2001 Nissan Maxima engine problems

Filed Oct 25, 2017 · Body, Engine · 12,000 miles · FL

The lower radiator support bar and surrounding lower structure started rusting away after about 4-5 years from new. The lower radiator support is now almost entirely gone. The dealer quoted $5400 to repair. I was told by the service rep that if/when the core support let go, the engine could fall causing a wreck.

Filed Feb 5, 2016 · Body, Engine · 177,000 miles · IL

The lower radiator support beam rusted out causing the engine support to brake free from the beam. Now the entire lower support beam needs to be replaced at an extremely high cost of labor and parts. This is a common problem according to all the car websites and the youtube videos showing how to change out the beam. I do not see any recalls for this. For as many people who seem to have had this problem it should have been recalled. People were having this problem 5 yrs ago according to the videos and reports. According to the body shop this is a major problem and they have seen a lot of this type of corrosion issues with this nissan model and year. According to what I have been told a very serious accident can occur while driving this vehicle if the beam breaks while in motion at high speed. There are still a large number of this year and make on the street and no warnings have been given to the public.

Filed Dec 23, 2015 · Engine · 140,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 nissan maxima. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the cam shaft and crank shaft part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. No further details were available. The VIN was not included the federal safety agency campaign number: 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.

Filed Mar 19, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · 164,627 miles · NY

Engine codes po 420 and po 174.

Filed Nov 1, 2013 · Airbags, Body · 116,000 miles · NJ

Went to fix the passenger air bag recall and dealer informed that front cross frame/bar's metal is falling apart because of severe corrosion/rusting which is main support for the radiator and the engine. Also advised that it's highly dangerous to drive since engine/radiator can just fall anytime when it lacks the support. When nissan consumer affairs is approached they failed to admit the defective material used but responded that vehicle is out of warranty and they could not cover. Also observed similar recent complaints from other owners, hope our complaints gets further attention and concerns are addressed.

Filed Sep 23, 2013 · Engine, Steering · 100,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 nissan maxima. The contact stated that the front control arm and motor mount failed. The contact also stated that the power steering assist failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was confirmed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Sep 6, 2013 · Engine · 121,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 nissan maxima. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, he noticed that the lower radiator tie bar was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 121,000.

Filed Nov 26, 2012 · Engine · 158,000 miles · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 nissan maxima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, the engine unexpectedly stalled without warning when driving from a complete stop. The vehicle restarted and resumed normal function. The similar failure occurred continuously. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 158,000.

Filed Jul 13, 2011 · Engine · 140,000 miles · CT

Driving to work on the freeway and the car bucked and randomly accelerated and idled high. Later found out that the iac valve had antifreeze that leaked through a gasket causing it to short out. Shortly after also discovered that the valve shorting out ($200 part) cause the ECM to short out. After labor and parts this turns a $200 repair into over a $2000 repair and causes for unsafe driving due to the erratic idle and surging at the time when the valve shorts out.

Filed Mar 22, 2010 · Acceleration, Electrical · 40,000 miles · MS

We own a 2001 nissan maxima, which we purchased new from a nissan dealer. It has, on 3 occasions, experienced a problem with "surging"/high revving.*dt the cause in every case has been a part known as an "idle air control valve" (iacv), which fails and in doing so, causes the "ECM" (the "engine computer") to fail. We have discovered that hitachi is the sole source for the iacv, whether the part is obtained from a nissan dealer or any other source under any other brand. This issue is apparently a particularly well-known issue with this model series of vehicle, both nissan and infiniti. The first time the vehicle had this issue, it was under warranty and was supposedly repaired by nissan. However, the same issue has recurred on 2 subsequent occasions, and both times nissan has wholly failed to address the issue. We have repeatedly attempted to address this issue with nissan, including, but not limited to, nissan consumer relations, nissan's vp of customer satisfaction, the "executive offices" escalation department, etc., all with no substantive response from nissan beyond their stating that since the vehicle is no longer under warranty, it isn't nissan's problem. However, it should be noted that in this latest occurrence, nissan initially stated that their refusal to address this issue was due to our allegedly having installed "an aftermarket ECM" (we had not). However, when the nissan dealer confirmed to nissan that the ECM was in fact a factory nissan part, and we discovered that there is no such thing as "an aftermarket ECM," nissan then refused to correct this situation. From our layperson's investigation of this issue, it appears to be a design flaw in the circuitry, and is generally widely known in the repair industry, by enthusiasts, major auto reviewing companies, etc. Therefore, it seems that nissan's claim to not know of this issue is disingenuous at best. *tr