IllustrationI BOUGHT MY CAR 4 MOTHS AGO, IS A NISSAN MAXIMA 2004 AND SINCE I DID I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND I FOUND OUT THOSE 2004 CARS 95% HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS I BEEN READING REVIEWS FROM CAR SURVEYS.COM AND EVERYBODY HAVE THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. PLEASE I NEED YOUR HELP WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT, THANK YOU. *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 ON MY VEHICLE SLIPS FREQUENTLY. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT AM ALWAYS TOLD, THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM AND IF IT CONTINUES TO BRING IT BACK. *TR
MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA EXP TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS @ 65K REPLACED OUT OF WARRANTY SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS HAD (4) FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS (1) TRANSMISSION MOUNT.(1)RACK AND PINION REPLACED,(1) RIGHT FRONT AXLE REPLACED. STRUTS ARE NOW BAD! WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED, OIL SEALS REPLACED AND THE FRONT END MAKES NOISE LIKE SOMETHING BIG IS LO…
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MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA EXP TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS @ 65K REPLACED OUT OF WARRANTY SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS HAD (4) FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS (1) TRANSMISSION MOUNT.(1)RACK AND PINION REPLACED,(1) RIGHT FRONT AXLE REPLACED. STRUTS ARE NOW BAD! WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED, OIL SEALS REPLACED AND THE FRONT END MAKES NOISE LIKE SOMETHING BIG IS LOOSE. OVER $12,000.00 DOLLARS INTO VEHICLE LAST YEAR ALONE? WHEN THE CAR CAME BACK WITH THE NEW TRANS IT STILL WAS NOT RIGHT ? I NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING? I CHOSE NOT TO PAY @ LAST MINUTE TO BRING TO THERE ATTENTION AND I WAS SENT TO COLLECTIONS? I AM STILL PAYING THE $3,997.00 PLUS $1,500.00 FINE FOR ISF THE VEHICLE IS ON ITS 2ND TRANSMISSION AND ITS GONE BAD NOW AS WELL? NISSAN DID REPLACE THE RIGHT AXLE @NO/CHARGE THAT WAS ALL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY OF THE GEARS. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CLUTCH SYSTEM TWICE, YET, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. ANOTHER DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND IS CURRENTLY…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY OF THE GEARS. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CLUTCH SYSTEM TWICE, YET, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. ANOTHER DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND IS CURRENTLY PARKED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000. UPDATED 06/17/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FULE PUMP AND MAP SENSOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SINCE PURCHASING IT BRAND NEW. WITHIN 60 DAYS OF PURCHASING THE CAR, I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITH THE BRAKES. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1,500 SINCE KEEPING THE BRAKES AND ROTORS REPAIRED. I AM ON MY FOURTH SET OF TIRES AND HAVE HAD THREE ALIGNMENTS AN…
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I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SINCE PURCHASING IT BRAND NEW. WITHIN 60 DAYS OF PURCHASING THE CAR, I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITH THE BRAKES. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1,500 SINCE KEEPING THE BRAKES AND ROTORS REPAIRED. I AM ON MY FOURTH SET OF TIRES AND HAVE HAD THREE ALIGNMENTS AND MY FRONT END INSPECTED. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE AN ENGINE MOUNT. IN 2006 MY AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT AND I SPENT OVER $500 HAVING THAT REPAIRED. NOW I AM IN NEED OF A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THERE IS INTERNAL DAMAGE DUE TO THE CLUTCH SLIPPING EVEN THOUGH IT IS AN AUTOMATIC CAR. I HAVE TWO FRIENDS WITH THE SAME MODEL/YEAR CAR AND THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR OR THE SAME PROBLEMS. ONCE OF MY FRIENDS JUST REPLACED HIS TRANSMISSION IN HIS 2004 MAXIMA. THIS CAR HAS COST ME AT LEAST $5,000 IN REPAIRS SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED IT AND I HAVE NEVER EVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON ANYTHING. I KNOW THAT NISSAN IS WELL AWARE OF THE DEFECTS IN THE 2004 MAXIMA, BUT ARE NOT OWNING UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN TAKING CARE OF ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE READ ABOUT AND TALKED ABOUT WITH DIFFERENT 2004 MAXIMA OWNERS. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED TWICE. THE BODY STYLE OF THE CAR IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT THE CAR ITSELF IS A PIECE OF CRAP DUE TO POOR MECHANICS. *TR
NISSAN MAXIMA SE 2004 TRANSMISSION JERKING FROM 2ND GEAR TO 3RD AND 4TH I BEEN READING A LOT OF FORUMS WITH SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I HOPE U CAN HELP US TO RESOLVE THIS ISUE WITH NISSAN. MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED.*CN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FOR 2-3 SECONDS. AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY DOWNSHIFT FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FOR 2-3 SECONDS. AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY DOWNSHIFT FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE DEALER FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
I HAVE A 04 NISSAN MAXIMA I'VE BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION JERK PROBLEMS BOTH UPSHIFT & DOWNSHIFT BETWEEN 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THAT ISSUE I HAVE A BUNCH OF OTHER MAXIMA OWNERS WITH SAME ISSUE IM POSTING THE LINK WHERE YOU CAN SEE HOW BIG IS THIS PROBLEM. LINK" HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_61092.…
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I HAVE A 04 NISSAN MAXIMA I'VE BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION JERK PROBLEMS BOTH UPSHIFT & DOWNSHIFT BETWEEN 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THAT ISSUE I HAVE A BUNCH OF OTHER MAXIMA OWNERS WITH SAME ISSUE IM POSTING THE LINK WHERE YOU CAN SEE HOW BIG IS THIS PROBLEM. LINK" HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_61092.HTML" PLEASE GO THROUGH EVERY POST & HELP US OUT. WE ALL HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT NO SOLUTION THEY DO NOT WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IT. I HAVE DONE WHAT THEY TOLD ME TO FLUSH TRANSMISSION BUT IT DIDN'T HELP & IT KEEPS ON GETTIN WORSE. I WILL HOPE A PROMPT REPLY. *TR
EXCESSIVE HARD JERKING (UP & DOWNSHIFTING) OF TRANSMISSION BETWEEN GEARS. FREQUENTLY STICKS IN 5TH GEAR WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT UNTIL CAR IS TURN OFF AND RESTARTED. HARD SHORT LEFT TO RIGHT JERKING OF STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, GETS STRONGER WHEN SLOWING FROM HIGHER SPEEDS. EXCESSIVE JERKING WHEN CAR SHIFTS BETWEEN GEA…
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EXCESSIVE HARD JERKING (UP & DOWNSHIFTING) OF TRANSMISSION BETWEEN GEARS. FREQUENTLY STICKS IN 5TH GEAR WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT UNTIL CAR IS TURN OFF AND RESTARTED. HARD SHORT LEFT TO RIGHT JERKING OF STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, GETS STRONGER WHEN SLOWING FROM HIGHER SPEEDS. EXCESSIVE JERKING WHEN CAR SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS CAUSED US WHIPPED LASH OVERTIME. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT ROTORS ARE ALSO WARP CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DAILY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
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.