IllustrationTHE CAR WAS SLIPPING AND JERKING, TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE 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 reports2004 NISSAN MAXIMA MY TRANSMISSIONS HAS BEEN JERKING AND SLIPPING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW I HAVE TRIED A FEW DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION MECHANICS AND THEY ARE SAYING I WILL HAVE TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE FOR A 2004 CAR TO ACT LIKE THIS. I DID RESEARCH AND I HEAR THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THE 2004 I M…
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2004 NISSAN MAXIMA MY TRANSMISSIONS HAS BEEN JERKING AND SLIPPING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW I HAVE TRIED A FEW DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION MECHANICS AND THEY ARE SAYING I WILL HAVE TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE FOR A 2004 CAR TO ACT LIKE THIS. I DID RESEARCH AND I HEAR THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THE 2004 I MAKE A CAR PAYMENT EVERY MONTH ON A CAR I CANNOT DRIVE THIS IS HORRIBLE FOR NISSAN. *TR
A YEAR AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS. I HAVE CHANGED THE FLUIDS ON A TIMELY MANNER AND THE CAR IS STILL GIVING ME PROBLEMS. I BELIEVE NISSAN SHOULD MAKE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE CONSIDERING THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE EXPERIENCING THE …
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A YEAR AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS. I HAVE CHANGED THE FLUIDS ON A TIMELY MANNER AND THE CAR IS STILL GIVING ME PROBLEMS. I BELIEVE NISSAN SHOULD MAKE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE CONSIDERING THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
TRANSMISSION IS JERKING. I JUST PURCHASED THE 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA AND I AM EXPERIENCING A JERKING IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND AND VICE-VERSA. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP AND JERK WHILE SWITCHING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION - SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR; IT HESITATES TO CATCH AND WHEN IT DOES IS JERKS VIOLENTLY INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION IS NOW DEAD AND NO LONGER WORKS AT ALL. IT IS AT THE DEALER WHILE I AWAIT A RESPONSE FROM NISSAN FOR A GOODWILL FIX. MY RESEARCH YIELDED A MULTITUDE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIM…
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PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION - SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR; IT HESITATES TO CATCH AND WHEN IT DOES IS JERKS VIOLENTLY INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION IS NOW DEAD AND NO LONGER WORKS AT ALL. IT IS AT THE DEALER WHILE I AWAIT A RESPONSE FROM NISSAN FOR A GOODWILL FIX. MY RESEARCH YIELDED A MULTITUDE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACED THEIR TRANSMISSION. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. IT IS HAZARDOUS TO PUBLIC AS WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC THAT'S ALREADY AT 55 MPH OR MORE, IT HESITATES AND STALL AND CAN INDEED CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR UPDATED
I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA, 130,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND OR DOWNSHIFTING. ALSO SEEMS TO DISENGAGE WHEN DECELERATING INTO A TURN AND THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING. SOMETIMES THE TRANNY WILL GO INTO A 3RD GEAR LOCK AND THE POSSIBILITY OF ENTERING AN INTERSECTION WITH UNKNOWINGLY SLOW AC…
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I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA, 130,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND OR DOWNSHIFTING. ALSO SEEMS TO DISENGAGE WHEN DECELERATING INTO A TURN AND THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING. SOMETIMES THE TRANNY WILL GO INTO A 3RD GEAR LOCK AND THE POSSIBILITY OF ENTERING AN INTERSECTION WITH UNKNOWINGLY SLOW ACCELERATION DUE TO THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS!. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE CAM SENSORS WERE BAD. $500 PLUS DOLLARS LATER IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT NEEDS NEW TRANNY. I WAITED A FEW WEEKS AND TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND NOW THEY SAY IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. I DID TT THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALER AND HE SAID HE REPLACES THE VALVE BODY ALL THE TIME.WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG HAS THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS EXACTLY LIKE MINE. DEALERSHIPS ARE DANCING AROUND KNOW ISSUES AND EXPECTING EVERY CAR OWNER TO PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN THEIR CAR. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY OPENED A CLAIM, BUT THEIR SOLUTION WAS THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. I BELIEVE THAT NISSAN NEEDS TO ACCEPT SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR A FAULTY DESIGNED TRANSMISSION. *TR
MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY GONE ITS GOING COST $3000 FOR A NEW ONE..I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND THOUSANDS OF 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE & SL THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED NISSAN NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE & RECALL THESE VEHICLES THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST NISSAN. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AS HAVING INTERNAL FAILURE AND UPON THEM TELLING ME THAT THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE 2004 MAXIMA HAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND BECAUSE OF THAT THEY REDESIGNED THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 2005 MODEL. MY CAR HAS 61,000 ON IT AND THIS HAPPENED AND NISSAN BASICALLY SAI…
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THE TRANSMISSION WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AS HAVING INTERNAL FAILURE AND UPON THEM TELLING ME THAT THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE 2004 MAXIMA HAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND BECAUSE OF THAT THEY REDESIGNED THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 2005 MODEL. MY CAR HAS 61,000 ON IT AND THIS HAPPENED AND NISSAN BASICALLY SAID TOUGH!!! THEY ARE AWARE OF AN ISSUE YET HAVE DONE NOTHING TO HELP. AS I FOUND THIS OUT I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND THEY ARE ALOT OF ISSUES WITH PEOPLE AND THE TRANSMISSION AND I THINK ENOUGH FOR AN INVESTIGATION BUT NOBODY HAS DONE ANYTHING. *TR
04 MAXIMA SE W/ 55K MILES. TOOK IN TO NISSAN DEALER DUE TO PROBLEMS SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST AND 1ST TO 2ND. THEY RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND SAID 2 MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKE. DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. REPLACED TRANSMISSION WITH USED 04 MAXIMA TRANSMISSION W/ 21K MILES FROM TOTALED CAR, THIS TRANSMISSION IS ALSO BAD WITH…
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04 MAXIMA SE W/ 55K MILES. TOOK IN TO NISSAN DEALER DUE TO PROBLEMS SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST AND 1ST TO 2ND. THEY RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND SAID 2 MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKE. DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. REPLACED TRANSMISSION WITH USED 04 MAXIMA TRANSMISSION W/ 21K MILES FROM TOTALED CAR, THIS TRANSMISSION IS ALSO BAD WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, SHIFTING HARD FROM 2ND TO 1ST. 3RD TRANSMISSION IN THE MAIL W/ 6K MILES. VERY DISSAPOINTED IN NISSAN. WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN. *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.