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2007 NISSAN MAXIMA

3.5L V6 VQ35DE•FWD•CVT•gas•VQ35DE
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5-Year Cost of Ownership
$30,992 maintenance + known platform issues
~$6,198/yr · 520¢/mile equivalent · $6,165 maintenance + $7,492 expected platform issues
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3.5L V6 VQ35DE
Common Problems & Known Issues

The 2007 Maxima with the VQ35DE is generally solid, but this generation suffers from catastrophic CVT transmission failures and oil consumption issues that can grenade engines if ignored. These two issues alone define ownership risk.

CVT Transmission Failure (RE0F10A)

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: shuddering during acceleration, slipping between 40-60 mph, whining or grinding noise, sudden loss of forward movement, transmission overheating warnings
Fix: Nissan's CVTs from this era are notorious for internal belt and pulley wear leading to complete failure. Transmission cooler can fail first, accelerating damage. Replacement with remanufactured unit requires 8-10 hours labor. Used units are gambles. No reliable rebuild market.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500

Excessive Oil Consumption / Piston Ring Failure

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: burning 1+ quart per 1,000 miles, blue smoke on startup or acceleration, fouled spark plugs, P0300-series misfire codes, catastrophic engine failure if oil runs low
Fix: VQ35DE develops excessive ring wear and cylinder glazing. Minor cases need valve stem seals (6-8 hrs), but true ring failure requires complete teardown, hone, rings, bearings, gaskets (25-30 hrs). Many opt for low-mileage used engine swap (12-16 hrs) as more cost-effective than rebuild.
Estimated cost: $3,000-6,500

Front Lower Control Arm Bushing Deterioration

Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: clunking over bumps, steering wheel vibration at highway speed, uneven inner tire wear, wandering on the highway
Fix: OEM bushings are rubber and fail predictably. Requires replacement of entire control arm assembly on each side as bushings aren't serviceable separately. 2.5-3 hours per side including alignment. Aftermarket arms are hit-or-miss on quality.
Estimated cost: $600-900

Transmission Cooler Line and Radiator Combo Failure

Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: milky transmission fluid, coolant contamination, transmission slipping after coolant mixing, overheating, strawberry milkshake fluid in overflow
Fix: Internal transmission cooler in radiator can leak, allowing coolant and ATF to mix—instant death for CVT. Requires radiator replacement, full CVT fluid flush, and often new CVT if contamination went unnoticed. Prevention: external CVT cooler add-on. Repair is 4-5 hours if caught early.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 (if CVT survives); $4,500+ if CVT damaged

Crankshaft Position Sensor Failure

Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: intermittent no-start condition, stalling when hot, sudden engine shutdown while driving, P0335 or P0340 codes, crank-no-start
Fix: Sensor fails due to heat cycling. Located behind timing cover on some VQ35DE applications, requiring serpentine belt removal and sometimes AC compressor repositioning. 1.5-2.5 hours depending on access. Always replace with OEM—aftermarket sensors fail frequently.
Estimated cost: $250-450

Engine Mount Failure (Especially Transmission Mount)

Common · low severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: excessive vibration at idle, clunking on acceleration or deceleration, engine rocking visible under hood, shifter vibration
Fix: Hydraulic mounts wear and collapse. Transmission mount is worst offender due to CVT vibration characteristics. Front and rear engine mounts follow. Each mount 1-1.5 hours, most shops do all three at once for 3-4 hours total. Dramatically improves NVH when replaced.
Estimated cost: $500-800

Mass Airflow Sensor Contamination/Failure

Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: rough idle, hesitation on acceleration, poor fuel economy, P0171/P0174 lean codes, check engine light
Fix: MAF sensors get contaminated by oil vapor from aging PCV system or over-oiled aftermarket air filters. Cleaning with MAF-specific cleaner works temporarily, but replacement is 0.3 hours and permanent fix. Always use OEM or quality aftermarket—cheap sensors throw false readings.
Estimated cost: $200-350
Owner tips
  • Check CVT fluid condition every 30,000 miles—dark or burnt smell means damage is occurring; change fluid with OEM NS-2 only
  • Monitor oil consumption religiously starting at 80,000 miles; catching ring wear early can prevent engine destruction
  • Install external transmission cooler as preventive measure—$300 investment that protects $4,000 CVT
  • Avoid cheap aftermarket oil filters and extended drain intervals—VQ35DE is sensitive to oil quality with its variable valve timing
Pass unless you find one with documented CVT replacement and oil consumption history—too many $4,000+ landmines for the average used buyer.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
485 jobs across 17 categories
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Mechanic · 20+ years.
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