Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1380–25K
10625–50K
28150–75K
34975–100K
260100–150K
55150K+
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
68,000 miles · Aug 12, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT THEN VIBRATING NOISE STARTED. NOW EVERY TIME THAT I BREAK THE CAR SHUTS OFF IS ABLE TO START ON AGAIN BUT ABOUT EVERY TIME I BREAK IT SHUT OFF AGAIN IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE COULD GET HURT. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM AND IT WAS NOT GOING TO AFFECT T…
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ABS LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT THEN VIBRATING NOISE STARTED. NOW EVERY TIME THAT I BREAK THE CAR SHUTS OFF IS ABLE TO START ON AGAIN BUT ABOUT EVERY TIME I BREAK IT SHUT OFF AGAIN IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE COULD GET HURT. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM AND IT WAS NOT GOING TO AFFECT THE CAR AND NOW IT IS. I OWN THE CAR FOR 10 MONTHS AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED SO NOW I'M STUCK PAYING FOR 3000 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED WHEN IN STILL MAKING PAYMENT ON THE CAR AND CAN'T EVEN AFFORD IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10237924
118,000 miles · Aug 12, 2008
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT IS DECELERATING FROM 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO JERK FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 118,000.
NHTSA ODI #10237894
100,000 miles · Aug 12, 2008
Power Train
MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA IS HAVING A SEVERE JERKING AND SLIPPING ISSUE THAT PREVENTS ME FROM DRIVING MY CARE AND HAS CAUSED ME TO GET MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT. I HAVE GONE TO QUITE A FEW WEBSITES FOR MAXIMAS AND HAVE NOTICED COUNTLESS ISSUES WITH NISSAN MAXIMAS AND THE SEVERE JERKING AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT HAVE OCCURED REG…
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MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA IS HAVING A SEVERE JERKING AND SLIPPING ISSUE THAT PREVENTS ME FROM DRIVING MY CARE AND HAS CAUSED ME TO GET MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT. I HAVE GONE TO QUITE A FEW WEBSITES FOR MAXIMAS AND HAVE NOTICED COUNTLESS ISSUES WITH NISSAN MAXIMAS AND THE SEVERE JERKING AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT HAVE OCCURED REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE OR AGE OF THE CAR. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH NISSAN THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS JUST WEAR AND TEAR BUT IT SEEMS VERY LIKELY THAT IT IS A NISSAN ISSUE THAT THEY REFUSE TO DEAL WITH AND REFER THE TREMENDOUS COST ON THEIR CUSTOMERS. THANK YOU.
NHTSA ODI #10237796
30,000 miles · Aug 11, 2008
Power Train
COUPLE YEARS AGO CAR STARTED TO MAKE SOME GRINDING NOISE FROM ENGINE ROOM. TOOK IT TO DEALER TO CHECK AND THEY TOLD ME THAT SOME BRACKET WAS BROKEN AND THEY REPLACED IT. COUPLE DAYS LATER, SAME NOISE CAME OUT FROM THE ENGINE ROOM. IT SOUNDS EVERYDAY SINCE THEN AND GETTING LOUDER. I TOOK EVERYWHERE (DEALER, LOCAL BODY SHOP, E…
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COUPLE YEARS AGO CAR STARTED TO MAKE SOME GRINDING NOISE FROM ENGINE ROOM. TOOK IT TO DEALER TO CHECK AND THEY TOLD ME THAT SOME BRACKET WAS BROKEN AND THEY REPLACED IT. COUPLE DAYS LATER, SAME NOISE CAME OUT FROM THE ENGINE ROOM. IT SOUNDS EVERYDAY SINCE THEN AND GETTING LOUDER. I TOOK EVERYWHERE (DEALER, LOCAL BODY SHOP, ETC), BUT EVERYONE TOLD ME THERE WERE NO PROBLEM. I SEARCHED ONLINE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM AS ME. THEY WERE ALL SAYING IT WAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10237716
65,000 miles · Aug 11, 2008
Power Train
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING ON A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WHEN CAR IS SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND ND AND ALSO WHEN ACCELERATING OUT OF A TURN. THIS OCCURS QUITE OFTEN. NISSAN SAYS THAT THIS ISN'T A RECALL ITEM EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENS OFTEN ON THE 2004 MODEL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10237697
52,650 miles · Aug 11, 2008
Power Train
I, LIKE MANY I HAVE FOUND CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WITH MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA'S TRANSMISSION. WHILE THIS ISSUE HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT YET, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE TRANSMISSION HAS STOPPED WORKING (SLIPPED) WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THIS COULD OBVIOUSLY LEAD TO A MORE SIGNIFICANT EVENT. NISSAN NEEDS TO ACKNOW…
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I, LIKE MANY I HAVE FOUND CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WITH MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA'S TRANSMISSION. WHILE THIS ISSUE HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT YET, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE TRANSMISSION HAS STOPPED WORKING (SLIPPED) WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THIS COULD OBVIOUSLY LEAD TO A MORE SIGNIFICANT EVENT. NISSAN NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS MODEL AND YEAR HAS A DESIGN ISSUE AND RECALL THE VEHICLE AND RECTIFY IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10237682
75,000 miles · Aug 8, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE. FRONT RIGHT TICKING SOUND. DEALER EVALUATED THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS A PRIMARY AND SECONDARY TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM. SAID I NEEDED A REPLACEMENT. I'M TOLD BY ANOTHER NON-NISSAN DEALER THAT THIS IS SO COMMON IT SHOULD BE LISTED AS A RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10237496
86,400 miles · Aug 7, 2008
Power Train
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS- HARD SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND FROM REVERSE BACK TO DRIVE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10237319
720,000 miles · Aug 6, 2008
Power Train
I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE AND AM EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THE PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL TO DOZENS I'VE READ FROM OTHERS ONLINE WHERE THERE IS HARSH SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST. I ALSO HAVE A HARD SHIFT WHEN MOVING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. THE CAR HAS 72K ON IT. THE PROBLEM SEEMS VERY COMMON FROM ALL THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS.…
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I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE AND AM EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THE PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL TO DOZENS I'VE READ FROM OTHERS ONLINE WHERE THERE IS HARSH SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST. I ALSO HAVE A HARD SHIFT WHEN MOVING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. THE CAR HAS 72K ON IT. THE PROBLEM SEEMS VERY COMMON FROM ALL THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. WHY HASN'T NISSAN BEEN FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL? THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10237291
70,000 miles · Aug 2, 2008
Power Train
TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BETWEEN GEAR 1 & 2. I HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION @ 70,000 MILES. TERRIBLE SLIPPAGE AND BUCKING. WOULDN'T ACCELERATE INTO GEAR IN A SAFE TIME FRAME. *TR
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.
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.
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