IllustrationMY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING THIS WILL BE HE THIRD TIME I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP.... IF SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WHY HAVEN'T THERE BEEN AN RECALL OR INVESTIGATION. *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 reports2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE WITH 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. 48,000 MILES. NORMAL DRIVING/COMMUTE CAR. SMALL AMOUNT OF MILES/SHORT COMMUTE. INITIAL OBSERVATION OF PROBLEM WAS SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION AND FINALLY COMPLETE FAILURE. TRANSMISSION ENGAGES INTO GEARS (REVERSE AND DRIVE) WITH A VIOLENT JOLT, EQUIVALENT TO A MINOR …
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2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE WITH 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. 48,000 MILES. NORMAL DRIVING/COMMUTE CAR. SMALL AMOUNT OF MILES/SHORT COMMUTE. INITIAL OBSERVATION OF PROBLEM WAS SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION AND FINALLY COMPLETE FAILURE. TRANSMISSION ENGAGES INTO GEARS (REVERSE AND DRIVE) WITH A VIOLENT JOLT, EQUIVALENT TO A MINOR COLLISION. TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT GEARS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, ONLY STAYS IN WHAT SEEMS TO BE SECOND OR THIRD GEAR. DOESN'T SHIFT IN AUTO OR MANUAL SHIFT MODES. THERE IS OFTEN A DISTINCT WHINING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL. VEHICLE IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO TRANSMISSION AS THE PROBLEM OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY ONCE THE VEHICLE CAME OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
2004 MAXIMA, AUTOMATIC. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION CHANGE TO 2ND GEAR AND TO 3RD IT SLIP. I HEAR THAT IS A PROBLEM OF THE 2004 MAXIMA. *TR
MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA JUST STARTED SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN 1ST AND SECOND. I HAVE 97,000 MILES ON IT, BUT I SEE THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE I AM. IF THIS CAR WAS SHIPPED WITH A DEFECT THAT SEEMS TO OCCUR FOR MOST RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, THEN NISSAN SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX THEM. I HAVE ALWAY…
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MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA JUST STARTED SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN 1ST AND SECOND. I HAVE 97,000 MILES ON IT, BUT I SEE THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE I AM. IF THIS CAR WAS SHIPPED WITH A DEFECT THAT SEEMS TO OCCUR FOR MOST RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, THEN NISSAN SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX THEM. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN GREAT CARE OF THIS CAR AND DO NOT DRIVE IT RECKLESSLY. THERE IS NO REASON THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE PROBLEMS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED IDENTICAL FAILURES. ONE WEBSITE ADVISES VIEWERS TO CALL NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLIANT SO THAT A RECALL WILL BE ISSUED. THE VIN WAS U…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED IDENTICAL FAILURES. ONE WEBSITE ADVISES VIEWERS TO CALL NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLIANT SO THAT A RECALL WILL BE ISSUED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,400.
I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 04 NISSAN MAXIMA...FROM DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM TO NOW TRANSMISSION JERKING AND SKIPPING. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR IN FEB 08 AND I CANT BELIEVE HOW MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THE COMPLAINTS BECAUSE THEIR SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 MAXIMA (92, 000 MILES) WITH TRANSMISSION JERKING PROBLEMS. LOCKING, HAD TRANSMISSION FLUSH, SAM E ISSUE. *TR
I PURCHASED A USED 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT IT SHIFTED EXTREMELY HARD BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND AS WELL AS FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT THE PROBLEM AND HE…
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I PURCHASED A USED 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT IT SHIFTED EXTREMELY HARD BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND AS WELL AS FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT THE PROBLEM AND HE DETERMINED MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT. IT WILL NEED A NEW ONE...APPROXIMATELY $3,000. ON TOP OF THIS..THE ENGINE HAS DEVELOPED A TICK. THE CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 90,000 MILES ON IT. A NISSAN TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER. COME TO FIND OUT...DESPITE THE OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINTS...NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO ADDRESS THIS RECURRING PROBLEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE VEHICLE SHIFTS INTO SECOND AND THIRD GEAR AND THEN SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AND A NEW ONE WAS NEEDED AT THE COST OF $4,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE VEHICLE SHIFTS INTO SECOND AND THIRD GEAR AND THEN SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AND A NEW ONE WAS NEEDED AT THE COST OF $4,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,000.
5 SPD AUTO TRANSMISSION SHIFTING VERY HARSHLY FROM 2ND TO 3RD, AND FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR. *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.