH A CAR BEFORE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10086971
Incident
Aug 15, 2004
Mileage
36,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 22, 2004

THE CONSUMER STATED A CAR PULLED IN FRONT OF HER, SHE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES, WHEN SHE DID THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE. THE WHEEL WAS DAMAGED AROUND THE RIM. THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN, THE WHEELS MADE SUCH AN IMPACT INTO THE CEMENT, THE WHEELS APPEARED TO HAVE THE SAME DAMAGE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10083506
Incident
Jul 15, 2004
Mileage
26,950 mi
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Nov 3, 2003

NISSAN MAXIMA SE 2002 WAS BOUGHT NEW. BRAKE JUDDER HAS BEEN OCCURING FOR QUITE A WHILE. DEALER STATED BRAKE JUDDER WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND COST OF REPAIRS $175.00. BRAKE JUDDER IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR 2000 MODEL MAXIMA, BUT NOT 2002? *LA

NHTSA ID
10045332
Incident
Oct 27, 2003
Mileage
12,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jun 20, 2003

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE ACCELERATES INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
10024626
Brakes
Filed Jan 29, 2003

I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 NISSAN MAXIMA IN MAY 2002. I BEGAN TO SEE AN ABS LIGHT WHEN DRIVING IN JAN 2003 WHEN I HAD 9,800 MILES ON THE CAR. BRAKES BEGAN TO CATCH AND THEN FAILED COMPLETELY BEFORE I COULD GET HOME OR TO THE DEALERSHIP. NO ACCIDENT, DUE COMPLETELY TO LUCK. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. GOT CAR BACK AND IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS ABS LIGHT AGAIN ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS TIME NO CATCHING OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. RETURNED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. ANOTHER PART REPLACEMENT. LESS THAN 1 WEEK LATER THE ABS LIGHT ON AGAIN DURING DRIVING. DEALER IS NOW NOT CALLING ME, I HAVE TO CALL. HAS HAD CAR FOR 3 BUSINESS DAYS. SAY THEY HAVE FIXED THE CAR AND ARE KEEPING IT SO THEY CAN TEST DRIVE IT. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SENSOR. DOES THIS MEAN THE ABS LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM?

NHTSA ID
10004881
Incident
Jan 4, 2003
Mileage
9,800 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 2, 2002
Crash reported

IN LATE NOVEMBER 2002 WHILE DRIVING THE ABS BRAKE FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN BUT NEVER STOPPED. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT IN FEB 2002, THE ABS SENSOR WENT OUT. AND REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE ABS SYSTEM IN AUG 2002. *TS *TT

NHTSA ID
8023542
Incident
Feb 1, 2002
Mileage
11,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 15, 2002

WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON, I WAS ASSURED BY THEY SALES PERSON THAT IT WAS A "MINOR SENSOR PROBLEM" IN THAT REGARDS I TOOK THE VEHICLE. WHEN I CAME BACK TO HAVE THE LIGHT CHECKED I LEARNED THAT IT WAS SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS SINCE THERE WAS NO "COMPUTER CODE" AND ACCORDING TO THE COMPUTER THE CAR HAD NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. MANUFACTURER REPLACED ABS CONTROL UNIT AND SAY CAR WAS OK. AFTER A FEW DAYS THE CAR'S FRONT WHEELS STARTING TO LOCK AT LOW SPEEDS, ABOUT 25 TO 30 MPH. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND APPLYING THE BRAKES A SCREECH WILL COME FROM THE WHEELS, SOME TIMES IT WILL BE COMING FROM THE LEFT SOME TIMES FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. LOCKING OF WHEELS WAS ONLY ONCE TO THREE TIMES A DAY. CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY SAID TO BRING THE CAR BACK. AFTER A COPLE OF DAYS OF CONTACTING NISSAN THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. ONCE AT THE DEALER, NISSAN DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO OUTPUT GROUND TO LIGHT AND THAT NO CODE WAS COMING ON.THIS HAPPENED AND 1588 MILES.AT 2054 MILES CAR WAS TAKEN AGAIN FOR ABS LIGHT ON, ONCE AGAIN THERE WAS NO CODE COMING FROM COMPUTER, IN OTHER WORDS COMPUTER WAS SAYING NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH CAR. NISSAN REPLACED ENGINE HARNESS ON VEHICLE. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, AFTER THAT REPAIR, FRONT WHEELS STARTED TO LOCK JUST AS LAST TIME.. IT WILL ONLY LOCK FOR ONE TIME OR TWO A DAY,, BUT SAME PROBLEM, THIS TIME ABS LIGHT IS NOT ON, NISSAN WAS CONTACTED AND SAY NOHTING IS WRONG WITH CAR SINCE THE LIGHT IS NOT ON. ON 08-14-2002 WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING LOT, SPEEDS OF ABOUT 15MPH, PRESSED GAS PEDAL, CAR IS NOT RESPONDING ( THERE SEEMS TO BE NO TRACTION ON WHEELS FOR ABOUT 10 SENCONDS) THEN "SLIP" LIGHT STARTS FLASHING FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS, AFTER THIS VEHICLE STARTS GETTING TRACTION AGAIN AND LIGHT STOPS FLASHING. WILL MEET WITH NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE ON 8-15-2002.*AK

NHTSA ID
765703
Incident
May 26, 2002
BrakesTransmission
Filed Jun 27, 2002

EVERY TIME THE CAR IS WASH ABS SLIP AND TRACTION MALFUNCTIONS. THESE LIGHTS ALSO ARE DISPLAYED IN THE CONSOLE.. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND ON MORE THAN FOUR OCCASIOS, AND PROBLEM STILL NOT RESOLVE. THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUM MAKES NOISE BUT DEALER STATTES THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE. WHEN EVER I DRIVE OVER BUMPS IT IS VERY PRONUNCED. *AK

NHTSA ID
763540
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Feb 22, 2002

THE VEHICLE PASSED SAFETY INSPECTIONS AT THE FACTORY, PORT, AND DEALER WITH NO TAIL OR BRAKE LIGHTS. I FOUND OUT WHEN I WAS PULLED OVER. I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED.

NHTSA ID
758493
Brakes
Filed Feb 7, 2002

CAN PROVIDE DETAILS-ISSUE AT HAND IS THAT NISSAN HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND CANNOT CONFIRM CAUSE OF FAILURE AND NOW I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR AND REQUESTED TECHNICAL CONFIRMATION OF THE SAFETY IN WRITING OR A NEW CAR-THEY HAVE NOT ADEQUATELY RESPONSED TO ME. PLEASE CONTACT FOR DETAILS...SINCERELY, JULIE HORNING. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
757923
Incident
Feb 2, 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .