← New search

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 →

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

Structure complaints

56 reports
Clear category filter
50,008 miles · Apr 8, 2010
Electrical SystemService Brakes, ElectricStructure

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH 50,008 MILES ON IT AND RECENTLY HAD THE ABS COMING ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND NO DASH WARNING LIGHTS ON, BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TO FIND OUT THAT THE RIGHT REAR ABS SPEED SENSOR WENT BAD BUT WHY DIDN'T ANY WARNING LIGHTS COME ON THEY PULLED THE ABS FUSE AND NOW THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON BUT YOU …

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH 50,008 MILES ON IT AND RECENTLY HAD THE ABS COMING ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND NO DASH WARNING LIGHTS ON, BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TO FIND OUT THAT THE RIGHT REAR ABS SPEED SENSOR WENT BAD BUT WHY DIDN'T ANY WARNING LIGHTS COME ON THEY PULLED THE ABS FUSE AND NOW THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON BUT YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPEN THIS IMAGINE HITTING THE BRAKES AT 55 MPH WITH YOUR TWO YEAR OLD IN CAR AND ITS NOT STOPPING BECAUSE WHEN YOU ABS SENSOR GOES BAD IT TURNS ON THE ABS WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW YOUR NORMAL BRAKES TO OPERATE AND DO NOT THROW ANY OF YOUR DASH LIGHTS ON, IF I HAD THE MONEY FOR A LAWYER I WOULD BE GOING AFTER NISSAN RIGHT NOW IT SHOULD WORK SO IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUR ABS IT SHOULD TURN AT LEAST YOUR WARNING LIGHTS AND THEN DISCONNECT THE ABS SO YOU CAN USE YOUR NORMAL BRAKES TO ACTUALLY STOP THE CAR..... ALSO NONE OF THE FRONT END AND REAR END BODY LINES MATCH UP TO NONE OF THE GAPS BETWEEN HOOD AND FENDERS ARE THE SAME CAN GET FINGER IN ONE SIDE AND NOT THE OTHER SAME WITH THE TRUNK, AND THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN IN ONE ACCIDENT THAT I KNOW OF THAT I REPORTED HAD GOTTEN SIDE SWIPED AT 45 MPH ON DRIVERS SIDE BY BIG TRUCK ALSO NOTICE THAT FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELDS DO NOT HAVE NISSAN STAMP ON WINDOWS THE CAR FAX WAS CLEAN WELL THE ON THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT CAR FROM WAS CLEAN I THINK THIS CAR WAS WRECKED FRONT AND REAR AND FIXED AND WASN'T REPORTED THEN SOLD TO ME WITH 26,800 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT NO SITS AT 50,000 CAUSE HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH I WOULD LIKE A STATE INSPECTOR TO LOOK AT CAR MY OPINION IS CAR IS UNSAFE BUT ONLY ONE I HAVE AND STILL OWE MORE THAN 10,000 DOLLARS ON IT PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10324587

72,000 miles · Mar 25, 2010
Structure

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. AFTER HAVING BRAKE WORK DONE SEVERAL TIMES, THE REAL PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STRUTS. BOTH FRONT STRUTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. CAR HAS 72,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, TH…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. AFTER HAVING BRAKE WORK DONE SEVERAL TIMES, THE REAL PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STRUTS. BOTH FRONT STRUTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. CAR HAS 72,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, THERE IS A SQUEAKING SOUND, AND CAR SOMETIMES SEEMS TO PULL TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. NISSAN HAS SAID THAT THEY WILL ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY. AS A CONSUMER, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU LOOK INTO THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ODI #10322208

95,900 miles · Aug 26, 2009
Structure

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH 96,000 MILES AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE FLOOR BOARD IS ROTTING AWAY. I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF ALL OF MY CARS AND THE CAR LOOKS BRAND NEW, NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND SERVICED THROUGH THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER FOR ALL WORK ON IT. I HAVE HAD SIX NISSAN MAXIMAS (1987, 1990, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2009) AND I'…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH 96,000 MILES AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE FLOOR BOARD IS ROTTING AWAY. I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF ALL OF MY CARS AND THE CAR LOOKS BRAND NEW, NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND SERVICED THROUGH THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER FOR ALL WORK ON IT. I HAVE HAD SIX NISSAN MAXIMAS (1987, 1990, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2009) AND I'VE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE LIKE THIS. I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST BUT I ALWAYS HAVE. I THINK SOMETHING WAS UP WITH THE QUALITY AND MATERIALS FOR THE 2004 MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10281856

38,000 miles · Aug 8, 2007
Structure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. AFTER THE CONTACT'S SUN ROOF WAS REPLACED, HE BEGAN TO SEE BUBBLES ON THE REPLACED GLASS AND RUST ON THE ROOF OF HIS VEHICLE. NISSAN WAS NOTIFIED, BUT HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ODI #10198832

72,000 miles · Dec 1, 2006
Structure

NISSAN MAXIMA HOOD RUSTING. ALTHOUGH WARRANTY SAYS IT IS COVERED DEALER AND NISSAN REFUSE TO FIX. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10174871

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2006
Structure

I LEASED AN 04' NISSAN MAXIMA. PARTS HAVE FALLEN OFF THE CAR. THE FIT AND FINISH ARE HORRIBLE ON THE CAR. THE HOOD IS MIS-ALIGNED. I HAVE TWO RECALLS ON THE CAR AS OF 3-10-06, THERE IS A SMELL OF CONDENSATION INSIDE, AND NOW WATER IS LEAKING INSIDE THROUGH THE ROOF. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10152588

Mileage unknown · May 31, 2005
Structure

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING THE BUMPER CAME OFF. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE SCREW CAME OUT OF THE BUMPER. IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10122588

1,300 miles · Oct 22, 2004
StructureVisibility

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH A LOUD EXPLOSION OCCURRED. REAR TAILGATE GLASS AND SUN ROOF GLASS SHATTERED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT. THEN, A YEAR LATER, A RECALL FOR THE SUN ROOF GLASS WAS ISSUED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10097442

85 miles · Oct 6, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureSuspension

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY AT ANY SPEED. *AK THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, SEATS, A DEFECT IN THE RUBBER MOLDING OF THE WINDSHIELD, THE BRAKES SQUEALED, THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE OUT OF ROUND AND A GRINDING SOUND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED A FEW TIMES, THE BRA…

Read full complaint

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY AT ANY SPEED. *AK THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, SEATS, A DEFECT IN THE RUBBER MOLDING OF THE WINDSHIELD, THE BRAKES SQUEALED, THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE OUT OF ROUND AND A GRINDING SOUND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED A FEW TIMES, THE BRAKES WERE LUBED AND SANDED, POWER STEERING RACK WAS ADJUSTED, BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND A BRAND NEW SET OF TIRES WERE ADDED. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10091813

90 miles · Jul 15, 2004
Structure

THERE WAS A GURGLING NOISE FROM THE HEATER CORE. TSB #10003434. DUST GOT BEHIND THE PROTECTED SCREEN IN THE DASHBOARD, WHICH MADE THE DASHBOARD COMPONENTS UNREADABLE TSB#10003508. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10082016

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.