2001 Nissan Maxima SE 3.0L V6

Summary:

Great performance and reliability!

Faults:

I have had my Maxima since new and have had no problems with it. Despite driving the car daily for the past 6 years, my commutes are relatively short, and the car has less than 50k miles.

Just this year I changed:

Original front and rear brake pads.

Original tires (had approx 5k miles remaining, but were beginning to dry and crack).

General Comments:

This is the my 4th Nissan. Excellent performance in terms of pickup and responsiveness. Braking is excellent. Styling is great.

Turning radius is the worst I've seen in any car. I can rarely make a U turn without first positioning the car with the wheels cranked.

Leather doesn't feel high quality, but no cracking thus far. I condition it twice a year with Lexol leather conditioner.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th August, 2007

2001 Nissan Maxima SE 3.0

Summary:

Unreliable after 100,000 miles!

Faults:

O2 sensor at 60,000 miles.

O2 sensor at 85,000 miles.

IACV at 112,500 miles.

ECU at 112,500 miles.

Service engine soon light is on again - who knows?

Leather seats are falling apart.

Paint chips very easy.

This car isn't dependable any more.

Bose stereo system is failing.

General Comments:

A very solid car that was very good until about 100,000 miles. After that it has become an electrical nightmare.

When the idle air control valve goes, it takes the car's computer with it. This is about a $1,500.00 repair. What's worse is the technicians at my Nissan dealer didn't seem to have a clue how to fix it. I had to learn the procedure on the internet and explain it to them.

My advise to anyone that owns one of these is to have the IACV replaced every 80,000 miles as standard maintenance or you will be buying an ecu as well.

The O2 sensor is obviously defective as everyone I know with one of these things has them go out every 60,000 miles.

The car is in the shop again as I type this - the service engine soon light is on again and the car is running erratic again. I wouldn't consider this a reliable car after 100,000 miles.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 6th April, 2007

7th Apr 2007, 02:34

I don't understand how the Idle Air Control Valve interferes with your computer system.

9th Apr 2007, 08:50

Hey, I'm the original poster. When the IACV goes out, which it ultimately will, the circuit to the computer shorts out causing the ECU to burn up. There should be a fuse of some kind to protect it, but there isn't. When the ECU goes out, it is a very costly repair.

31st Mar 2008, 23:14

You expect a japanese car to go farther than 200K? this aint no 300D...

4th Oct 2009, 02:49

My idle air motor went on mine too, at about 98,000 km.

It does take out the computer with it. Sends 12 volts to it and fries the circuit ECU, which runs on a 5-8 volt system.

I was lucky the warranty covered the ECU, but had to go for the idle air motor ($285). It is changed up so it shouldn't happen again. Brakes were done at about the same time.

Check engine light is on, and it is the 02 sensors. Runs fine though.

These are the common complaints with it. Wish it had better MPG too, but it is a great car, handles like a dream, sound system is great, and I did get the cloth seats.. the only way to go there.

22nd Nov 2010, 12:12

So true about the main computer! Mine went twice and they still never knew the cause.

23rd Nov 2010, 17:58

Actually, Nissans aren't known to be very reliable BEFORE 100,000 miles either!!

In reply to 9th Apr 2007, 08:50

24th Feb 2015, 17:32

Could using premium fuel instead of regular fuel (which is required by Nissan for the Maxima) prevent the all too common failure of the electronic sensors that always go bad in the Nissan Maximas?