IllustrationTHERE IS CONSTANT JERKING IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 2ND AND FROM 2ND TO 1ST. *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 reportsTRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND THEN JERKING CONSTANTLY IN FIRST GEAR AT 80K MILES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BY A NEW TRANSMISSION= $3500. DEFECTIVE STRUT/STRUT MOUNTS APROX. EVERY 40K MILES. REPLACED AND COVERED BY NISSAN THE FIRST INCIDENT, IS NOW HUNDREDS TO FIX THE SECOND TIME. AC HOSE CRACKED AND CAUSED A LEAK AT 40K…
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TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND THEN JERKING CONSTANTLY IN FIRST GEAR AT 80K MILES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BY A NEW TRANSMISSION= $3500. DEFECTIVE STRUT/STRUT MOUNTS APROX. EVERY 40K MILES. REPLACED AND COVERED BY NISSAN THE FIRST INCIDENT, IS NOW HUNDREDS TO FIX THE SECOND TIME. AC HOSE CRACKED AND CAUSED A LEAK AT 40K MILES AND WAS $275 TO REPLACE. CRACKED AGAIN AT 80K MILES, LEAKING. REPLACED :$300. *TR
2004 NISSAN MAXIMA FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA ON HIGHWAY 92 LEADING TO FORT HUACHUCA AZ, THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP FROM THE SPEED OF 45MPH. JERKING ME FORWARD. PRIOR TO THIS THE CAR HAD BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST TWICE BECAUSE OF A METALLIC NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NONE OF THE REPAIRS FIXED THE PROBL…
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WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA ON HIGHWAY 92 LEADING TO FORT HUACHUCA AZ, THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP FROM THE SPEED OF 45MPH. JERKING ME FORWARD. PRIOR TO THIS THE CAR HAD BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST TWICE BECAUSE OF A METALLIC NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NONE OF THE REPAIRS FIXED THE PROBLEM ALL OF WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45MPH AND THE CAR JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN SWITCHING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR BEFORE COMING STUCK IN 5TH GEAR. *TR
MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE SLIPS DURING 1ST AND 2ND GEAR,WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING,AND WHILE COMING OFF THE FREEWAY IT KNOCKS WHILE SWITCHING GEARS. IT ALSO MISSES GEARS WHEN I SLOW DOWN AND BRAKE AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE ,THE RPM REVS UP AND THEN IT CATCHES THE GEAR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND FAILURE MILEA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,899. UPDATED 5/6/08 *CN UPDATED 05/06/08 *TR
I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO THE 2004 NISSAN MAXIMUM SE FOR THEIR TRANSMISSION. I CAME ACROSS A COMPLAINT WEBSITE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING AS I. MY TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN JERKING ALOT AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS HAVING TO THINK THAT ONE DAY SOMEONE WILL HIT MY CAR FROM BEHIND…
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I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO THE 2004 NISSAN MAXIMUM SE FOR THEIR TRANSMISSION. I CAME ACROSS A COMPLAINT WEBSITE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING AS I. MY TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN JERKING ALOT AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS HAVING TO THINK THAT ONE DAY SOMEONE WILL HIT MY CAR FROM BEHIND BECAUSE MY TRANSMISSION WILL STALL ON ME. PLEASE HELP!! THEY REALLY NEED TO RECALL THIS BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM. *TR
TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE JERKS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS, THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED TWICE, AND THE BATTERY WIRING BURNED. CURRENTLY, THE TRANSMISSION PULLS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATED. THE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS, THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED TWICE, AND THE BATTERY WIRING BURNED. CURRENTLY, THE TRANSMISSION PULLS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE FOR ANY OF THE FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.
MY 2004 MAXIMA JERKS TO AN EXTREME WHEN IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR LONGER THAN 15 MINUTES. ITS EXCESSIVLY JERKS GEARS AND JERKS TO A STOP WHEN I LIGHTLY TAP THE BRAKES. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS WELL AS RIDICULOUS! *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.