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SteeringPart report

2006 Nissan Maxima Steering Problems

Complaints
17about this part
Share
3%of 576 total for the year
Median mileage
37,294miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the steering of the 2006 Nissan Maxima, 3% of the 576 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 37,294 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was at the light waiting to make a left turn into my neighborhood and as I got a break to turn in front of traffic my car jerked and cut off. My 2 year old and 3 year old was also in the car I was terrified and now scared to make a turn in front of traffic bc my car may cost me and my kids our life car isn't safe to drive like that.”

NHTSA complaint #10644346, filed 2014-10, 97,000 miles

“I was driving down the interstate, going around a curve, the wheel stabilizer turned on for no reason. I could not regain control of the car. The wheels locked up and I got slammed into two concrete walls and a diesel truck as a result. None of the airbags deployed.”

NHTSA complaint #10823935, filed 2016-02, 162,000 miles

“My 2006 Nissan Maxima is shifting gears on its on as if there is a transmission problem. The steering wheel keeps shifting to one side the guys at the wheel alignment place told me it's the rack and pinion. They also informed me that the rack and pinion goes out very fast and the part is about 400$. The gas light and the light that tells you that you need coolant has been on and stays on. The car is not running hot and my car has a full tank of gas.”

NHTSA complaint #10930058, filed 2016-12, 5 miles

“My car was under 90k miles when it experienced transmission slippage, premature clutch wear, overheating, and other problems that ultimately resulted in serious and expensive damage to my vehicles transmission.”

NHTSA complaint #11139121, filed 2018-10, 85,000 miles

“While casually driving, hands on steering wheel, foot on accelerator, asphalt road slightly damp but not wet, on a two way street with no reason to expect a sudden crisis, the aba brakes on my 2006 Maxima suddenly locked throwing the rear end of the vehicle into a slide facing oncoming traffic which at this time there happened to be none. When I felt the sudden action, which was like I had run into an invisible wall, I then hit the brakes attempting to stop the vehicle. The steering wheel seemed to float with no control of the direction headed. …”

NHTSA complaint #10562744, filed 2014-02, 36,087 miles

Related service bulletins

Steering: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202015%
201916%
201744%
201696%
201444%
201312%
2012109%
201198%
201015857%
200916850%
200845%
200775%
2006173%
2005172%
2004373%
200331%
2002115%
200163%
200082%
199921%
199844%
199766%
199677%
199585%
199311%
199222%
199123%
199033%
198946%
198835%
198721%
198623%
198512%
1983120%

Other parts of the 2006 Nissan Maxima

Transmission and drivetrain
393 complaints
Brakes
59 complaints
Engine
47 complaints
Vehicle speed control
35 complaints
Electrical system
26 complaints
Engine cooling
24 complaints
Other or unknown
21 complaints
Body and structure
20 complaints
Suspension
19 complaints
Electronic stability control
17 complaints
Air bags
13 complaints
Tires
11 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2006 Nissan Maxima

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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