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2002 Nissan Maxima Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 2002 Nissan Maxima, and owners have filed 205 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
205
owner complaints to NHTSA
27 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
20–21
MPG combined (EPA)

6 safety recalls for the 2002 Nissan Maxima

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 20V008000 Reported 307,962 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    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, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal…

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer…

  2. Air bags

    NHTSA 15V287000 Reported 1,090,569 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    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 deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: On December 18,…

  3. Engine and engine cooling

    NHTSA 03V455000 Reported 630,000 vehicles potentially affected NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Camshaft position sensor(s), and in some cases, the variable timing control sensor(s). Vehicles involved in a previous recall campaign, 01v357, are also included in this…

  4. Suspension: lower arm

    NHTSA 02V146000 Reported 90,500 vehicles potentially affected NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the transverse links on the left and right sides with new ones. Owner notification began july 29, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do…

  5. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 02V043000 Reported 39,000 vehicles potentially affected NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    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…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new accelerator pedal stopper. Owner notification began march 11, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy…

  6. Power train

    NHTSA 02V010000 Reported 843 vehicles potentially affected NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    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."

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the odometer to determine if it is correct and, if not, will replace the speedometer/odometer assembly. Owner notification began december 12, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized…

205 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2002 Nissan Maxima have filed 205 complaints with NHTSA; 27 describe a crash. Reports cite 23 injuries and 6 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 72,471 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 38 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 24, 2025 · Electrical system

“Driving vehicle on road and the accelerator pedal no longer working vehicle. coasted to the side. Car had to be towed. Vehicle cranking without problem but will not accelerate pedal goes to floor. At”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 5, 2025 · Unknown or other

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2002 Nissan Maxima. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined20–21 mpg
City / Highway17–19 / 24–26
FuelRegular
EPA classMidsize Cars
Engine6 cyl, 3.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 6-spd

Compare Nissan Maxima model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Nissan Maxima model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1982 Nissan Maxima04
1983 Nissan Maxima05
1984 Nissan Maxima030
1985 Nissan Maxima154
1986 Nissan Maxima160
1987 Nissan Maxima0176
1988 Nissan Maxima060
1989 Nissan Maxima162
1990 Nissan Maxima1106
1991 Nissan Maxima176
1992 Nissan Maxima2110
1993 Nissan Maxima378
1994 Nissan Maxima289
1995 Nissan Maxima0152
1996 Nissan Maxima096
1997 Nissan Maxima1102
1998 Nissan Maxima1113
1999 Nissan Maxima0165
2000 Nissan Maxima0360
2001 Nissan Maxima3172
2002 Nissan Maxima6205
2003 Nissan Maxima3206
2004 Nissan Maxima21,426
2005 Nissan Maxima2948
2006 Nissan Maxima2576
2007 Nissan Maxima1129
2008 Nissan Maxima079
2009 Nissan Maxima1339
2010 Nissan Maxima1275
2011 Nissan Maxima0106
2012 Nissan Maxima0107
2013 Nissan Maxima062
2014 Nissan Maxima096
2015 Nissan Maxima01
2016 Nissan Maxima8142
2017 Nissan Maxima4103
2018 Nissan Maxima236
2019 Nissan Maxima118
2020 Nissan Maxima122
2021 Nissan Maxima03
2022 Nissan Maxima05
2023 Nissan Maxima01

Checking a specific 2002 Nissan Maxima

How do I know if my 2002 Nissan Maxima has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 2002 Nissan Maxima; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Nissan dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V010000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Nissan models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.