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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

Service Brakes complaints

5 reports
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130,000 miles · Feb 26, 2014
EngineService BrakesFire

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE DEALER DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT LEFT THE DEALER AND TOOK HER VEHICLE …

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TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE DEALER DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT LEFT THE DEALER AND TOOK HER VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED A FIRE EMERGING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. DYD ... UPDATED 03/24/14 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10566090

60,000 miles · Nov 13, 2013
Service Brakes

WHILE INITIATING MY BRAKES THE ABS APPEARS TO BE ACTIVATING,AND CAUSING LOAD NOISE AND SHAKING VEHICLE.IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE MY BRAKES WITH CALIPER BROKE AND IM TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE THAT WAY. I TURN VEHICLE OFF, AND IT RESETS ITSELF TO NORMAL. BRAKES WORK WELL AND I MOVE ON, A DAY OR 2 LATER SAME THING,SO EVERY TIME IM COMING …

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WHILE INITIATING MY BRAKES THE ABS APPEARS TO BE ACTIVATING,AND CAUSING LOAD NOISE AND SHAKING VEHICLE.IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE MY BRAKES WITH CALIPER BROKE AND IM TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE THAT WAY. I TURN VEHICLE OFF, AND IT RESETS ITSELF TO NORMAL. BRAKES WORK WELL AND I MOVE ON, A DAY OR 2 LATER SAME THING,SO EVERY TIME IM COMING TO A STOP SIGN I START PUMPING THE BRAKES AND HOPING THEY ARE WORKING, VEHICLE NOW HAS OVER 100K MILES, AND PROBLEM BEEN HAPPENING SINCE ABOUT 60K . NOT SURE WHAT TO DO.BUT LOOKING AT THIS SITE,SEEMS LIKE NISSAN DOESN'T WANT TO RECALL THIS PART. AND TO TOP IT OFF, NOW MY NISSAN ARMADA ABS LIGHT AND BRAKES ARE ACTING UP THE SAME WAY. COINCIDENCE OR FLAW PARTS?? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10552077

167,300 miles · Apr 25, 2013
Electrical SystemService BrakesWheels

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE ALMOST EVERY TIME BRAKE IS APPLIED. TSB SAYS RUST HAS TO BE CLEANED OUT OF THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HUB AND A DRAIN HOLE HAS TO BE ADDED, RIGHT REAR ABS($250 +) SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED, WITH POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT OF ABS ACTUATOR($1000 +) REQUIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509509

70,002 miles · Mar 17, 2013
Service Brakes

SECOND TIME THE REAR ABS SENSORS AND ACTUATOR HAVE TO BE REPLACED. COME ON NISSAN. YOU KNEW THERE WERE PROBLEMS HERE. I WILL PROBABLY NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503355

94,000 miles · Jan 27, 2013
Power TrainService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

THE CAR IS JERKING/BUCKING VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE AND AGAIN WHEN SHIFTING INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. IT IS ALSO JERKING WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR. AT FIRST, THE SHIFTING PROBLEM WAS AN OCCASIONAL OCCURRENCE, HOWEVER, IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. NOW IT IS ALMOST CONSTANT. AFTER …

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THE CAR IS JERKING/BUCKING VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE AND AGAIN WHEN SHIFTING INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. IT IS ALSO JERKING WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR. AT FIRST, THE SHIFTING PROBLEM WAS AN OCCASIONAL OCCURRENCE, HOWEVER, IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. NOW IT IS ALMOST CONSTANT. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND THAT HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF '04-05 MAXIMA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. THIS IS QUITE OBVIOUSLY A NISSAN MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY NISSAN CORP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494837

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.