Model year record

2002 Nissan Maxima

6 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 285 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 20V008000

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

Component: Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Vehicles affected: 307,962
Reported to NHTSA: 2020-01-09
Owners notified: 2020-02-12

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V287000

Air bags

Component: Air bags
Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Vehicles affected: 1,090,569
Reported to NHTSA: 2015-05-15
Owners notified: 2015-06-15

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V455000

Engine and engine cooling

Component: Engine and engine cooling
Manufacturer: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 630,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2003-11-17
Owners notified: 2003-12-22

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.

Safety risk

THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR(S), AND IN SOME CASES, THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR(S). VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN, 01V357, ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V146000

Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm

Component: Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm
Manufacturer: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 90,500
Reported to NHTSA: 2002-05-30
Owners notified: 2002-07-29

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V043000

Vehicle speed control

Component: Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 39,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2002-02-12
Owners notified: 2002-03-11

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM, THE STOPPER FOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL PREVENT EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR. IF THE DRIVER APPLIES OVERLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PUSHING IT TO THE RIGHT, THE PEDAL CAN "OVER TRAVEL" DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE PEDAL STOPPER.

Safety risk

THIS WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP TO COME ON AND THE ENGINE SPEED TO BE SEVERELY LIMITED. IF THIS OCCURS UNEXPECTEDLY, IT COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ACCELERATOR PEDAL STOPPER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 11, 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 800-662-6200.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V010000

Power train

Component: Power train
Manufacturer: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 843
Reported to NHTSA: 2002-01-11
Owners notified: 2001-12-12

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, THE ODOMETER IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES REGISTERS DISTANCE IN KILOMETERS INSTEAD OF MILES AS IS SPECIFIED IN THE DESIGN. THE ODOMETER DOES NOT HAVE A LABEL THAT INDICATES "KILOMETERS" OR "KM" AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS."

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ODOMETER TO DETERMINE IF IT IS CORRECT AND, IF NOT, WILL REPLACE THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 12, 2001. 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Air bags	22	95,700 mi
Vehicle speed control	21	53,500 mi
Engine	20	135,823 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights	20	7,027 mi
Electrical system	17	102,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	17	92,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	10	35,000 mi
Steering	9	115,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	8	27,200 mi
Tires	7	36,000 mi
Seats	6	91,000 mi
Unknown or other	6	140,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	5	57,800 mi
Power train	5	25,612 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	5	38,464 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.	4	5,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	4	15,840 mi
Suspension: front	4	59,000 mi
Wheels	4	95,700 mi
Air bags: side/window	3	—
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery	3	11,488 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	3	150,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	3	77,220 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	3	68,000 mi
Seat belts	3	117,000 mi
Structure: body	3	5,000 mi
Structure: body: hood	3	—
Suspension	3	40,000 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	3	90,000 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator	2	11,488 mi
Electrical system: ignition	2	27,545 mi
Equipment	2	12,000 mi
Exterior lighting	2	—
Fuel system, other	2	47,199 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	2	—
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)	2	87,864 mi
Service brakes	2	68,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	2	35,000 mi
Structure: body: bumpers	2	—
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm	2	—
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	2	17,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear	2	15,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	2	1 mi
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module	1	123,500 mi
Electrical system: horn	1	—
Electrical system: wiring	1	54,550 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	1	28,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	1	15,450 mi
Equipment: electrical: anti-theft devices	1	—
Exterior lighting: brake lights	1	—
Exterior lighting: tail lights	1	—
Fuel system, other: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	—
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch	1	12,700 mi
Power train: driveline	1	3,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission	1	42,450 mi
Seats: front assembly: power adjust	1	28,826 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock	1	9,800 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock: ABS warning light	1	9,800 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock: control unit/module	1	9,800 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module	1	64,400 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	15,450 mi
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar	1	—
Steering: hydraulic power assist system	1	—
Structure	1	20,000 mi
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments	1	—
Structure: body: trunk lid	1	—
Structure: frame and members	1	39,000 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields	1	—
Suspension: front: control arm	1	21,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint	1	143,000 mi
Suspension: front: hub	1	72,450 mi
Suspension: front: wheel bearing	1	—
Tires: sidewall	1	—
Vehicle speed control: linkages	1	—
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior	1	17,458 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer	1	30,000 mi

The 2001 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. The 2003 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Open investigations

An investigation is not a recall. It indicates that NHTSA is currently evaluating an alleged defect but has not reached a final determination.

EA21002Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.