IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Maxima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 reportsNISSAN MAXIMA HOOD RUSTING. ALTHOUGH WARRANTY SAYS IT IS COVERED DEALER AND NISSAN REFUSE TO FIX. *NM
ALL FOUR GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A P245/45R TIRES ON MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA DEVELOPED DEEP SIDEWALL CRACKS. NISSAN WOULD NOT COVER THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. GOODYEAR PROVIDED SOME RELIEF BY DISCOUNTING THE REPLACEMENT COST TO $264.15. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET TO SEE IF OTHER OWNERS HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 NISS…
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ALL FOUR GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A P245/45R TIRES ON MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA DEVELOPED DEEP SIDEWALL CRACKS. NISSAN WOULD NOT COVER THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. GOODYEAR PROVIDED SOME RELIEF BY DISCOUNTING THE REPLACEMENT COST TO $264.15. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET TO SEE IF OTHER OWNERS HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA AND GOODYEAR TIRES, I DISCOVERED THERE WERE 113 REGISTERED OWNERS WHO HAD THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM, EXTENSIVE SIDEWALL CRACKS. NEITHER NISSAN NOR GOODYEAR WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM. SOME OF THE OWNERS EXPERIENCED CRASHES AND INJURIES. THE WEB SITE IS HTTP://WWW.MYCARSTATS.COM/SAFETYSTATION.ASP#SAFETYSTATION. UNDERINFLATION WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. I CHECK MY TIRES REGULARLY. JACK BURNS.. *NM
I HAD A NEW BORN IN OCTOBER 2006. I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW BRITAX DECATHLON CAR SEAT AND HAVE HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE PUTTING IT ONTO MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE BACK SEAT LATCH ANCHOR (THE ONE BEHIND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND CLOSE TO THE MIDDLE) IS VERY HARD TO REACH BECAUSE IT WAS HIDDEN IN BETWEEN TWO SEAT BELT BUCKLES. IT IS …
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I HAD A NEW BORN IN OCTOBER 2006. I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW BRITAX DECATHLON CAR SEAT AND HAVE HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE PUTTING IT ONTO MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE BACK SEAT LATCH ANCHOR (THE ONE BEHIND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND CLOSE TO THE MIDDLE) IS VERY HARD TO REACH BECAUSE IT WAS HIDDEN IN BETWEEN TWO SEAT BELT BUCKLES. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO BE LATCHED ON. *NM
2004 NISSAN WITH GOODYEAR TIRES P245/45R18 HAD CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION AND WAS INFORMED INSIDES OF TIRES ALL CRACKED AND DEEMED TO BE DEFECTIVE BY GARAGE. GARAGE ADVISED TAKE TO GOODYEAR TO REPLACE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE TIRES. *NM
AUTO TRANSMISSION IN 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA STARTED A HARD JERK WHEN DRIVING. BROUGHT CAR TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD NO PROBLEM. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALERSHIP AGAIN A WEEK LATER AND WAS TOLD THAT CAR NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. TOOK CAR TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND BASED ON EXAMINATION FOUND THAT AN ELECTRONIC PART FAILED IN TH…
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AUTO TRANSMISSION IN 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA STARTED A HARD JERK WHEN DRIVING. BROUGHT CAR TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD NO PROBLEM. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALERSHIP AGAIN A WEEK LATER AND WAS TOLD THAT CAR NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. TOOK CAR TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND BASED ON EXAMINATION FOUND THAT AN ELECTRONIC PART FAILED IN THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO OVER HEAT. THUS CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION. ELECTRONIC PART IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR ITEM THEREFORE CAN NOT BE REPLACED THROUGH AFTER MARKET. *NM
GOODYEAR EAGLE RSA18 TIRES ARE CONSISTENTLY FLAT OVER A FEW MONTH PERIOD. NISSAN STATES THAT IT IS GOODYEARS PROBLEM, BUT GOODYEAR HAS NO RECALL ON THESE TIRES. *NM
2004 MAXIMA HAS SIDEWALL CRACKS ON GOODYEAR TIRES. *TS ALL FOUR TIRE DEVELOPED CRACKS, BOTH ON THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE OF THE SIDEWALLS. THE TIRE HAD BEEN REGULARLY ROTATED AND PER INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE NISSAN OWNER'S MANUAL. *NM
MULTIPLE STRUT FAILURES ON A CAR WITH ONLY 28K MILES. ALSO BRAKE ROTORS CONTINUE TO WARP. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR SUCH A NEW CAR. *NM
2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. CAR DEVELOPS A DANGEROUS VIBRATION BETWEEN 50 AND 60 MPH. ALSO HAS A LOUD KNOCK COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE. THIS FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT SAYING THAT IT HAD BROKEN. THEY SAID THE VIBRATION WAS COMING FROM CUPPED TIRES CAUSED BY THE BROKEN STRUT. THE …
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2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. CAR DEVELOPS A DANGEROUS VIBRATION BETWEEN 50 AND 60 MPH. ALSO HAS A LOUD KNOCK COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE. THIS FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT SAYING THAT IT HAD BROKEN. THEY SAID THE VIBRATION WAS COMING FROM CUPPED TIRES CAUSED BY THE BROKEN STRUT. THE LOUD KNOCK WAS LESS BUT STILL APPARENT. TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHO THEN TIGHTENED THE "TIE ROD WHICH WAS LOOSE. NO MENTION OF CUPPED TIRES WAS MADE. KNOCK IS STILL PRESENT AND ALSO THE VIBRATION IS ALSO STILL A BIG PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS THE 18" WHEELS. *NM
Official recalls
205V512000 · 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
1PE04035 · 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.