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2000 Nissan Maxima Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2000 Nissan Maxima has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Ignition coil failure with misfire and check engine light.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2000 Nissan Maxima.

Reported to NHTSA

Ignition coil failure with misfire and check engine light

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

106 NHTSA complaints · 2005-02 → 2014-09

“THE ENGINE HAS 6 SEPARATE COILS. THE FIRST COIL FAILED AND WAS REPLACED BY THE NISSAN DEALER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10294603
“EARLY FAILURE OF ONE OR MORE IGNITION COILS. THE DEALER (AND NEIGHBORHOOD MECHANIC) CAN'T TELL WHICH, SO ALL 6 HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $800+”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10218083
“IGNITION COILS FAILED CAUSING SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. CODE WAS RESET AFTER THE FIRST TIME, AND ON 10-23-06 IT RETURNED AGAIN WITH A CODE OF P1320”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10171861

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Corroded radiator support, subframe and engine mount

STRUCTURE

22 NHTSA complaints · 2010-04 → 2018-11

“THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT IS ONLY PARTIALLY ATTACHED AS THE MAIN BEAM IS SEVERELY RUSTED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10605283
“THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT BEAM IS SEVERELY CORRODED IN THE CENTER WHERE THE LOWER ENGINE MOUNT BRACKET IS BOLTED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10564137
“THE FRAME IS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT ON MY 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH 158,000 MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10865306

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transmission slipping or losing drive

POWER TRAIN

7 NHTSA complaints · 2005-04 → 2011-09

“LONG DRIVES IN HOT WEATHER (ABOVE 85 DEGREES) CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. IT USUALLY OCCURS 45 MINUTES INTO A STEADY DRIVE OF 60 TO 75 MPH OR HEAVY STOP AND START DRIVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10202330
“MY MAXIMA JUMPS OR SLIPS OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. I WAS JUST DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10237053

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bags not deploying in a collision

AIR BAGS

8 NHTSA complaints · 2005-05 → 2016-06

“DRIVER AND PASSENGER NORTHBOUND ON I-805 REAR ENDED A DODGE DURANGO SUV @ 50-60 MPH 6:30 AM; BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY; BOTH TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM FOR MINOR INJURIES; VEHICLE IRREPAIRABLE AND TOTAL LOSS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10433191
“I WAS INVOLVED IN A 50MPH COLLISION WITH DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AND DRIVERS SIDE. FRONTAL AIRBAGS AND SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN CHEST INJURIES, UPPER TORSO INJURIES, AND NECK INJURIES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10267583
“THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10716748

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Idle air control valve and ECM faults with stalling

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

5 NHTSA complaints · 2005-03 → 2012-02

“WITHIN 30 DAYS OF REPLACING THE PART, THE ELECTRONIC MOTOR MOUNT WIRING SHORTED OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE NEW PART TO BURN, AS WELL AS THE COMPUTER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10225815
“TOOK CAR TO SHOP AND WAS TOLD A 2 DOLLAR O-RING ON THE AUTO CONTROL VALVE HAD ALLOWED AIR LEAKAGE AND THIS IN TURNED CAUSED FAILURE OF THE ECM ELECTRON CONTROL MODULE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10449066

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

CVT Fluid (NS-3)

Every 60,000 mi

Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 75,000 mi

Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD models)

Every 60,000 mi

On AWD and 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

388 crashes 1990–2024

How the 388 occupant deaths break down

270

driver deaths

117

passenger deaths

1

not recorded by seat

388

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2000 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

27

complaints mentioning a crash

6

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2000 Nissan Maxima reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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