2001 NISSAN MAXIMA Suspension Problems

Unknown. Recently bought vehicle, it's in great condition other than there is noticeable problems with the front and rear steering and suspension, missing airbags with no sign of being wrecked, windows and window buttons don't work as well as power seat, and a awful gas smell and fume. Inside vehicle after. Pumping gas. Wanting to see about any recalls or defects that can be fixed without out of pocket costs if at all possible . Don't know the vehicles recall or repair history.

THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT BEAM RUSTED OUT CAUSING THE ENGINE SUPPORT TO BRAKE FREE FROM THE BEAM. NOW THE ENTIRE LOWER SUPPORT BEAM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH COST OF LABOR AND PARTS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO ALL THE CAR WEBSITES AND THE YOUTUBE VIDEOS SHOWING HOW TO CHANGE OUT THE BEAM. I DO NOT SEE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS. FOR AS MANY PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. PEOPLE WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM 5 YRS AGO ACCORDING TO THE VIDEOS AND REPORTS. ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THIS TYPE OF CORROSION ISSUES WITH THIS NISSAN MODEL AND YEAR. ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT CAN OCCUR WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IF THE BEAM BREAKS WHILE IN MOTION AT HIGH SPEED. THERE ARE STILL A LARGE NUMBER OF THIS YEAR AND MAKE ON THE STREET AND NO WARNINGS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Mileage: 177,000

I SEE ON YOUR WEBSITE MY MODEL YEAR 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA WAS RECALLED FOR AIR BAGS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE AIR BAGS. ALSO THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM TRANSVERSE LINK PINS. I DON'T EVER REMEMBER SEEING A RECALL FOR THAT EITHER

MY SUSPENSION HAS TO BE FIX.

Mileage: 120,000

I WAS AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL AND IT WOULD GO. I HAD TO USE EXTREME FORCE FOR THE CAR TO GO. EVER SINCE FEBRUARY 2014, ITS BEEN HAPPENING EVERY DAY. I'M SCARED THE GAS PEDAL'S GOING TO GET STUCK AND ILL CRASH. WHEN I TURN I HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TIRE/SUSPENSION. *TR

Mileage: 187,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT CONTROL ARM AND MOTOR MOUNT FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A BUMP, HE HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND REFERENCED RECALL 02V146000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM) BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

Mileage: 97,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A KNOCKING AND GROUNDING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V146000, SUSPENSION ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59000.

Mileage: 59,000

THE PIN AT THE END OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION TRANSVERSE LINK (LOWER CONTROL ARM) BROKE OFF WHERE IT IS MOUNTED TO THE FRAME. THIS IS CAUSING A KNOCKING SOUND AND ABNORMAL STEERING. THIS IS RESULTING IN DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING RECALL NOTICE 02V146000. THEY STATED THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL, EVEN THOUGH I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, YEAR OF AUTO. WE HAVE TRIED TO REPLACE THE PIN, BUT HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. *TR

Mileage: 88,722

THE PIN AT THE END OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION TRANSVERSE LINK (LOWER CONTROL ARM) BROKE OFF WHERE IT IS MOUNTED TO THE FRAME. THIS IS CAUSING A KNOCKING SOUND AND ABNORMAL STEERING. THIS IS RESULTING IN DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING RECALL NOTICE 02V146000. THEY STATED THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL, EVEN THOUGH I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, YEAR OF AUTO. WE HAVE TRIED TO REPLACE THE PIN, BUT HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. *TR

Mileage: 88,722

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT THE STEERING VEERS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT REPEATEDLY DURING BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SUSPENSION SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED. THE MECHANIC MENTIONED HEARING ABOUT A RECALL AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V146000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM). THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE CONTACT FEELS IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

Mileage: 105,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN VEERING TO THE RIGHT. A MONTH LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP DUE TO A FLAT TIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. WITHIN THE SAME MONTH, THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE REPAIR SHOP DUE TO THE TIRE AND ALIGNMENT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSVERSE LINK WAS DEFECTIVE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT. THE MECHANIC FURTHER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL RELATING TO THIS FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. UPDATED 01/06/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/06/09. *JB

Mileage: 127,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A CONSTANT KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND DIAGNOSED IT AS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE NOISE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT ALSO BEGAN EXPERIENCING STEERING FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECENT FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE LOWER ARM SUSPENSION. SHE FOUND A RECALL REGARDING THE SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, BUT NISSAN STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT HER VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

Mileage: 100,000

HAVE A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA AND THE PIN ON THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT AROUND 75,000 MILES. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PART, BUT MY CAR WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SOME REASON. THIS PART, IF DEFECTIVE, REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND I AM VERY SUSPICIOUS AS TO THE REASONS WHY THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE'S VIN. THE LOSS OF CONTROLL WAS EXTREMELY NOTICABLE AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE BREAKING AND CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 77,700

HAVE A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA AND THE PIN ON THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT AROUND 75,000 MILES. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PART, BUT MY CAR WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SOME REASON. THIS PART, IF DEFECTIVE, REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND I AM VERY SUSPICIOUS AS TO THE REASONS WHY THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE'S VIN. THE LOSS OF CONTROLL WAS EXTREMELY NOTICABLE AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE BREAKING AND CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 77,700

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON ROUGH SURFACES 15 TO 40 MPH THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WAS UNSTABLE. THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED AND THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND HEARD COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE PROBLEMS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. THERE IS NHTSA RECALL # 02V146000, REGARDING THE FRONT CONTROL ARM; LOWER ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 06/07/2006. *AK

Mileage: 52,500

FRONT WHEEL BEARING WENT WRONG AFTER LESS THAN 55K MILES. *NM

MY CONTROL ARM ON MY '01 MAXIMA BROKE. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS YEAR, MY VIN # ISN'T INCLUDED SO NISSAN WON'T FIX. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A COMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW NISSAN CAN KNOW EXACTLY WHICH VEHICLES THIS RECALL AFFECTS IF MISTAKES WERE MADE. THANKFULLY I WASN'T ON A FREEWAY AT THE TIME. IF YOU HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM, MY CONTACT IS [email protected]. *NM

Mileage: 62,560

I HAVE A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA SE 20TH ANNIV. [XXX] AND RECENTLY (ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS AGO) I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY FRONT SUSPENSION - WHENEVER I GO OVER BUMPS OR ANY SORT OF ROAD CRACKS, I HEAR THE BANGING (KNOCKING) SOUND IN MY FRONT SUSPENSION ON BOTH SIDES AND THE STEERING (HANDLING) HAS BECOME REALLY SLOPPY. THIS WEEK I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC BUT I ACCIDENTALLY CAME ACROSS SOME INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OVER 90,000 2001-2002 MAXIMAS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY NISSAN FOR FREE FIXING. TO BE EXACT THE SAFETY NHTSA RECALL NUMBER IS 02V146 AND THE DESCRIPTION IS "THE PIN AT THE END OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION TRANSVERSE LINK (LOWER CONTROL ARM) COULD BREAK WHERE IT IS MOUNTED TO THE FRAME, CAUSING A KNOCKING SOUND AND ABNORMAL STEERING, RESULTING IN DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE AND INCREASING THE RISK OF CRASH. DEALERS SHOULD REPLACE THE TRANSVERSE LINKS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES WITH NEW ONES. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN." ANYWAYS, THIS MORNING I CALLED NISSAN CANADA AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT RECALLED, BECAUSE APPARENTLY WHEN THEY BEGAN RECALLING ON JUNE 24, 2002, THEY DETERMINED THE MANUFACTURING DATE RANGE FROM JUNE 2001 TO JANUARY 2002. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN OCTOBER 2000; HOWEVER IF IT HAS BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE FOR OVER 90,000 SAME VEHICLES - HOW ACCURATE THEIR DECISION IS??? ALL I WANT IS TO FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR BUT IN MY CASE NISSAN DO NOT WISH TO COOPERATE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS A WAY TO HELP ME AND TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THE BEST WAY TO CONTACT ME IS E-MAIL: [XXX] OR CELL [XXX] OR [XXX]. PLEASE LET ME KNOW, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO PROCESS AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR KNOWING WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT IT IS A RECALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION! *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mileage: 300,000

THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A SUSPENSION PROBLEM. DRIVER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHOOK. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A PART FOR SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. . *AK THE DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM PART HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED YET. ALL CONTACT WITH NISSAN CORP PERTAINING TO THIS MATTER HAS BEEN IGNORED. *BF *NM

Mileage: 33,077

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING WOULD BE HARD TO STEER. RECALL 02V146000 CONCERNING FRONT SUSPENSION ARM WAS ISSUED. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

Mileage: 32,000

LOUD KNOCKING UNDER FRONT OF THE CAR, I REPLACED THE BEARINGS AND NOISE STOPPED FOR A WHILE. THE KNOCKING HAS COME BACK AND THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BE HARD TO MOVE AND SOMETIME JERKS TO THE SIDE. ALSO THE WHOLE TAIL LIGHT GOES OUT, I HAVE CHANGED THE LIGHT BULBS FOUR TIMES ALREADY WITHIN A MONTH.*AK

I BELIEVE THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT I PURCHASED FOR MY 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA IS BEING INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED BY KYB AMERICA, LLC (SUBSIDIARY OF KAYABA INDUSTRY COMPANIES). PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE ABS LINE AND THE MAIN BRAKE LINE CAN NOT BE ACHIEVED DUE TO REASONS DOCUMENTED IN THE EXCERPT OF CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN MYSELF TO KYB AMERICA BELOW. THIS MONTH I HAVE BEGUN TO NOTICE SOME DANGEROUS WEARING ON MY BRAKE LINE CAUSED BY IMPROPER MANUFACTURING/INSTALLATION. KYB HAS ONLY RESPONDED TO MY INITIAL FORM FILLED OUT ONLINE WITH A GENERIC AUTO RESPONDER EMAIL LISTING THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION. THE PICTURE I REFERENCEBELOW IS AVAILABLE AT THE WEB ADDRESS: HTTP://WWW.ASTUTEINNOVATIONS.COM/STRUT.HTM THE FOLLOWING IS FROM AN EMAIL I SENT ON APRIL 15, 2004: "THE REASONS I THINK IT MAY BE MANUFACTURED WRONG ARE SHOWN ON THE PICTURE, HERE IS THE MAIN POINTS. "I CAN'T GET THE RETAINER CLIP FOR THE BRAKE LINE ONTO THE KYB STRUT BECAUSE OF A BENT LIP. THE BENT LIP IN THE PICTURE IS REFERRING TO THE OVERALL SHAPE OF THE METAL NOT THE ROUNDED TOP EDGE. "THE REAR ABS SENSOR MOUNT IS THE SAME AS THE NISSAN STRUT BUT THE FRONT SENSOR MOUNT HAS A MOUNT THAT OPENS FACING DOWN. THIS FORCES THE ABS SENSOR TO TAKE A SHARP TURN DOWN IN ORDER TO GET TO THE OPENING OF THE KYB MOUNT. I THINK I MENTIONED THAT MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON BUT IT IS NOW OFF. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME EVEN THOUGH I'M FAIRLY SURE THE ABS SYSTEM IS FINE. I ALSO HAD TO ZIP TIE THE BRAKE LINE TO THE KYB MOUNT BECAUSE OF THE RETAINER CLIP ISSUE & THIS ALSO SCARES ME BECAUSE IF THE ZIP TIES FAIL THEN MY BREAK LINE WOULD END UP DANGLING LOOSELY AND MIGHT GET DAMAGED AS A RESULT (I CHECK THE ZIP TIES EVERY TIME BEFORE I DRIVE THE VEHICLE)." THANK YOU CHUCK CHRISTIANSEN. *AK

VEHICLE WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL REGARDING THE SUSPENSION DUE TO THE VIN, BUT EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM STATED ON THE RECALL. *LA THE VEHICLE HAD TO GET A REALIGNMENT, THE BOTTOM COVER WAS LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT/LEFT AND THERE WAS AN ALTERNATOR PROBLEM WHERE THE BATTERY DID NOT CHARGE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE WITH GETTING THE VEHICLE FULLY CHECKED SINCE THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED OCCURRED DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. RECALL#02V146000. *SC *JB

Mileage: 14,125

VEHICLE HAS HAD BROKEN STRUTS, SPRING REALIGNMENT, WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUB ASSEMBLY.

VEHICLE HAS HAD BROKEN STRUTS, SPRING REALIGNMENT, WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUB ASSEMBLY.

REAR SUSPENSION IS NOT DESIGNED TO ACCOMDATE 4 ADULT PASSENGERS. TRUNK WAS EMPTY WITH FOUR PASSENGERS AND REAR SUSPENSION WOULD BOTTOM OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED, UNHELPFUL, AND MOST LIKELY STALLING UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRES.*AK