← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

Power Train complaints

934 reports
Clear category filter
11,600 miles · Nov 9, 2011
Power Train

FAULTY TRANSMISSION, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, NISSAN SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE MODELS AND TAKEN CARE OF THE ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435027

100,000 miles · Nov 1, 2011
Power Train

BASED ON WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE, THIS IS THE SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUE THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER 6TH GENERATION NISSAN MAXIMA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VIOLENTLY DURING A CHANGE FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, 2ND TO 1ST AND DRIVE TO REVERSE. DURING THIS TIME, THE CAR IS UNABLE TO ACCELE…

Read full complaint

BASED ON WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE, THIS IS THE SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUE THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER 6TH GENERATION NISSAN MAXIMA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VIOLENTLY DURING A CHANGE FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, 2ND TO 1ST AND DRIVE TO REVERSE. DURING THIS TIME, THE CAR IS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS AND WHEN IT DOES IT JERKS IT SO HARD IT FEELS LIKE I WAS REAR-ENDED. THIS HAPPENS ON ABOUT 20 TO 30% OF THE SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND A LITTLE LESS OFTEN IN THE OTHER TWO SITUATIONS. I HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO GET INTO 2 ACCIDENTS OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS WHEN THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN COMING OFF THE SHOULDER AND ONTO THE FREEWAY. THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE IS VERY HAZARDOUS AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433858

80,000 miles · Oct 31, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIGOROUSLY AND THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10433734

130,000 miles · Oct 19, 2011
Power Train

MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS BEEN A PERFECT CAR, NEEDING ONLY ROUTINE MAINTENANCE UNTIL RECENTLY. I'M AT 130,000 MILES AND OVER THE LAST FEW HUNDRED MILES THE CAR HAS BEEN JERKING AND SLAMMING INTO GEAR WHEN I GO FROM PARK TO REVERSE, DRIVE TO BRAKE/STOP TO REVERSE, AND DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED (IE: TAKING A CORNER) AND THEN ACCELE…

Read full complaint

MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS BEEN A PERFECT CAR, NEEDING ONLY ROUTINE MAINTENANCE UNTIL RECENTLY. I'M AT 130,000 MILES AND OVER THE LAST FEW HUNDRED MILES THE CAR HAS BEEN JERKING AND SLAMMING INTO GEAR WHEN I GO FROM PARK TO REVERSE, DRIVE TO BRAKE/STOP TO REVERSE, AND DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED (IE: TAKING A CORNER) AND THEN ACCELERATING. I TOOK THE CAR INTO MY MECHANIC, AND HE TOLD ME THE TRANNY IS ON THE WAY OUT. I'VE BEEN KEEPING TABS ON THE MAXIMA.ORG FORUMS AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS BECOMING A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. I HOPE NISSAN STEPS UP AND FIXES THESE ISSUES, BECAUSE I'M READY TO SELL MY CAR, AND I DON'T REALLY WANT TO HAVE TO DO THAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10430747

67,000 miles · Oct 7, 2011
Power Train

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH VERY BAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES...SLIPPING-JERKING-JUMPING-KICKING BETWEEN 1-2ND GEAR. IT IS VERY EMBARASSING TO RIDE ANYONE IN IT AND THE DEALERSHIP WANT OVER 4 THOUSAND TO FIX HELP. IS THERE A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS ANYONE KNOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10429089

82,000 miles · Oct 6, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION AND RECOMMENDED HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CUR…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION AND RECOMMENDED HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ODI #10428896

80,000 miles · Oct 5, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK SIGNIFICANTLY WITH HESITATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAI…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK SIGNIFICANTLY WITH HESITATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10428823

86,000 miles · Oct 4, 2011
Power Train

I BOUGHT MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SL 3.5 IN JANUARY 2011 WITH 80,000 MILES. THIS IS BY FAR THE NICEST CAR I'VE OWNED AND I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE LOW MILES, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT CAR AND HAVE VERY LITTLE ISSUES. IN AUGUST 2011 AT ABOUT 86,000 MILES IT STARTED JERKING REALLY BAD WHEN I SWITCH IN AND OUT OF PARK, DRIVE & REVER…

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SL 3.5 IN JANUARY 2011 WITH 80,000 MILES. THIS IS BY FAR THE NICEST CAR I'VE OWNED AND I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE LOW MILES, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT CAR AND HAVE VERY LITTLE ISSUES. IN AUGUST 2011 AT ABOUT 86,000 MILES IT STARTED JERKING REALLY BAD WHEN I SWITCH IN AND OUT OF PARK, DRIVE & REVERSE. IT ALSO STALLS AND JERKS WHILE I'M DRIVING. I NOTICE IT A LOT WHEN I'M STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND THEN START TO GO, OR WHEN SLOWING DOWN, OR WHEN IT'S AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHING GEARS, PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE TIME. IT'S VERY SCARY AND IRRITATING, I FEEL LIKE THE CAR COULD DIE AT ANY MOMENT, WHILE I'M SWITCHING INTO DRIVE OR EVEN WHILE I'M DRIVING. MECHANICS RECOMMENDED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH, BUT AREN'T SURE HOW TO DO IT ON THE NISSAN BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE CERTAIN HOSES THAT THEIR MACHINE HOOKS UP TO. I'VE DONE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM AND NOBODY HAS HAD GOOD RESULTS. NISSAN SHOULD EITHER RECALL THIS, OR FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT & PAY FOR IT. I JUST NEED TO KNOW HOW TO FIX IT, I DON'T LIKE FEELING LIKE I'M JUST OUT OF LUCK AND HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT, AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THIS WAS ALREADY A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY TO TRY EVERYTHING, AND I DON'T WANT TO KEEP DRIVING WHILE IT DOES THIS, I FEEL IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10428719

59,156 miles · Oct 3, 2011
Power Train

PRIOR TO MY MAXIMA'S TRANSMISSION GETTING STUCK IN 5TH GEAR, THE CAR HAS HAD ROUGH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WHILE ACCELERATING AND 2ND TO 1ST DECELERATING. BUT THIS USUALLY OCCURRED ONLY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN AROUND FOR ABOUT 7-10 MINUTES OR THE CAR BEING WARMED UP ALREADY. THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES O…

Read full complaint

PRIOR TO MY MAXIMA'S TRANSMISSION GETTING STUCK IN 5TH GEAR, THE CAR HAS HAD ROUGH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WHILE ACCELERATING AND 2ND TO 1ST DECELERATING. BUT THIS USUALLY OCCURRED ONLY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN AROUND FOR ABOUT 7-10 MINUTES OR THE CAR BEING WARMED UP ALREADY. THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES OR CHECK ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION LIGHT, UNTIL THE CAR WAS STUCK IN 5TH GEAR. WHEN THE CAR WAS STUCK IN 5TH GEAR, I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST STRUCK ME FROM BEHIND WHEN MY CAR LURCHED FORWARD FROM 1ST GEAR TO 5TH GEAR. THE CAR COULD NOT GAIN SPEED FAST ENOUGH COMING FROM THE STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR BEHIND DID NOT EXPECT MY CAR TO ALMOST STOP ABRUPTLY AS IT SHIFTED FROM 1ST TO 5TH GEAR ON IT'S OWN. SINCE THE CAR WAS STILL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR JUST UNDER 1000 MORE MILES, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THEY ONLY REPLACED THE CAM SENSOR CIRCUIT. THE CAR DID SHIFT THRU ALL IT'S GEARS FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. THEN STARTED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM OF ROUGH SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND BACK TO 1ST. BY THEN THE CAR ALREADY WENT PAST THE WARRANTY MILEAGE LIMIT TO HAVE NISSAN COVER THE REPAIR. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN BUT SINCE THERE WAS NO ERROR CODES AND THEY DID NOT LET THE CAR WARM UP TO REPRODUCE THE ROUGH SHIFTING, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. EVENTUALLY, 2YRS AFTER THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE CAM SENSOR CIRCUIT AND GOT THE CAR MOVING BUT STILL HAD THE ROUGH SHIFTING, I HAD SAVED ENOUGH MONEY TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION LOOKED AT AGAIN. THIS TIME I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE THAT SPECIALIZED IN NISSANS. AGAIN, SINCE THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES, THEY JUST REPLACED THE MOTOR MOUNTS, CHANGE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND RADIATOR MOUNTS. IT'S BEEN ABOUT 2YRS AND NOT THE TRANSMISSION IS GETTING WORSE ON THE ROUGH SHIFTING....STILL NO ERROR CODES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10428334

84,500 miles · Oct 3, 2011
Power Train

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY AND WOULD CONTINUALLY SLIP INTO 5TH GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10428277

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.