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2001 Nissan Maxima
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2001 Nissan Maxima, covering air bags and suspension, and 168 consumer complaints received since 2001.
The component named most often is air bags: 132.4 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 64.8 per 1,000 across all 2001 model-year vehicles and against 55.7 per 1,000 for the Nissan Maxima line as a whole.
That is about the same as the average of 164.0 complaints per model year across the 39 Nissan Maxima model years on this register; 8 complaints reported a crash and 4 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2007 (19); the most recent in the file is dated 4 Feb 2018.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 1 investigation naming this model year.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.
Filed by Nissan North America, Inc..
Defect, as filed: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 vehicles.
Filed by Nissan North America, Inc..
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: This can cause a knocking sound and abnormal steering. This could result in difficulty controlling the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Filed by NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC..
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2001 Nissan Maxima (black) against all 2001 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2001 | Maxima line | All 2001 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 132.4 | 55.7 | 64.8 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 132.4 | 71.8 | 116.8 |
| Electrical System | 127.9 | 103 | 98.8 |
| Suspension | 118.7 | 38.4 | 78.6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 100.5 | 36 | 87.2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 50.2 | 30.7 | 44.4 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 29 | 132.4 | 55.7 | 64.8 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 29 | 132.4 | 71.8 | 116.8 |
| Electrical System | 28 | 127.9 | 103 | 98.8 |
| Suspension | 26 | 118.7 | 38.4 | 78.6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 22 | 100.5 | 36 | 87.2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 50.2 | 30.7 | 44.4 |
| Structure | 10 | 45.7 | 37.8 | 69.2 |
| Power Train | 8 | 36.5 | 293.1 | 93.1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 | 36.5 | 53.5 | 35.4 |
| Engine | 7 | 32 | 37.4 | 15.9 |
| Tires | 6 | 27.4 | 31.6 | 33.1 |
| Equipment | 6 | 27.4 | 11.7 | 19 |
| Steering | 5 | 22.8 | 60.9 | 41.4 |
| Seats | 5 | 22.8 | 16.1 | 13.7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 18.3 | 14.3 | 31.3 |
| Visibility | 3 | 13.7 | 23.8 | 35.9 |
| Wheels | 2 | 9.1 | 5.7 | 12.4 |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 9.1 | 26.6 | 19.7 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 9.1 | 14.3 | 18.6 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 4.4 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 4.6 | 0.9 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 1 | 4.6 | 5.9 | 5 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 4.6 | 1 | 2.6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 6.8 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 | 4.6 | 1.9 | 1 |
168 unique complaints, 219 component mentions; 6 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
| Action | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EA21002 | Engineering analysis | Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture | air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module | 17 Sep 2021 | open | — |
Other Nissan Maxima model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 NHTSA | 0 | 4 | — |
| 1983 NHTSA | 0 | 5 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | 30 | — |
| 1985 | 1 | 54 | 33,000 |
| 1986 | 1 | 60 | 33,000 |
| 1987 | 0 | 176 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | 60 | — |
| 1989 | 1 | 62 | 747,000 |
| 1990 | 1 | 106 | 747,000 |
| 1991 | 1 | 76 | 747,000 |
| 1992 | 2 | 110 | 812,000 |
| 1993 | 3 | 78 | 909,000 |
| 1994 | 2 | 89 | 844,000 |
| 1995 | 0 | 152 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | 96 | — |
| 1997 | 1 | 102 | 161,000 |
| 1998 | 1 | 112 | 161,000 |
| 1999 | 0 | 164 | — |
| 2000 | 0 | 358 | — |
| 2001 | 3 | 168 | 1,489,031 |
| 2002 | 6 | 195 | 2,158,874 |
| 2003 | 3 | 190 | 2,028,531 |
| 2004 | 2 | 1,411 | 134,651 |
| 2005 | 2 | 940 | 192,567 |
| 2006 | 2 | 564 | 103,310 |
| 2007 | 1 | 118 | 9,506 |
| 2008 | 0 | 73 | — |
| 2009 | 1 | 288 | 26,398 |
| 2010 | 1 | 238 | 26,398 |
| 2011 | 0 | 75 | — |
| 2012 | 0 | 76 | — |
| 2013 | 0 | 41 | — |
| 2014 | 0 | 46 | — |
| 2015 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2016 | 8 | 52 | 4,084,217 |
| 2017 | 4 | 23 | 4,023,879 |
| 2018 | 2 | 3 | 1,620,309 |
| 2019 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 1,228,830 |
| 2020 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 150 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Nissan Maxima model years · Nissan: 46 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2001 Nissan Maxima have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 20V008000, was reported to NHTSA on 9 Jan 2020 and concerns air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module. Across all model years the Nissan Maxima line has 27 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2001 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 1 action naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.
What component do owners of the 2001 Nissan Maxima complain about most?
Air Bags: 29 of 219 component mentions (132.4 per 1,000). Next is engine and engine cooling with 29. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.