VehicleVerdict

2002 Nissan Maxima speed control problems

The 2002 Nissan Maxima has 23 speed control complaints filed with NHTSA — 8% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

23

Speed Control complaints

8%

Share of year

5

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Speed Control complaints by year

Related recalls

02V043000Speed ControlFebruary 12, 2002 · 39,000 units

Defect

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 DRIVER APPLIES OVERLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PUSHING IT TO THE RIGHT, THE PEDAL CAN "OVER TRAVEL" DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE PEDAL STOPPER.

Consequence

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.

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 RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 800-662-6200.

What owners report

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. VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. HAVING TECH CHECKOUT THE VEHICLE. *TR

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · July 18, 2013 · crash

Common questions

How many speed control complaints does the 2002 Nissan Maxima have?

NHTSA has 23 complaints about the 2002 Nissan Maxima speed control — 8% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2002 Nissan Maxima speed control?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the speed control: 02V043000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.