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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Seats complaints

15 reports
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46,000 miles · May 1, 2007
SeatsFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE SMOKE WAS PRESENT BENEATH THE SEAT AND THE FUSE BOX. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO THE PASSENGER SEAT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE SMOKE WAS PRESENT BENEATH THE SEAT AND THE FUSE BOX. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO THE PASSENGER SEAT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A PART OF RECALL 05V512000 FOR THE SEAT/POWER ADJUST. HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 46,000. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10189390

73,000 miles · Sep 8, 2006
Seats

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A RECALL LETTER NHTSA RECALL # 05V512000 WAS RECEIVED, REGARDING THE SEATS: FRONT ASSEMBLY: POWER ADJUST. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE RECALL COULD NOT BE PERFORMED UNTIL THE POWER SEAT MOTOR WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10167689

35,916 miles · Apr 21, 2006
SeatsService Brakes, HydraulicTires

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED IN THE MAIL 4/20/06. THE NHTSA RECALL, # 05V512000, CONCERNING SEAT: FRONT ASSEMBLY: POWER ADJUST. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ON 4/21/06 TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THE FIRST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT WOULD BE 4/26/06, HOWEVER THE CONTACT BELIEVED THIS IS NOT GO…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED IN THE MAIL 4/20/06. THE NHTSA RECALL, # 05V512000, CONCERNING SEAT: FRONT ASSEMBLY: POWER ADJUST. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ON 4/21/06 TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THE FIRST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT WOULD BE 4/26/06, HOWEVER THE CONTACT BELIEVED THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE REMEDIED IN A TIMELY MANOR. *AK UPDATED 5/16/2006 - THE BRAKE MADE NOISE AND THE TIRE DEFLATED DUE TO DRY ROT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10155846

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2006
Seats

CONSUMER'S 2004 MAXIMA WAS RECALLED FOR THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE CONSUMER MADE AND APPOINTMENT AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE DEALER SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT IT HAD TO BE ORDERED. *TS *NM ***NAR***

NHTSA ODI #10155169

13,000 miles · Mar 10, 2006
Seats

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NO ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V512000 ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE SEATS; FRONT ASSEMBLY; POWER ADJUST. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THEIR VEHICLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THEIR LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10152385

Official recalls

2

05V512000 · 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

1

PE04035 · 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.