IllustrationBAD TRANSMISSION. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Maxima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1380–25K
10625–50K
28150–75K
34975–100K
260100–150K
55150K+
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 reportsOK NOW THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I AM IN GA AND I TO OWN A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA AND I'M HAVING TRANSMISSION SLIPPING ISSUES. MAINLY FROM 2ND TO 3RD BUT SOMETIMES FROM 1ST TO 2ND AS WELL AS SOME JERKING PROBLEMS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. ON APPROXIMATELY SIX OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE REVVED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP. THE BRAKE WAS BEING DEPRESSED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURES. THE ABS ACTUATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 62,000 MILES. TWO OF THE GOODYEAR TIRES CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND FA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. ON APPROXIMATELY SIX OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE REVVED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP. THE BRAKE WAS BEING DEPRESSED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURES. THE ABS ACTUATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 62,000 MILES. TWO OF THE GOODYEAR TIRES CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 12/1/08 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. UPDATED 12/05/08. *JB
I HAVE A 04 NISSAN MAXIMA, THAT HAS BEEN GIVING ME SOME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED NEW MOTOR MOUNTS. PAID FOR THE FRONT. BUT AFTER SEARCHING MANY 04 MAXIMAS ARE HAVING THESE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR
MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA IS NOW OVER 70,000 MILES AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING COMING OUT OF 1ST 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
I AM ALSO AN OWNER OF A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. I HAVE RECENTLY PASSED THE 80K MILE MARK AND SUDDENLY BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD, JUST LIKE SO MANY OTHERS 04 MAXIMA OWNERS. I'VE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER 2004 MAXIMA OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? *TR
THE TRANSMISSION ON 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA COMPLETELY STARTS TO BREAK DOWN ONLY AFTER 50,000 OR SO MILES NEAR THE END OF THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTIES. I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL SIMILAR STORIES AND I AM SURE THAT THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS THOUSANDS OF NISSAN CUSTOMERS. *TR
2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE - BOUGHT CAR IN JULY 2003 BRAND NEW. CAR NOW HAS 102000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN 5TH GEAR. CAR SLAMS INTO ALL GEARS PRIOR TO 5TH. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED THE $600+ MAINTENANCE SERVICE CALL, INCLUDING TRANSMISSION FLUSH. CAR OPERATED CORRECTLY FOR ONE DAY. RETURNED CAR TO AND DEALERSHIP WHO C…
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2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE - BOUGHT CAR IN JULY 2003 BRAND NEW. CAR NOW HAS 102000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN 5TH GEAR. CAR SLAMS INTO ALL GEARS PRIOR TO 5TH. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED THE $600+ MAINTENANCE SERVICE CALL, INCLUDING TRANSMISSION FLUSH. CAR OPERATED CORRECTLY FOR ONE DAY. RETURNED CAR TO AND DEALERSHIP WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND NOW WANTS $4000+ FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. DEALERSHIP EVEN CONTACTED MANUFACTURER TO TRY AND FIND A RESOLUTION. WE ARE ONLY GIVEN THE OPTION OF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. INFURIATING TO SEE THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND YET CONSUMERS ARE BEING FORCED TO PAY FOR THEIR SHODDY WORK. UNACCEPTABLE AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. THIS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP. THIS IS NOT COINCIDENCE WITH THIS MODEL, IT'S A MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. VEHICLES ARE TOO EXPENSIVE TO HAVE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSIONS FOR $4000 AT 102000 MILES. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS FLEECING OR MAXIMA OWNERS. OBVIOUSLY BASED ON PRIOR COMPLAINTS THERE WILL BE MORE OWNERS IN THE FUTURE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR
TRANSMISSION ISSUE. CAR HAS REALLY BAD JERKING MOTION UP SHIFTING AND DOWN SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. NISSAN SUGGESTION IS TO FLUSH TRANSMISSION AND CHANGE MOTOR MOUNTS WHICH SEEM TO BE A WASTE AND NOT ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM ESPECIALLY SINCE THEIR IS A TSB ON HOW TO FIX IT. *TR
I HAVE NISSAN MAXIMA SE 2004 WHICH STARTED TO JERK WHEN I REACH 40MPH SPEED AND WHEN GEARS ARE SHIFTED. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO HELP AVAILABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND CAR IS JUST GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Official recalls
205V512000 · 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
1PE04035 · 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.