Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Nissan Maxima
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Nissan Maxima has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns and 205 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #22E066000 Replacement Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V008000 Frontal Passenger Air Bag Inflators May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V287000 Passenger Air Bag Inflator may Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V455000 NISSAN/CRANK/CAM POSITION SENSOR WELD NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V146000 NISSAN/LOWER CONTROL ARM NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V043000 NISSAN/THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V010000 NISSAN/FMVSS 101/ODOMETER NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 30 complaints
- Air Bags 29 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 23 complaints
- Electrical System 22 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 22 complaints
- Engine 19 complaints
Of the 205 complaints on file, 27 report a crash; across all 205 complaints, owners report 23 injuries and 6 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Nissan Maxima has a mixed reliability profile, with 205 owner complaints and 9 recall campaigns. Air bags and engine issues are notable, but no defect class leaks from few complaints to major issues. This suggests an average reliability rating; common problems are not extremely prevalent. Overall, while there may be specific issues to monitor, extensive reliability problems are not apparent.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 80,000-120,000 miles | $500–$2,000 | common |
| Air bags | Unknown | $200–$800 | common |
| Vehicle speed control | 90,000-130,000 miles | $300–$900 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Coolant system flush
- Timing belt replacement
- Spark plug replacements
- Air filter replacement
- Brake pad and rotor replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unresponsive throttle
- Air bag warning light
- Engine overheating
- Brake pedal vibration
- Unusual engine noises
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Nissan Maxima at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.