Nissan Maxima 2000–2003

5th generation (A33) · A33 / A33B · 1,219 complaints, 804 with mileage

When failures happen

What fails, and when

By model year

Which systems, and when

Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 69,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The electrical system accounts for 20.3% of complaints (247 reports, 188 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 56,275 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 43,000 and 85,750 miles.

The engine and its cooling system accounts for 15.5% of complaints (189 reports, 142 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 38,000 and 100,000 miles.

The airbag system accounts for 9.9% of complaints (121 reports, 68 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 106,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 57,800 and 150,000 miles.

The engine accounts for 6.4% of complaints (78 reports, 68 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 123,966 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 98,000 and 150,000 miles.

The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 6.0% of complaints (73 reports, 39 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 26,950 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,683 and 43,000 miles.

The exterior lighting accounts for 5.2% of complaints (63 reports, 25 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 17,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 6,400 and 90,000 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2000 model year drew the most — 467 complaints — while 2001 drew the fewest at 225. The median year sits at 263.

The first year of the generation, 2000, sits above the median. That is a common pattern — early production of a redesigned vehicle tends to surface problems that later years do not repeat — and it is worth weighing when choosing between years.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 2 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.

The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (2). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.

Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.

Reported severity

Of the 1,219 complaints filed against this generation, 105 reported a crash; 14 reported a fire; 89 reported an injury; 10 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 8.6% of the total.

These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 39,131 and 116,000 miles, with a median of 69,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, the electrical system and the engine and its cooling system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 56,275, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.

None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.

Documented problems

Recalls (2)

What owners reported

Other generations

• Nissan Maxima 1995–1999
• Nissan Maxima 2004–2008
• Nissan Maxima 2009–2014
• Nissan Maxima 2016–2023