Is the 2002 Nissan Maxima a bad year?
205 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 43, 4.3× a quiet Maxima year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 4.3× the complaints of a quiet Maxima year, spread over 33k–136k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2002 Maxima owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 117,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 43 (21%) | 33k–136k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bags | 29 (14%) | 62k–150k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 22 (11%) | 51k–135k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Suspension | 13 (6%) | 37k–118k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Speed control | 23 (11%) | 38k–95k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 22 (11%) | 6k–38k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 20 (10%) | 16k–54k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 14 (7%) | 30k–96k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 9 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 117,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 205 complaints: 27 mention a crash · 15 report an injury · 3 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Mar 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Per Nissan, no recalls on the following= 1.CD player does not work, shows error 2. Fuel gauge does not work, shows full all the time and have ran out of gas-complete safety hazard!!
Had a throttle body cleaning done on my car and as soon as I left the mechanic shop my engine light came on.
While traveling at 65 MPH, the vehicle would shut off. The driver lost the brakes, and steering and had to manually come to a safe stop.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 117,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2002 Nissan Maxima: 9
The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti 2002-2003 QX4, 2006-2010 M35 and M45; Nissan 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, and both driver and passenger-side inflators designed to fit 2007-2012 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback vehicles. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
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. This could cause the "Service engine soon" Warning light to come on, create a no start condition, cause reduced engine power, or cause the engine to stop running without warning during vehicle operation, which could result in a crash.
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. This can cause a knocking sound and abnormal steering. This could result in difficulty controlling the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
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. This will cause the engine malfunction indicator lamp to come on and the engine speed to be severely limited. If this occurs unexpectedly, it could lead to a crash.
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."
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 26
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2002 Nissan Maxima. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
Identify: A leaking strut or a shock absorber that qualifies for replacement under warranty
Vent control valve replacement
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light on/flashing
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2001 Maxima: 172 complaints, keep it · 2003 Maxima: 206 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Nissan Maxima year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · All Maxima years side by side
Other Nissan models: Nissan 350Z · Nissan 370Z · Nissan Altima · Nissan Armada · Nissan Cube · Nissan Frontier · Nissan Juke · Nissan Kicks · Nissan Leaf · Nissan Murano · Nissan Pathfinder · Nissan Quest · Nissan Rogue · Nissan Rogue Sport · Nissan Sentra · Nissan Titan · Nissan Titan XD · Nissan Versa · Nissan Versa Note · Nissan Xterra. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2002 Nissan Maxima a bad year?
205 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 43, 4.3× a quiet Maxima year. At 117,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 4.3× the complaints of a quiet Maxima year, spread over 33k–136k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Nissan Maxima?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (43), air bags (29), electrical system (22), suspension (13), speed control (23). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 33k–136k miles.
How many recalls does the 2002 Nissan Maxima have?
9 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 22E066000), Air bags (NHTSA 20V-008), Air bags (NHTSA 15V-287), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09E025000) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.