MYRModel Year Report

2002 Nissan Maxima

◆ Worse than typical
2002 Nissan Maxima
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
205
Recalls
9

Campaigns on file for 2002

Investigations
1

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

15% of complaints

Complaints per year

1982: 4 complaints 1982 1983: 5 complaints 1984: 30 complaints 1985: 54 complaints 1986: 63 complaints 1987: 178 complaints 1988: 60 complaints 1988 1989: 64 complaints 1990: 106 complaints 1991: 77 complaints 1992: 110 complaints 1993: 78 complaints 1994: 89 complaints 1994 1995: 152 complaints 1996: 96 complaints 1997: 102 complaints 1998: 113 complaints 1999: 165 complaints 2000: 360 complaints 2001: 172 complaints 2002: 205 complaints 2002 205 2003: 206 complaints 2004: 1,425 complaints 2005: 948 complaints 2006: 576 complaints 2007: 129 complaints 2008: 79 complaints 2009: 339 complaints 2010: 275 complaints 2011: 106 complaints 2012: 107 complaints 2012 2013: 62 complaints 2014: 96 complaints 2015: 1 complaint 2016: 142 complaints 2017: 104 complaints 2018: 36 complaints 2018 2019: 18 complaints 2020: 21 complaints 2021: 3 complaints 2022: 5 complaints 2023: 1 complaint
1982: 4 complaints 1982 1983: 5 complaints 1984: 30 complaints 1985: 54 complaints 1985 1986: 63 complaints 1987: 178 complaints 1988: 60 complaints 1988 1989: 64 complaints 1990: 106 complaints 1991: 77 complaints 1991 1992: 110 complaints 1993: 78 complaints 1994: 89 complaints 1994 1995: 152 complaints 1996: 96 complaints 1997: 102 complaints 1997 1998: 113 complaints 1999: 165 complaints 2000: 360 complaints 2001: 172 complaints 2002: 205 complaints 2002 205 2003: 206 complaints 2004: 1,425 complaints 2005: 948 complaints 2006: 576 complaints 2006 2007: 129 complaints 2008: 79 complaints 2009: 339 complaints 2009 2010: 275 complaints 2011: 106 complaints 2012: 107 complaints 2012 2013: 62 complaints 2014: 96 complaints 2015: 1 complaint 2015 2016: 142 complaints 2017: 104 complaints 2018: 36 complaints 2018 2019: 18 complaints 2020: 21 complaints 2021: 3 complaints 2021 2022: 5 complaints 2023: 1 complaint
1982: 4 complaints 1982 1983: 5 complaints 1984: 30 complaints 1984 1985: 54 complaints 1986: 63 complaints 1986 1987: 178 complaints 1988: 60 complaints 1988 1989: 64 complaints 1990: 106 complaints 1990 1991: 77 complaints 1992: 110 complaints 1992 1993: 78 complaints 1994: 89 complaints 1994 1995: 152 complaints 1996: 96 complaints 1996 1997: 102 complaints 1998: 113 complaints 1998 1999: 165 complaints 2000: 360 complaints 2000 2001: 172 complaints 2002: 205 complaints 2002 205 2003: 206 complaints 2004: 1,425 complaints 2004 2005: 948 complaints 2006: 576 complaints 2006 2007: 129 complaints 2008: 79 complaints 2008 2009: 339 complaints 2010: 275 complaints 2010 2011: 106 complaints 2012: 107 complaints 2012 2013: 62 complaints 2014: 96 complaints 2014 2015: 1 complaint 2016: 142 complaints 2016 2017: 104 complaints 2018: 36 complaints 2018 2019: 18 complaints 2020: 21 complaints 2020 2021: 3 complaints 2022: 5 complaints 2022 2023: 1 complaint

2002: 205 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19824
19835
198430
198554
198663
1987178
198860
198964
1990106
199177
1992110
199378
199489
1995152
199696
1997102
1998113
1999165
2000360
2001172
2002205
2003206
20041,425
2005948
2006576
2007129
200879
2009339
2010275
2011106
2012107
201362
201496
20151
2016142
2017104
201836
201918
202021
20213
20225
20231

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Air bags

15% · 30 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and side/window.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

[xxx] power steering system tires fuel pump air bags battery everything has been falling apart since 2018, it's been fixed and couple months later, the same problem comes up.

NHTSA ODI report, 2020-02-18

Also filed under Fuel system, gasoline and service brakes

Consumer states that was hit on the driver's side door by a vehicle travelling approximately 25-35MPH. The side impact air bag did not deploy.…

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-11-27

Engine and engine cooling

15% · 30 reports

Most commonly citing engine and exhaust system.

Electrical system

12% · 25 reports

Most commonly citing 12v/24v/48v battery and ignition.

CRASH

Vehicle speed control

11% · 23 reports

Most commonly citing accelerator pedal and linkages.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

The vehicle accelerated very high without touching gas pedal over powered the ABS braking system as I was approaching a main road could not stop at stop sign and kept going my front end of car was hit another vehicle going sb 45 MPH.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-07-26

While parking, foot pressed brake pedal and vehicle surged forward hitting a brick wall. Driver sustained minor injuries.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-05-20

Exterior lighting

11% · 23 reports

Most commonly citing headlights and tail lights.

DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2025-03-05

Safety timeline

9 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2001-12-12Power train02V010000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. ▮
    2002Complaint volume 205 complaints filed for this model year.
  3. R
    2002-03-11Vehicle speed control02V043000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2002-07-29Suspension02V146000 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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2003-12-22Engine and engine cooling03V455000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2015-06-15Air bags15V287000 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.

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2020-02-12Air bags20V008000 Nissan North America, Inc.

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. I
    2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  11. R
    2022-09-23Air bags22E066000 Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that may have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the inflators as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 14, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2002 Nissan Maxima — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 30 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine and engine cooling: 30 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 25 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 02V010000 · Power train
  • Recall 02V043000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 02V146000 · Suspension
  • Recall 03V455000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 15V287000 · Air bags
  • Recall 20V008000 · Air bags
  • Recall 22E066000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2002 Nissan Maxima reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 Nissan Maxima is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Nissan Maxima?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 15% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2002 Nissan Maxima have?
9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.