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#BS-2002-NISMAX-533A2002 Nissan Maxima
Based on reports from 278 owners and 9 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Think Twice
Based on 278 complaints, 37 crashes, 0 fires, and 9 recalls.
Top reported problems
excessive oil consumption
7 complaints • Severity 8.3/10
ticking noise coming from engine
5 complaints • Severity 8.8/10
transmission failure
1 complaints • Severity 10/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
36 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 68K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (55 reports) • Median: 68K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Engine (36 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2002 Nissan Maxima: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Engine Issues
Engine complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 2002 Nissan Maxima, with 36 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 68,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 68K-mile mark.
Airbags Issues
Airbags complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2002 Nissan Maxima, with 21 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Speed Control Issues
Speed Control complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2002 Nissan Maxima, with 20 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to speed control-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Exterior Lighting:headlights Issues
Exterior Lighting:headlights complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2002 Nissan Maxima, with 20 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to exterior lighting:headlights-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2002 Nissan Maxima. Recent trend: increasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (9 recalls)
POWER TRAIN
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."
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
+ 4 more recalls in the full report
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
The worst model year for the Nissan Maxima is the 2004 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.
2002 Nissan Maxima vs. Class Average (Midsize Cars)
This vehicle
278
Class avg
208
Complaint volume is roughly in line with other midsize cars vehicles from 2002.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 278 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 9 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Nissan Maxima Model Years
2002 Nissan Maxima: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Nissan Maxima?
Is the 2002 Nissan Maxima reliable?
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Does the 2002 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
What mileage do Nissan Maxima problems start?
What’s in the full report?
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
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Get the Full 2002 Nissan Maxima Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 278 owner reports. Know before you buy.