There are 11 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2002 Nissan Maximain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SWERVE AND MADE ALOUD CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL ARM WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 188,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS AT ANY SPEED A CLANKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SUSPENSION. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V146000, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
FRONT WHEEL NUT THAT SECURES WHEEL HUB TO CV-JOINT CAME LOOSE IN MY 2002 MAXIMA. NUT WAS BACKED UP TO THE COTTER PIN. ALSO, THIS HAPPENED LAST YEAR ON MY WIFE'S 2000 MAXIMA. I THINK NISSAN MADE A BAD DESIGN DECISION WHEN THEY CHOSE NOT TO USE A LOCKING WASHER/NUT FOR THIS DESIGN. I HAVE A JPEG PICTURE OF RESULTANT WHEEL WOBBLE.*AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THERE WAS ALSO A KNOCKING SOUND AND ABNORMAL STEERING WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO WANDER INTO THE OTHER LANE WHILE DRIVING . THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 02V146000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER ARM AND A NHTSA RECALL # 02V043000 REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
DT: A KNOCKING NOISE AND ABNORMAL STEERING. WHILE DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED, AND DEALER HAD NOT SAID WHAT WAS WRONG. THIS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN STEERING.*AK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND THAT NO FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
REFUSAL TO DO A SAFETY RECALL. 2 NISSAN MAXIMA TRANSVERSE LINK SAFETY RECALL. REQUESTED APPOINTMENT @ ARRIVAL THEY REQUESTED FUNDING AND ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR A REQUIRED PER NISSAN SAFETY A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AT EXTRA COST. / PER OTHER NISSAN DEALER AS WELL AS ANOTHER EMPLOYEE @ POUGHKEEPSIE NISSAN IT IS REQUIRED TO DO A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. *AK
2002 NISSAN MAXIMA SE WHEN MAKING SHARP LEFT TURNS, ACCELERATING FROM STOPPED POSITION, LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM FRONT SUSPENSION IS PRESENT MORE THAN 50% OF THE TIME. HAVE RETURNED CAR TO DEALER 6 TIMES OVER 18 MONTHS WITH NO RESOLUTION. DEALER HAS PERFORMED ONLY ONE ACTUAL REPAIR - WHICH DID NOT ADDRES PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BECOME UNCOOPERATIVE STATING THEY HAVE DONE "ALL THEY CAN". *AK
CONSUMER'S VEHCILE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AS IN RECALL NUMBER 02 V 146 000, BUT VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED BY IT'S VIN. PLEASE FILL IN. MR
WHILE DRIVING 20MPH SUSPENSION CAUSED STEERING TO GO OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.*AK THE TRANSVERSE LINK BROKE, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *JG
2002 NISSAN MAXIMA HAD ABS MODULE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH A VERY LOUD EAR PIERCING SCREECHING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE SOUND WAS INTERMITTENT, SO IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE DEALER TO DUPLICATE. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED, BUT THEY WERE FOUND TO BE OK. THE CONSUMER STATED ON ONE OCCASION, HER HUSBAND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, THE ABS CAME ON AS HE APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ABS ACTUATOR AND THE REAR ABS SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE SCREECHING NOISE WAS DUE TO A BAD WHEEL BEARING. *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026