2001 Nissan Maxima Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 5%of 172 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 60,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2001 Nissan Maxima, 5% of the 172 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 60,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While driving my 2001 Maxima se, when I accelerate to pass, the car stalls momentarily then the engine revs almost to redline and then the transmission shifts. I took the car to baker jackson Nissan in houston and they said that the problem was with the catalytic converter. They replaced the catalytic converter and the problem persists. They claim it is not the transmission.”
NHTSA complaint #10185208, filed 2007-03, 70,000 miles“My Nissan Maxima (2001) began to hard time shift between 1st and 2nd gear at approx. 55,000 miles. When I reported it to the dealer. The dealer took looking at it and did a driving test and found that there was no problem shift from first gear to second gear. At the 60,000 it got worse and worse shift from first gear to second gear. Most of the time it wouldn't switch to second gear. Now I am hearing that Nissan had a recall. Nissan released a bulletin to its dealers, explaining that there was a known problem in the Maxima 2000 to 2003 (and other models as well). …”
NHTSA complaint #10165704, filed 2006-08, 60,000 miles“My Nissan Maxima (2001) began to hard shift between 1st and 2nd gear at approx. 55,000 miles. When I reported it to the dealer (tim dahle Nissan in sandy, ut) at the 60,000 maintenance service, I was told there was nothing wrong with the transmission. The shifting problem got steadily worse. The car began doing it randomly at any gear. At 74,000 miles I finally had time to take it to the dealer again. This time the dealer acknowledged the problem (after I made them test drive the car again) and replaced the control valve assembly in the transmission. …”
NHTSA complaint #10130332, filed 2005-07, 55,000 miles“I was driving on the interstate at 70 MPH I went to down shift to 3rd but got 1st. I know this is not supposed to happen so I thought I was in 3rd gear. I let off the clutch and the car went from 70 MPH to about 35 MPH in 3 sec. I would have went through the windshield if not for the seat belt which work fine. Well this ordeal left my car with 1 or 2 blown cylinder heads, bent,valves water out tail pipe and its not due to the fact I didn't know how to drive a stick I have been driving them since I got out of school in 96..can you tell me why this happened ? …”
NHTSA complaint #10135275, filed 2005-09, 32,000 miles“I've just got the car on monday and today is the day I started driving it an it was perfectly fine until I was heading back home. I was coming around a turn an the car was like it was in neutral but it still was in drive so I pulled over an put the car in park and turned it off then back on. I've put it back in drive an pulled out back on the road. Little more down the road it was doing the same thing so I called the place I got the car from and was told to call tomorrow an setup a appointment to check out the car. Other then that the car is perfectly find. …”
NHTSA complaint #10659907, filed 2014-11Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 | 14% |
| 2019 | 3 | 17% |
| 2018 | 1 | 3% |
| 2017 | 11 | 10% |
| 2016 | 33 | 23% |
| 2014 | 22 | 23% |
| 2013 | 24 | 39% |
| 2012 | 18 | 17% |
| 2011 | 22 | 21% |
| 2010 | 15 | 5% |
| 2009 | 11 | 3% |
| 2008 | 8 | 10% |
| 2007 | 16 | 12% |
| 2006 | 393 | 68% |
| 2005 | 777 | 82% |
| 2004 | 934 | 66% |
| 2003 | 7 | 3% |
| 2002 | 14 | 7% |
| 2001 | 8 | 5% |
| 2000 | 22 | 6% |
| 1999 | 8 | 5% |
| 1998 | 6 | 5% |
| 1997 | 4 | 4% |
| 1996 | 12 | 13% |
| 1995 | 12 | 8% |
| 1994 | 9 | 10% |
| 1993 | 6 | 8% |
| 1992 | 5 | 5% |
| 1991 | 9 | 12% |
| 1990 | 10 | 9% |
| 1989 | 9 | 15% |
| 1988 | 1 | 2% |
| 1987 | 5 | 3% |
| 1986 | 1 | 2% |
| 1985 | 2 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2001 Nissan Maxima
29 complaintsEngine cooling
28 complaintsElectrical system
27 complaintsSuspension
24 complaintsBrakes
23 complaintsVehicle speed control
11 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsBody and structure
9 complaintsEngine
7 complaintsEquipment
6 complaintsSteering
6 complaintsTires
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Nissan Maxima
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology