Nissan Maxima Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 321 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the Nissan Maxima across 22 model years. The 2004 model year has the most (102). The words owners use most often: “control arm” (7% of reports).
- 321suspension complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 15mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- 30%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Control arm: mentioned in 24 of 321 complaints (7%)
- Front struts: mentioned in 20 of 321 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 214 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 321 complaints, 15 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 6 an injury.
Nissan Maxima suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Maxima | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2017 Maxima | 7 | 7% | 11,000 |
| 2016 Maxima | 4 | 3% | 95,000 |
| 2014 Maxima | 6 | 6% | 66,323 |
| 2012 Maxima | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2011 Maxima | 3 | 3% | 61,500 |
| 2010 Maxima | 29 | 11% | 74,062 |
| 2009 Maxima | 36 | 11% | 80,100 |
| 2008 Maxima | 4 | 5% | 48,871 |
| 2007 Maxima | 3 | 2% | 35,000 |
| 2006 Maxima | 19 | 3% | 66,872 |
| 2005 Maxima | 13 | 1% | 59,250 |
| 2004 Maxima | 102 | 7% | 13,000 |
| 2003 Maxima | 3 | 1% | 15,135 |
| 2002 Maxima | 13 | 6% | 59,000 |
| 2001 Maxima | 24 | 14% | 97,000 |
| 2000 Maxima | 17 | 5% | 60,000 |
| 1999 Maxima | 6 | 4% | 65,500 |
| 1998 Maxima | 6 | 5% | 71,000 |
| 1997 Maxima | 7 | 7% | 32,000 |
| 1996 Maxima | 8 | 8% | — |
| 1995 Maxima | 9 | 6% | 90,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Suspension
Model years: 2009, 2010
Problem: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2009 and 2010 altima and maxima passenger cars. The upper front strut insulators may have been manufactured out of specification resulting in a potential for the strut insulator to crack.
Risk: If the strut insulator is cracked, there is a potential for the strut rod to come out of its mounting position, which could affect vehicle stability and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners and dealers will replace both left and right side front strut insulators free of charge. The safety recall began october 2009. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-nissan1 (1-800-647-7261).
Suspension:rear
Model years: 2006
Problem: On certain vehicles, the rear subframe may have been manufactured incorrectly, which could result in a crack in a bracket which holds part of the rear suspension.
Risk: If the bracket is cracked, the stability of the vehicle may be affected under severe driving conditions. This could lead to a loss of control of the vehicle which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe to determine if it was manufactured incorrectly and replace it, if necessary. The recall began on february 27, 2006. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm
Model years: 2001, 2002
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the pin at the end of the front suspension transverse link (lower control arm) could break where it is mounted to the frame.
Risk: This can cause a knocking sound and abnormal steering. This could result in difficulty controlling the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the transverse links on the left and right sides with new ones. Owner notification began july 29, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261 or infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My rear passenger side coil spring broke. This is a dealer only item. I contacted the dealer and the item is on back order. It is my only means for transportation. I didnât cause this break, and now I canât even get it fixed until it comes in whenever that may be. The dealership doesnât have…
My main issue that has caused major concern is while I was driving down the road.The steering all of a sudden jerked and I was almost in an accident. I immediately took it down to my mechanic and he stated that the control arm of the vehicle was bad. I did replace all four tires and got an…
Failure of rear control arms
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH and driving over a bump in the roadway, there was an abnormal squeaking sound coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the…
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the front end of the vehicle started shuddering uncontrollably. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact was able to continue driving to the residence at 20 MPH. The dealer and the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Nissan Maximas have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 321 owner complaints about suspension for the Nissan Maxima. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Nissan Maxima suspension?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list suspension. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the Nissan Maxima?
The most frequent phrase is “control arm”, in 24 of 321 complaints, followed by “front struts” (20).
Other Nissan Maxima problems
- Power Train problems (2,384)
- Electrical System problems (794)
- Steering problems (502)
- Air Bags problems (469)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (435)
- Engine problems (374)
- Structure problems (315)
- Tires problems (243)
See all Nissan Maxima problems.