Worst 2002 Nissan Maxima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Airbags
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Unintended Acceleration
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Nissan Maxima.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 21 | 7 | — | 104,365 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 20 | — | — | 9,422 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 20 | 5 | — | 62,140 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 19 | 1 | — | 130,413 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 17 | — | — | 86,183 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 16 | 1 | — | 124,852 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 10 | 1 | — | 42,476 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 9 | 3 | — | 123,102 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 8 | — | — | 41,286 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 7 | 1 | — | 47,550 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 6 | 2 | — | 104,747 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 | 4 | — | 78,736 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 5 | — | — | 78,703 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 5 | 1 | — | 79,232 mi | |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 3 | 3 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Hood | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Sunroof/Moonroof | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 2 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Nissan Maxima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2002 Nissan Maxima
2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,398,531 vehicles.
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 passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
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.
Other Nissan Maxima Years
2002 Nissan Maxima — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Nissan Maxima reliable?
What are common problems with the 2002 Nissan Maxima?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Nissan Maxima?
How safe is the 2002 Nissan Maxima?
Does the 2002 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2002 Nissan Maxima?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Maxima reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Nissan Maxima
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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