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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.

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

What owners actually said

1,425 reports
85,000 miles · Sep 11, 2008
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MAKES IDLING NOISES. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, IT JERKS HARD. WHEN THE VEHICLE APPROACHES A STOP OR YIELDS, IT FEELS AS IF IT IS SLIPPING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING AT …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MAKES IDLING NOISES. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, IT JERKS HARD. WHEN THE VEHICLE APPROACHES A STOP OR YIELDS, IT FEELS AS IF IT IS SLIPPING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC APPROXIMATELY 15 SEPARATE TIMES REGARDING THIS ISSUE, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10241857

50,000 miles · Sep 11, 2008
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS THE VEHICLE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,261 AND APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10241824

90,000 miles · Sep 9, 2008
Power Train

MY NISSAN MAXIMA HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A SHIFTING JERK ESPECIALLY WHEN SHIFTING DOWN INTO SECOND GEAR. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP SAID I NEEDED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH EVEN THOUGH I HAD JUST HAD ONE TWO WEEKS PRIOR. IT DID NOT HELP. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CAR ONLY HAS 95K MILES ON IT AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THE…

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MY NISSAN MAXIMA HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A SHIFTING JERK ESPECIALLY WHEN SHIFTING DOWN INTO SECOND GEAR. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP SAID I NEEDED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH EVEN THOUGH I HAD JUST HAD ONE TWO WEEKS PRIOR. IT DID NOT HELP. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CAR ONLY HAS 95K MILES ON IT AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 04 MAXIMA AND DECIDED TO OFFICIALLY FILE A COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241624

80,000 miles · Sep 8, 2008
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERYDAY. THE VEHICLE JERKS EXTREMELY BAD WHEN APPROACHING A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THEY PER…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERYDAY. THE VEHICLE JERKS EXTREMELY BAD WHEN APPROACHING A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THEY PERFORMED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS OVER 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10241389

62,000 miles · Sep 5, 2008
Power Train

WHEN I ACCELERATE OR SLOW DOWN THE JERKS. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP A FEW TIME THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. YESTERDAY MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE, NOW THE DEALER IS SAYING THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241091

84,000 miles · Sep 4, 2008
Power Train

I OWN A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. I FAITHFUL KEPT UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ON THE VEHICLE, SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN 2003 ( I HAVE RECEIPTS). I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MILLER NISSAN IN VAN NUYS FOR MAINTENANCE. I INFORMED THEM SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO MY TRANSMISSION GOING OUT THAT MY CAR WAS NOT RUNNING APPROPRIATELY. TH…

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I OWN A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. I FAITHFUL KEPT UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ON THE VEHICLE, SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN 2003 ( I HAVE RECEIPTS). I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MILLER NISSAN IN VAN NUYS FOR MAINTENANCE. I INFORMED THEM SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO MY TRANSMISSION GOING OUT THAT MY CAR WAS NOT RUNNING APPROPRIATELY. THEY WOULD TELL ME THAT IT WAS OKAY AND WOULD GIVE ME A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. FINALLY THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND THEY WANTED $5000 OR MORE TO REPAIR IT. THEY MISDIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND WOULD NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER OWNERS OF 2004 MAXIMA'S AND THEY HAVE HAD SIMILAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. EVENTUALLY I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A AAA APPROVED AUTO SHOP TO GET IT REPAIRED BECAUSE I COULD NOT AFFORD $5000 FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE OWNED A CHEVY CAVALIER THAT HAVE 184,000 (1997) NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE PROBLEM TO THIS DATE. I WASTED ALL OF MY MONEY KEEPING THE TRANSMISSION MAINTAINED BY FOLLOWING THE SCHEDULE AND IT STILL WENT OUT. I WAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241001

75,000 miles · Sep 4, 2008
Power Train

AROUND 70K MILES, MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE BEGAN "JERKING" WHENEVER I WOULD ACCELERATE - WHICH OCCURRED AFTER DECCELERATING - SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2005 AND HAVE HAD THE CAR IN TO REPLACE THE HEAT SHIELD AND ENTIRE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, HAD THE RIGHT FROM WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED, AND HAVE BE…

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AROUND 70K MILES, MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE BEGAN "JERKING" WHENEVER I WOULD ACCELERATE - WHICH OCCURRED AFTER DECCELERATING - SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2005 AND HAVE HAD THE CAR IN TO REPLACE THE HEAT SHIELD AND ENTIRE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, HAD THE RIGHT FROM WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS (AAMCO, GOODYEAR GEMINI, AND OTHER NATIONAL CARE SERVICE CENTERS) THAT WHILE A TRANSMISSION FLUSH MAY SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THEY NOTED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MANY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND SUGGESTED THAT ONLY REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WHILE THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TOOK THE SAME STANCE, THEY DID NOT COMMENT ON THIS BEING A REOCCURRING PROBLEM - WHICH I WOULD NOT EXPECT THEY WOULD ADMIT SUCH A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. WITH READING MANY INTERNET BLOGS AND HAVING MORE THAN 5 REPUTABLE SERVICE CENTERS TELL ME THAT THIS IS A REOCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THE NISSAN MAXIMA'S TRANSMISSION, I WOULD THINK THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM - AND IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT EVERY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA OWNER PAY $4-6K TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION - NOT TO MENTION THE LOSS OF TIME TRYING TO TRACK THIS ISSUE DOWN. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THIS ISSUE BE ADDRESSED AND WOULD HOPE THAT ACTION, OTHER THAN LEGAL, CAN BE TAKEN ON BEHALF OF NISSAN TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10240861

60,000 miles · Sep 2, 2008
SteeringSuspension

VEHICLE FRONT END SHAKES AT 40-70 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240563

39,999 miles · Sep 2, 2008
Power Train

REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWICE AT 40,000 MILES, VEHICLE SHIFTED HARD FROM 1 TO 2ND. I HAVE 60,000 MILES NOW AND WONDER HOW LONG THIS TRANSMISSION IN GOING TO LAST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240562

75,000 miles · Aug 31, 2008
Power Train

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE AND IT IS HAVING TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON DIFFERENT WEBSITE DISCUSSION BOARDS IS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON. IT IS APPARENT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM NISSAN TO HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE SOMEONE TAKES NOTICE AND HELPS THE CO…

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I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE AND IT IS HAVING TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON DIFFERENT WEBSITE DISCUSSION BOARDS IS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON. IT IS APPARENT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM NISSAN TO HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE SOMEONE TAKES NOTICE AND HELPS THE CONSUMERS FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240486

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.