2002 Nissan Maxima: common problems and reliability

The 2002 Nissan Maxima has 220 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 9 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are engine and engine cooling and air bags. Owners most often flag catastrophic cvt failure — premature failure often before 100,000 miles, characterized by slipping, jerking, loss of power, and high operating temperatures. considered a severe safety risk. frequency: very frequent (2013+ models).

Safety record for the 2002 model year

220
Owner complaints
9
Recalls
28
Crash reports
0
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2002 Nissan Maxima vehicles (US, public record).

Where owners report problems

engine and engine cooling
35
air bags
31
exterior lighting
25
electrical system
24
service brakes
24

Recalls affecting the 2002 Maxima

air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Campaign 20V008000

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-…

air bags

Campaign 15V287000

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 deploym…

exterior lighting

Campaign 09E012000

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 REQUIREMEN…

exterior lighting:headlights

Campaign 09E025000

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 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 REQUIREMEN…

What owners say across generations

Sentiment is sharply divided by generation, with a clear consensus that reliability and owner satisfaction declined significantly after the early 2000s. Owners of late 1990s and early 2000s models (e.g., 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003) report extremely high satisfacti

  • Catastrophic CVT failure — Premature failure often before 100,000 miles, characterized by slipping, jerking, loss of power, and high operating temperatures. Considered a severe safety risk. Frequency: very frequent (2013+ models).
  • CVT reliability concerns — General anxiety about long-term durability, transmission "whine," and expensive repair costs ($6,000+ for a rebuild). Frequency: very frequent.
  • Jerky acceleration and shifting — Especially noted in 2016 and 2022 models, with stuttering during gear simulation and unresponsive throttle. Frequency: recurrent.
  • Electrical/starting issues — Intermittent no-start conditions where accessories power on but the starter does not engage, potentially related to faulty sensors or corroded battery terminals. Frequency: recurrent (mentioned for 2016 model).
  • Headlight defect (dimming) — Likely related to a reflector off-gassing issue similar to a known Altima class action, affecting low-beam output. Frequency: isolated.

Owner insights cover all generations of the Maxima.

Typical used price

Used Maxima listings typically run $13,498–$23,885 across 2014 to 2023 model years.

Other Maxima model years

2019 Maxima2004 Maxima
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