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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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98,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

CAR WILL NOT SHIFT RIGHT-- DEALERSHIP CAN'T REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND THEY DO WORK ON CAR AND IT DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. WE ARE OUT REPAIR BILLS AND THE CAR IS NOT FIXED BY NO MEANS. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617150

130,000 miles · Jul 26, 2014
Power Train

TRANSMISSION EXTREMELY HARD SHIFTS WHEN UP SHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING. DOWNSHIFTING IS MUCH WORSE THAN UP SHIFTING BUT BOTH ARE EXTREME. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE CAR EXPERIENCES A HARD JOLT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10616522

115,000 miles · Jul 10, 2014
Power Train

WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK-REVERSE OR REVERSE-DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION HAS A SHORT DELAY BEFORE "JUMPING" INTO GEAR. THIS PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND SEEMED TO ONLY OCCUR DURING EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES. I HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUSH PERFORMED ($65) THAT SEEMED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT IT RETURNED WITHIN 5K MILES. SEVERAL MONTHS L…

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WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK-REVERSE OR REVERSE-DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION HAS A SHORT DELAY BEFORE "JUMPING" INTO GEAR. THIS PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND SEEMED TO ONLY OCCUR DURING EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES. I HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUSH PERFORMED ($65) THAT SEEMED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT IT RETURNED WITHIN 5K MILES. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION RANDOMLY BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AT SPEEDS OF 20-30MPH AT WHICH TIME THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE RAPIDLY WITH LOSS OF ACCELERATION. ANOTHER TRANSMISSION FLUSH WAS PERFORMED AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED WORSE. FINALLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70MPH THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY "SLAMMED" THEN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED WITH A NOTICEABLE POWER LOSS. UPON SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED. IT RESTARTED BUT THE THROTTLE WAS RESTRICTED. THE VEHICLES GEAR WAS CHANGED TO MANUAL MODE AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN 5TH GEAR. AT THAT POINT THE VEHICLE GOT STUCK IN 5TH GEAR AFTER 15-20 MIN OF DRIVING AND THE LOW SPEED POWER LOSS BECAME ALMOST CONSTANT. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER DRIVEN UNTIL IT WAS PUT ON DIAGNOSTICS BY A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST ($60) AND THE CODE INDICATED THE FAILURE OF 3 SENSORS: CAM POSITION SENSOR, ELECTRONIC ACCELERATION POSITION SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THE ERROR CODES AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NO SUGGESTIONS OTHER THAN REPLACING THE SENSORS. THE ELECTRONIC ACCELERATION POSITION SENSOR REQUIRED A NEW THROTTLE BODY WHICH WAS THEN REPLACED ($115). THE 2 CAM SENSORS ($120) AND TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR, AKA TRANSMISSION REVOLUTION OUTPUT SENSOR, WERE THEN PURCHASED ($125). I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR TO A NISSAN DEALER AND PAY ANOTHER $365 TO GET THE NEW SENSORS FLASHED. THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. I'M NOW LOOKING AT GETTING THE TRANNY REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609493

105,000 miles · Jul 5, 2014
Power Train

MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA, A 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC, JERKS VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE PROBLEM KEEPS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. IT FIRST STARTED IN MARCH 2104 AND NOW IN JUNE 2014 I HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM. FROM DOING SOME RESEARCH I SEE THAT OTHER NISSAN MAXIMA OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM…

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MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA, A 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC, JERKS VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE PROBLEM KEEPS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. IT FIRST STARTED IN MARCH 2104 AND NOW IN JUNE 2014 I HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM. FROM DOING SOME RESEARCH I SEE THAT OTHER NISSAN MAXIMA OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND NISSAN SHOULD OWN UP TO THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10608326

65,000 miles · Jun 19, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH I NOTICED THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE CARS POWER WAS GONE. I CONTINUED TO STEP ON THE GAS BUT STILL NO POWER AT ALL. THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK ON 5TH GEAR. ONCE I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND I PRESS ON THE GAS THE ENGINE JUST REVS UP WITH VERY LITTLE POWER. I TAKE IT TO THE DEAL…

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DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH I NOTICED THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE CARS POWER WAS GONE. I CONTINUED TO STEP ON THE GAS BUT STILL NO POWER AT ALL. THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK ON 5TH GEAR. ONCE I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND I PRESS ON THE GAS THE ENGINE JUST REVS UP WITH VERY LITTLE POWER. I TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO CONFIRM I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I DIDN'T WANT TO PAY $3,000 AT A NISSAN DEALERSHIP SO I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC IN WHICH HE SAID HE'S WORKED ON MAXIMAS BEFORE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID THE ISSUE IS IN THE VALVE BODY (PART OF THE TRANSMISSION) SO HE REPLACED IT. I GOT THE CAR BACK AFTER A $1,500 BILL AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING JUST FINE. UNTIL TODAY 6-18-14, APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS FROM THE FIRST INCIDENT. ONCE AGAIN MY TRANSMISSION IS STUCK ON 5TH GEAR. PRIOR TO THIS THERE WAS SOME JERKING FROM 3-4 GEAR AND A HARD JERK FROM P TO R. HERE I AM NOW FACING ANOTHER BILL. THIS COULD OF EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND AFTER NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM OTHER DRIVERS NISSAN NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604432

88,000 miles · May 21, 2014
Power Train

THE 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA, A 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC, JERKS VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING INTO THE 2ND AND/OR 3RD GEAR AND DURING DOWN SHIFT. ALSO JERKS VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND REVERSE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592988

114,500 miles · May 9, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE SPEEDS UP AND SLOWS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING .IT HAS A HARD KICK FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. SLIPS WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587354

164,875 miles · May 1, 2014
EnginePower Train

AS I WAS DRIVING HOME, TRAFFIC BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN DUE TO CONGESTION. AS I SLOWED DOWN, THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY. I WAS NEARLY HIT FROM BEHIND. THE CAR JERKED TWO MORE TIMES AS I MADE MY WAY OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. I PRAYED THEN STARTED MY CAR AGAIN. I WAS APPRO…

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AS I WAS DRIVING HOME, TRAFFIC BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN DUE TO CONGESTION. AS I SLOWED DOWN, THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY. I WAS NEARLY HIT FROM BEHIND. THE CAR JERKED TWO MORE TIMES AS I MADE MY WAY OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. I PRAYED THEN STARTED MY CAR AGAIN. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FROM HOME. AS I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND PULLED ONTO MY LOCAL STREET, I CAME TO A RED LIGHT. AS I SLOWED DOWN, THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AGAIN. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER A WHILE, I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME. I PARKED THE CAR, CHECKED MY OIL (LEVELS WERE GOOD) AND STARTED TO CALL AROUND FOR HELP. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10585872

181,000 miles · Mar 13, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

DROVE MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA OFF THE LOT ON 3/3/14 AND NOTICED A JERK ONCE I GOT TO 30MPH, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME AFTER I PURCHASED IT THAT WHAT EVER PROBLEMS I HAVE I NEED TO FIX MYSELF BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR "AS IS". *TR

NHTSA ODI #10569164

100,000 miles · Feb 24, 2014
Power Train

MAXIMA HAS BEGUN SHIFTING VERY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, AND INTO REVERSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565720

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.