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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

Suspension complaints

102 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2005
Suspension

I WILL INCLUDE ALL OF MY PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH MY 04 MAXIMA SE. THE FIRST MAJOR PROBEM I HAD WAS MY FRONT RIGHT STRUT WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. PROBLEM FIXED. NEXT, PROBLEM WAS ON OCCASOION MY CAR WOULDNT START FIRST DEALER TRIP THEY TOLD ME THEIR WAS NO PROBLEM AND THE NEXT TIME LEAVE THE CAR DEAD AND HAVE THE CAR …

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I WILL INCLUDE ALL OF MY PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH MY 04 MAXIMA SE. THE FIRST MAJOR PROBEM I HAD WAS MY FRONT RIGHT STRUT WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. PROBLEM FIXED. NEXT, PROBLEM WAS ON OCCASOION MY CAR WOULDNT START FIRST DEALER TRIP THEY TOLD ME THEIR WAS NO PROBLEM AND THE NEXT TIME LEAVE THE CAR DEAD AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED. SO, IT HAPPEND AGAIN HAD THE CAR TOWED AND THEN THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR THE PRO-RATED BATTERY. SO, IT HAPPEND AGAIN HAD THE CAR TOWED AND NOW THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRIAL MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS. PROBLEM HAS BEEN FINE FOR 2 WEEKS +. NOW THE LEFT FRONT STRUT WENT OUT AND WONDERING WHEN I SHOULD BRING THE CAR IN AGAIN. I HAVE 25000 MILE AND NOT YET 2YRS OLD AND THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR ATLEAST 7 TIMES. I HATE MY 35K DOLLAR CAR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10111960

3,000 miles · Feb 17, 2005
Suspension

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA--FRONT STRUTS DEFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE OF AUTO...DEALER REPLACED STRUTS...NOW WITH 3000 MILES ON THEM , THEY ARE BAD AGAIN, AND I'M GOING TO DEALER TO SEE WHAT THEY SAY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10110666

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2005
Suspension

WHEN SNOW IS UNDER THE SUSPENSION THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES UNCONTROLLABLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10111126

8,400 miles · Jan 12, 2005
Suspension

THE FRONT PASSENGER STRUT FAILED HAS NOW BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. AFTER 500 MILES OF DRIVING THE STRUT APPEARS TO BE OK. HOWEVER, THE CAR FAILED TO START TODAY. OVER THE PAST 3 WEEKS THE WEATHER HAS BEEN CHANGING BETWEEN SINGLE DIGITS TO UPPER 30'S. ON COLDER MORNINGS THE RELAYS INSIDE THE VEHICLE NEAR THE GLOVE BOX WOULD MAKE A C…

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THE FRONT PASSENGER STRUT FAILED HAS NOW BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. AFTER 500 MILES OF DRIVING THE STRUT APPEARS TO BE OK. HOWEVER, THE CAR FAILED TO START TODAY. OVER THE PAST 3 WEEKS THE WEATHER HAS BEEN CHANGING BETWEEN SINGLE DIGITS TO UPPER 30'S. ON COLDER MORNINGS THE RELAYS INSIDE THE VEHICLE NEAR THE GLOVE BOX WOULD MAKE A CLICKING NOISE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR. THE CAR WOULD CRANK HARD SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STARTING. AT THE SAME TIME THE RELAYS WOULD MAKE A CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE FINALLY DIDN'T WANT TO START TODAY 1/12/05. THERE IS A TSB FOR THE POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO MY DEALERSHIP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10106179

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2005
SuspensionTiresVisibility

THE WINDSHIELD RUBBER ON THE TOP WAS LOOSE WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR. ALSO I NOTICED THERE WAS A SCRATCHY SOUND WHEN I TURNED ON THE WIPER RIGHT ON THE FIRST DAY I TOOK THIS CAR HOME. I CHECKED IT AND FOUND OUT THAT THE WIPER RUBBER WAS CAME LOOSE AND THE STEEL TOUCH THE WINDSHIELD CLASS. IT SCRATCH THE WINDSHIELD. THE STEVENS…

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THE WINDSHIELD RUBBER ON THE TOP WAS LOOSE WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR. ALSO I NOTICED THERE WAS A SCRATCHY SOUND WHEN I TURNED ON THE WIPER RIGHT ON THE FIRST DAY I TOOK THIS CAR HOME. I CHECKED IT AND FOUND OUT THAT THE WIPER RUBBER WAS CAME LOOSE AND THE STEEL TOUCH THE WINDSHIELD CLASS. IT SCRATCH THE WINDSHIELD. THE STEVENS CREEK DEALER WAS VERY NICE AND THEY DID CHANGE THE WINDSHIELD AND TIGHTEN THE SEAL ARROUND THE WINDSHIELD. 2 DAYS AGO IT WAS RAIN PREATY HARD IN WHERE I LIVE. IN THE MORNING WHEN I DROVE THE CAR I WAS SHOCK THAT THERE WAS WATER COMING OUT FROM THE LIGHTS INTERIOR. IT WAS PREATY BAD AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE I PAID SO MUCH FOR THIS PIECE A JUNK. MANY TIMES THE ENGINE WOULD STALLED, YOU CAN'T GAS AND LOOSE THE POWER. I BROUGHT IT TO THE SAME DEALER, THEY COULDN'T REGENERATE THE PROBLEM THUS THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THE TIRE VIBRATE BETWEEN 50-80 MPH AND THEY COULDN'T FIX THAT ONE EITHER. I'VE BEEN DRIVING SO MANY CARS...AND THIS IS THE WORST ONE. THIS IS WOULD BE MY FIRST AND LAST NISSAN AND I'M PLANNING TO SALE IT ASAP. I HAVE A FEELING THAT THIS CAR'S RESALE VALUE WOULD BE LOT LOWER THE MISTSUBISHI. ONE MORE THING; THE DRIVER SEAT COVER ON THE BACK CAME LOOSE ALSO AND IT HANGING ON THE SEAT AND SHOWS THE INSIDE OF THE SEAT. DID I TELL YOU THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF JUNK ALREADY? NOW YOU KNOW.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10106007

11,000 miles · Dec 27, 2004
Suspension

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FRONT STRUT PROBLEM.. WHEN DRIVING OVER A POT HOLE THE PISTON INSIDE THE STRUT BROKE, CAUSING VIBRATION IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, IT EFFECTED THE ALIGNMENT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE STRUTS NEEDED TO REPAIRED. THE PARTS …

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CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FRONT STRUT PROBLEM.. WHEN DRIVING OVER A POT HOLE THE PISTON INSIDE THE STRUT BROKE, CAUSING VIBRATION IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, IT EFFECTED THE ALIGNMENT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE STRUTS NEEDED TO REPAIRED. THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER, AND IT COULD TAKE ALMOST 3 MONTHS BEFORE THE PARTS NEEDED BECOME AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10105319

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2004
Suspension

I HAVE HAD THREE SETS OF STRUTS REPLACED ON MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE LATEST SET OF STRUTS ARE EXHIBITING EARLY SIGNS OF FAILURE. THE STRUTS KNOCK WHEN GOING OVER LARGER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THEY ALSO EXHIBIT MORE NOISE WHEN COLD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10102212

40 miles · Nov 5, 2004
SuspensionTires

FRONT END VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR TIRE ROTATION, TIRE REPLACEMENT AND LOWERING OF AIR PRESSURE IN TIRES. ISSUE IS STILL NOT RESOLVED AND I AM TOLD THIS IS HOW NISSAN CARS DRIVE. *AK THE CONSUMER HAS REQUESTED THAT NHTSA DISREGARD THIS COMPLAINT. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS…

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FRONT END VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR TIRE ROTATION, TIRE REPLACEMENT AND LOWERING OF AIR PRESSURE IN TIRES. ISSUE IS STILL NOT RESOLVED AND I AM TOLD THIS IS HOW NISSAN CARS DRIVE. *AK THE CONSUMER HAS REQUESTED THAT NHTSA DISREGARD THIS COMPLAINT. *SC THE CONSUMER WAS RESPONDED TO ABOUT HER REQUEST TO DROP THE COMPLAINT. FRONT END VIBRATION AS DESCRIBED BY THE CONSUMER MAY RESULT IN A STEERING OR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILURE THEREFORE NHTSA REQUESTS FROM THE CONSUMER FOR INFORMATION TO BE KEPT IN FILES. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10086802

4,805 miles · Oct 27, 2004
Suspension

THIS VEHICLE HAS MODERATE VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALER HAS DONE THE FOLLOWING TO TRY AND ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM: 1). BALANCED ALL 4 TIRES - 14OCT04. 2). ADJUSTED THE STEERING RACK, AND BALANCED 4 TIRES - 18OCT04. 3). REPLACED FRONT TIRES, AND BALANCED - 25OCT04 (AM). 4). REPLACED REAR TIRES, AND BALANCED - 25OCT0…

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THIS VEHICLE HAS MODERATE VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALER HAS DONE THE FOLLOWING TO TRY AND ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM: 1). BALANCED ALL 4 TIRES - 14OCT04. 2). ADJUSTED THE STEERING RACK, AND BALANCED 4 TIRES - 18OCT04. 3). REPLACED FRONT TIRES, AND BALANCED - 25OCT04 (AM). 4). REPLACED REAR TIRES, AND BALANCED - 25OCT04 (PM). THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER RODE WITH ME (DURING THE TEST DRIVE) FOLLOWING EACH OF THESE EVENTS, AND THE VIBRATION STILL EXISTS. ALSO, THE EXTERIOR FINISH HAS A ROUGH FEEL TO IT. IT APPEARS THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS IN AN AREA WHERE CLEAR COATING AS BEING APPLIED (TO A DIFFERENT VEHICLE), AND WAS NOT PROPERLY PROTECTED. VISUALLY, ONE CANNOT TELL. TOUCHING THE VEHICLE, THE EXTERIOR SURFACES ARE NOT SMOOTH TO THE TOUCH.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10096497

200 miles · Oct 26, 2004
Suspension

STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER THREE TIMES. IT WAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE FIRST TRIP. FRONT TIRES WERE BALANCED IN THE SECOND TRIP. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND THE CAR IS IN THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME. IT HAS LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10096463

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.