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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.

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
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60,000 miles · Jul 24, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainFire

GOOD MORNING, I CURRENTLY OWN 2004 MAXIMA & HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FOR ABOUT 2-3 YEARS. MY MAJOR PROBLEM AT FIRST WAS MY TRANSMISSION. APPARENTLY THE DEALERSHIP STATES I WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH IS ABSURD SINCE THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 10 YRS OLD. I KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR STARTED …

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GOOD MORNING, I CURRENTLY OWN 2004 MAXIMA & HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FOR ABOUT 2-3 YEARS. MY MAJOR PROBLEM AT FIRST WAS MY TRANSMISSION. APPARENTLY THE DEALERSHIP STATES I WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH IS ABSURD SINCE THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 10 YRS OLD. I KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR STARTED JERKING ON ITS OWN. AT TIMES IT JERKS REAL HARD WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND IT IS QUITE SCARY & EMBARRASSING. WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED, I HAVE TWO FRIENDS WHO WERE OWNERS OF A NISSAN MAXIMA AS WELL AND THEY WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME JERKING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THEY EVENTUALLY TRADED THEIR CARS BUT I NOT WANTED TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS OF FINANCING A CAR, I FIGURED I'LL FIX THE PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION IS ONE PROBLEM BUT WHY EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS THERE IS OTHER PROBLEMS AS WELL. FOR EXAMPLE I LAST YEAR I HAD TO CHANGE MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER, MY MOUNTS, AND MY ROUTERS. NOW WHAT HAS MADE ME AT MY ENDS WITH THIS CAR IS WHAT HAPPENED LAST MONTH (JUNE 2009). WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND, I OPENED THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND RIGHT BUY THE ENGINE, AND THERE WERE FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED ALONG WITH THE POLICE. AS I SUBMIT MY COMPLAINT NOW MY CAR IS STILL AT THE SHOP. THIS HAS BECOME A FRUSTRATED AND VERY EXPENSIVE ISSUE THAT I HAVE BEEN FACING. HONESTLY I HAVE SPENT ABOUT 5K'S OR MORE ON THIS CAR, NOT CONSIDERING THAT I'M STILL FINANCING AS WELL. HOW IS IT THAT, I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND THERE ARE MANY OTHERS OUT THERE WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. NISSAN NEEDS TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND IT IS NOT A COINCIDENCE ALSO. I HAVE DOCUMENTS AND EMAILS FROM OTHERS WHO ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE (OVER 300 COMPLAINTS SINCE 2006). PLS IF ANYTHING, THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INVESTIGATION, MANY PPL ARE SUFFERING AND LOSING $ AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278182

40,000 miles · Jul 16, 2009
Power Train

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THAT SAID, THE TRANSMISSION WORKED SMOOTHLY UNTIL RECENTLY. WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND 4TH TO 5TH, OR WHEN IT DECELERATES, CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY MAKING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. FEELS AS IF CAR WAS HIT BY BEHIND. DRIVER AND PASSEN…

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2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THAT SAID, THE TRANSMISSION WORKED SMOOTHLY UNTIL RECENTLY. WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND 4TH TO 5TH, OR WHEN IT DECELERATES, CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY MAKING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. FEELS AS IF CAR WAS HIT BY BEHIND. DRIVER AND PASSENGERS ARE JERKED AROUND VIOLENTLY MIMICKING WHIPLASH. TOOK THE CAR TO NISSAN DEALER AND THEY DID A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. THE TRANSMISSION FLUSH DID NOT WORK BECAUSE THE CAR CONTINUES TO DISPLAY THE SAME SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY WHETHER THE MOST ROUTINE TRIP TO THE LOCAL SUPERMARKET OR WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. IT IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN CLIMBING HILLS OR DESCENDING AND GETTING OFF OF FREEWAYS. AGAIN, THIS CAR WITH THE ABOVE MENTIONED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IS AT SEVERELY HIGH RISK OF GETTING INTO OR CAUSING AN ACCIDENT FOR WHEN IT SHIFTS IT CREATES MOMENTS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. I HAVE SEARCHED AROUND THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS, ACCORDING TO 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE OWNERS, THAT THIS SPECIFIC MODEL YEAR HAS A MAJOR DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT MAY POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FATAL INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10277048

75,000 miles · Jul 14, 2009
Power Train

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA'S TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE AND WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276792

95,000 miles · Jul 13, 2009
Power Train

WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA HAD IT'S ENGINE REPLACED,ONLY TWO YEARS AFTER IT WAS BUILT. NOW, AT 95,000, THIS VEHICLE IS SUFFERING FROM TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT FAILS TO AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT INTO PROPER GEAR WHEN IT HAS TO GO BEYOND 2ND. THE SOLUTION, TURN THE CAR OFF...LET IT REST FOR 30 MINUTES AND IT'S FINE FOR…

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WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA HAD IT'S ENGINE REPLACED,ONLY TWO YEARS AFTER IT WAS BUILT. NOW, AT 95,000, THIS VEHICLE IS SUFFERING FROM TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT FAILS TO AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT INTO PROPER GEAR WHEN IT HAS TO GO BEYOND 2ND. THE SOLUTION, TURN THE CAR OFF...LET IT REST FOR 30 MINUTES AND IT'S FINE FOR MAYBE AN HOUR. THEN THE PROBLEM RECURS. THIS FIRST HAPPENED TO ME ON THE HIGHWAY IN WASHINGTON DC IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE BEYOND 20 MPH WHILE OTHER VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING AT 60-70 MPH. CONSIDERING THAT THIS HAPPENED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE COULD EASILY LEAD TO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. APPARENTLY, MANY OWNERS OF THIS YEAR MAXIMA HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AROUND THIS MILEAGE..NISSAN MERELY GIVES A CAVALIER RECOMMENDATION OF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THEY HAVE NO SHAME OR CONCERN OF THE FACT THAT THIS VEHICLE CANNOT MAKE IT ONLY 5 YEARS LATER WITHOUT MAJOR TRANSMISSION WORK. STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT OBVIOUSLY IS NOT OF IMPORTANCE. THEY CERTAINLY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR TURNING AWAY FROM CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN DUPED BY A FAULTY PRODUCT PRESENTED IN AN ATTRACTIVE WRAPPING. AT THIS POINT I'M ALMOST TOO AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276569

139,000 miles · Jul 12, 2009
Power Train

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA AND JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AFTER PAYING THE NISSAN DEALER TO RUN DIAGNOSTIC AND FLUSH THE SYSTEM. AFTER JUST 2 HOURS FROM PICKING IT UP IT COMPLETELY WENT OUT. NISSAN WILL NOT EVEN OFFER TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION OR PROVIDE ATLEAST HALF OF THEIR COST SINCE IT IS THEIR CRAPPY PR…

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I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA AND JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AFTER PAYING THE NISSAN DEALER TO RUN DIAGNOSTIC AND FLUSH THE SYSTEM. AFTER JUST 2 HOURS FROM PICKING IT UP IT COMPLETELY WENT OUT. NISSAN WILL NOT EVEN OFFER TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION OR PROVIDE ATLEAST HALF OF THEIR COST SINCE IT IS THEIR CRAPPY PRODUCT THAT IS GOING BAD ON EVERYONE'S 04 CARS. MY CAR STARTED WITH THE JERKING INTO GEAR AND GETTING WORSE WHEN IT HEATS UP. I WISH SOMEONE WOULD HAVE THE GUTS TO MAKE NISSAN PAY EVERY MAXIMA CAR OWNER TIME , FRUSTRATION, TOWING, REPAIR, AND A NEW TRANSMISSION. WHAT WE DESERVE!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276457

135,000 miles · Jul 12, 2009
Power Train

5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. 3 TO 5 SECOND DELAY PRIOR TO ENGAGING IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS 1-2-3. SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION STICKS IN 5TH GEAR EVEN WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276446

84,800 miles · Jul 9, 2009
Power TrainCrash

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED MAXIMA 2004 WHEN I FIRST DROVE IT WITH 84000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS FINE BUT NOT BUT A FEW DAYS LATER IT STARTED TO JERK FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND SOMETIME INTO 3RD. I HAPPENSABOUT 50% OF THE TIME IN JUST ONE DAY! I HAS NOT YET BEEN REPLACED DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE READ SO MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME M…

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I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED MAXIMA 2004 WHEN I FIRST DROVE IT WITH 84000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS FINE BUT NOT BUT A FEW DAYS LATER IT STARTED TO JERK FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND SOMETIME INTO 3RD. I HAPPENSABOUT 50% OF THE TIME IN JUST ONE DAY! I HAS NOT YET BEEN REPLACED DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE READ SO MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276173

123,000 miles · Jul 6, 2009
Power Train

MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA KEEPS JERKING AND MY TRANSMISSION KEEPS SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 3 YEARS WITH ONLY APPROXIMATELY 123K. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275869

60,000 miles · Jul 6, 2009
Power Train

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. HAPPENS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. STARTED @ 60K. TRANSMISSION SERVICED THROUGH DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275835

80,000 miles · Jul 1, 2009
Power Train

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA 3.5SE AUTO. TRANSMISSION JERKS FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND SLIPS FROM 1ST TO 2ND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275412

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.