TRANSMISSION FAILURE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING. *KB
2006 Nissan Maxima powertrain problems
moderate 372 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
372
Recalls
0
Crashes
4
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 13 most recent
AFTER 65000 MILES TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHOW PROBLEMS. MOSTLY FROM 1 TO 2 GEAR IT JUMPS LIKE A MULE. ALMOST UNDRIVEABLE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WARRANTY IS NO LONGER ACTIVE SO MOST SPEND 3500 DOLLARS. I WOULD NEVER BUY NISSAN AGAIN. *KB
I PURCHASED A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH APPROX. 16,000 MILES IN SEPTEMBER 2006. IN 2009 WITH APPOX. 50,000-60,000 MILES ON THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP. IT JERKS WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND DRIVE, IT SHIFTS UP AND DOWN HARD AND IT JERKS WHEN I AM AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAK.
PURCHASED 2006 MAXIMA. TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND KNOCKS!! THE CAR ONLY HAD APPROX 80K MILES WHEN THIS STARTED!! WE HAVE REPLACED MOTOR MOUNTS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. IT IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AS WELL. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND THIS APPARENTLY IS A PROBLEM FOR MANY OWNERS STARTING IN 2004. WE ARE STILL PAYING ON THIS CAR! *TR
TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND BUCKING SO HARD THAT IT FEELS AS IF YOU EITHER HIT SOMEONE OR SOMEONE HAS HIT YOU FROM BEHIND. CAUSES YOU TO LOSE SPEED AND MAKES THE CARS BEHIND YOU TO SLOW DOWN TO AVOID REAR ENDING COLLISION. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LIKE THIS IT GIVES YOU A VERY UNEASY FEELING AS TO WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT TO CAUSE YOU TO BECOME A HAZARD AND PUT YOURSELF AND OTHERS IN DANGER. THE VEHI…
I BOUGHT MY 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA SE IN 2007 WITH ABOUT 8K MILES ON IT. THE REGULARLY MAINTAINED CAR NOW HAS A LITTLE UNDER 81K MILES AND IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT STARTED WITH THE CAR JERKING AND A LOUD NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND REVERSE TO DRIVE. NOW THE CAR IS JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING. THE CAR STALLS THEN SURGES FORWARD. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE I CA…
***FAULTY TRANSMISSION*** MY 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA JERKS, TAKES TIME TO ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC, AND IT BARELY WANTS TO MOVE ONCE STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT. THE GEAR SPONTANEOUSLY GETS STUCK IN EITHER 1ST OR 5TH AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON SO THAT I CAN GET TO MY DESTINATION. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS. MY CAR HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND UPON MY R…
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS DURING TAKE-OFF AND ACCELERATION. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CROSS TRAFFIC OR CLEAR INTERSECTIONS.
I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AND THE CAR IS JERKING AND JUMPING WHILE DRIVING AND UPON STOPPING. IT OCCURS EVERYTIME I DRIVE THE CAR AND I'VE TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND IT WAS PUT ON A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY STATED THAT ITS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THEIR SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL FOR THESE CARS BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP US AND LOOK INTO THIS. NISSAN IS NOT TRYING TO…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2006 Nissan Maxima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 372 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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