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2004 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Maxima years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Nissan Maxima are substantially higher than the model-year median of 99.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

1,189 reports with mileage · 236 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 934 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 141 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 102 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

33 crash reports16 fire reports22 injury reports

Child Seat complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2006
Child Seat

I HAD A NEW BORN IN OCTOBER 2006. I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW BRITAX DECATHLON CAR SEAT AND HAVE HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE PUTTING IT ONTO MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE BACK SEAT LATCH ANCHOR (THE ONE BEHIND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND CLOSE TO THE MIDDLE) IS VERY HARD TO REACH BECAUSE IT WAS HIDDEN IN BETWEEN TWO SEAT BELT BUCKLES. IT IS …

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I HAD A NEW BORN IN OCTOBER 2006. I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW BRITAX DECATHLON CAR SEAT AND HAVE HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE PUTTING IT ONTO MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE BACK SEAT LATCH ANCHOR (THE ONE BEHIND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND CLOSE TO THE MIDDLE) IS VERY HARD TO REACH BECAUSE IT WAS HIDDEN IN BETWEEN TWO SEAT BELT BUCKLES. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO BE LATCHED ON. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10172970

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2006
Child SeatService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING LOUD RATTLING NOISE WHEN DRIVING AND SEVERE SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. IN APRIL 2006 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY STATED THE STRUTS AND SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE PLACED AND INSISTED I PAY FOR IT. THE STRUTS HAD BEEN REPLACED IN THE CAR PREVIOUSLY IN APRIL…

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MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING LOUD RATTLING NOISE WHEN DRIVING AND SEVERE SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. IN APRIL 2006 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY STATED THE STRUTS AND SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE PLACED AND INSISTED I PAY FOR IT. THE STRUTS HAD BEEN REPLACED IN THE CAR PREVIOUSLY IN APRIL OF 2005 ALONG WITH DEFECTIVE ROTORS. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED THE BELTS BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE CRACKING. I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR TWO YEARS YET, BUT PARTS ON THIS VEHICLE CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION EXHIBITING ALL SIGNS OF DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING. ADDITIONALLY I REPLACED TWO OF THE ORIGINALLY TIRES (GOODYEAR RSA 18") AT 12K AND 20K MILES FOR TEARS IN THE SIDEWALLS. I HAVE REVIEWED THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON FILE FOR THIS VEHICLE FROM OTHER OWNERS AND UNFORTUNATELY I SHARE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH MY MAXIMA. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10154609

Official recalls

2

05V512000 · Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Nov 7, 2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE DRIVER PREFERRED PACKAGE, THE WIRE HARNESS FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT POWER LUMBAR SUPPORT SWITCH MAY BE ROUTED INCORRECTLY AND COULD BE PINCHED UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A PINCHED HARNESS, IN COMBINATION WITH DRIVING VIBRATION, MAY RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE HARNESS THAT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE IN THE SEAT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS AND ROUTE IT CORRECTLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 16, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

04V326000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Jul 7, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SKYVIEW ROOFS, THE GLASS FOR THE ROOF MAY NOT HAVE BEEN QUENCHED PROPERLY AFTER THE FORMING PROCESS, RESULTING IN TEMPER IMBALANCE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CREATE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL STRESS IN THE GLASS AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE GLASS TO SHATTER, CREATING A RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE GLASS IN THE SKYVIEW ROOF. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE04035 · Glass Roof Shattering

Opened Apr 12, 2004 · Closed Jul 13, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON APRIL 12, 2004, BASED ON FIVE REPORTS INDICATING THAT THE SKYVIEW GLASS-PANELED ROOF, WHICH IS STANDARD EQUIPMENT IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA VEHICLES, WOULD SUDDENLY SHATTER WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE.FIVE INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO ODI, RESULTING IN CUTS TO THE HEAD, HANDS, ARMS, OR FACE.NISSAN DISCOVERED THAT THEIR SUPPLIER FOR THE SKYVIEW GLASS PANELED ROOF DID NOT PROPERLY QUENCH (COOL) THE GLASS AFTER IT WAS FORMED.THE RESULTING TEMPER IMBALANCE COULD CREATE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL STRESS IN THE GLASS AND CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE GLASS TO SHATTER.NISSAN REPORTS THAT GLASS PRODUCED BEGINNING OCTOBER 23, 2003 WAS PROPERLY QUENCHED.NISSAN HAS INFORMED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL RECALL 32,100 MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMAS BUILT FROM THE BEGINNING OF PRODUCTION THRU DECEMBER 17, 2003.IT REPORTS THAT VEHICLES BUILT AFTER DECEMBER 17 ARE NOT AFFECTED.TO CORRECT THE CONDITION NISSAN WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING SKYVIEW GLASS WITH NEW PROPERLY QUENCHED GLASS.NISSAN WILL BEGIN OWNER NOTIFICATION ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2004.ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY ONE COMPLAINT AND NISSAN REPORTS NO COMPLAINTS OF SKYVIEW GLASS PANELED ROOF BREAKAGE ON VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THE DECEMBER 17 DATE.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED, HOWEVER THE AGENCY WILL MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AS APPROPRIATE.