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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
30,348 miles · Oct 25, 2005
Tires

NO INCIDENTS LED UP TO FAILURE. WENT TO NISSAN DEALER AND COMPLAINED OF ROAD NOISE FROM FRONT OF CAR. DEALER SAID 2 TIRES WERE CRACKED AND POSED A DANGER OF COMING APART. SAID THEY WOULD BE LIABLE IF ALLOWED ME TO LEAVE WITHOUT NEW TIRES. INVESTIGATED ON THE INTERNET: THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES ON 200…

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NO INCIDENTS LED UP TO FAILURE. WENT TO NISSAN DEALER AND COMPLAINED OF ROAD NOISE FROM FRONT OF CAR. DEALER SAID 2 TIRES WERE CRACKED AND POSED A DANGER OF COMING APART. SAID THEY WOULD BE LIABLE IF ALLOWED ME TO LEAVE WITHOUT NEW TIRES. INVESTIGATED ON THE INTERNET: THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES ON 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA'S (OEM) THAT HAVE DEVELOPED DANGEROUS CRACKS. THESE SHOULD BE RECALLED. CRACKS ARE APPEARING ON "SIDE FACING INWARD" PART OF TIRES NOT EASILY VISABLE BY CONSUMERS. MILEAGE ON TIRES WAS 30348. WAS TOLD TO TAKE TIRES TO GOODYEAR DEALER BUT HAVE NOT GOTTEN THERE YET.

NHTSA ODI #10140799

37,000 miles · Oct 18, 2005
Exterior Lighting

DT: THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS NOT WORKING. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE BULBS WERE GETTING HOT, WHICH CAUSED THEM TO BLOW. OUT. THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED ON NOVEMBER 1, 2004. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10136570

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2005
Tires

DT: 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR TIRE SPLIT ON THE SIDEWALLS. THE FRONT TIRE SPLIT ON THE COMPLETE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE, BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND THE TREAD. THESE WERE GOODYEAR TIRES, P245/45R18. THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES FOR THE VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER PROBLEMS …

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DT: 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR TIRE SPLIT ON THE SIDEWALLS. THE FRONT TIRE SPLIT ON THE COMPLETE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE, BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND THE TREAD. THESE WERE GOODYEAR TIRES, P245/45R18. THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES FOR THE VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE OTHER TWO TIRES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10138909

24,000 miles · Sep 27, 2005
Power Train

SHIMMY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AXLE REPLACEMENT THREE TIMES AND NEW TIRES REPLACED ALL WITHIN 90 DAYS. THE TIRES ARE PROBABLY TO BIG AND WIDE FOR THIS CAR. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10137799

24,000 miles · Sep 20, 2005
Tires

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH 24K MILES. EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE R-SA P245/45R18 TIRES. LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR TIRES SHOWS SIGNS OF SIDEWALL SEPARATION (ONE INCH FROM RIM). TREAD DEPTH WAS MEASURED AT 7/32 AND 8/32. TALKED WITH DEALER WHO SAID HE HAD ANOTHER MAXIMA GOODYEAR REPLACED THE TIRES ON DUE TO SIDEWALL SEPARATION. GOO…

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2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH 24K MILES. EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE R-SA P245/45R18 TIRES. LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR TIRES SHOWS SIGNS OF SIDEWALL SEPARATION (ONE INCH FROM RIM). TREAD DEPTH WAS MEASURED AT 7/32 AND 8/32. TALKED WITH DEALER WHO SAID HE HAD ANOTHER MAXIMA GOODYEAR REPLACED THE TIRES ON DUE TO SIDEWALL SEPARATION. GOODYEAR HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TIRES AT LESS THAN THE PRO-RATED WARRANTY AMOUNT. THIS COMPLAINT IS MEANT TO BRING ATTENTION TO POSSIBLY A "BAD" PRODUCTION RUN OR ENGINEERED DEFECT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10137123

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2005
Tires

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA, IT CAME WITH GOODYEAR TIRES. THE TIRES NOW MAKE VERY LOUD ROAD NOISE. THE DEALER, AFTER 3 OR 4 TRIPS ADVISED THE ROAD NOISE WAS DUE TO A BENT RIM. (THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN ROUGHLY, BENT RIM MUST HAVE BEEN FROM ORDINARY DRIVING AND/OR AVERAGE POT HOLE). I HAD THE BENT RIM FIXED. HOWEVER, THE LOU…

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I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA, IT CAME WITH GOODYEAR TIRES. THE TIRES NOW MAKE VERY LOUD ROAD NOISE. THE DEALER, AFTER 3 OR 4 TRIPS ADVISED THE ROAD NOISE WAS DUE TO A BENT RIM. (THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN ROUGHLY, BENT RIM MUST HAVE BEEN FROM ORDINARY DRIVING AND/OR AVERAGE POT HOLE). I HAD THE BENT RIM FIXED. HOWEVER, THE LOUD ROAD NOISE CONTINUES. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THESE TIRES & TELLS ME I NEED TO TAKE THE ISSUE WITH THE TIRE DEALERSHIP, OR MANUFACTURER. THEY EVIDENTLY REFUSE TO BACK THE PRODUCTS, THEY PUT ON THEIR NEW CARS, THEY SELL ON THEIR LOTS. I ALSO HAD A DEFECTIVE STRUT ON THE RIGHT REAR. IT TOOK THREE TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP, BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY FOUND. AND THEN A FOURTH TRIP, TO HAVE IT FIXED, ONCE THEY HAD ORDERED & RECEIVED THE PART. IT'S TOO BAD SUCH A POTENTIALLY GREAT CAR, HAS CREATED SUCH A BAD EXPERIENCE FOR ME, A FIRST TIME NISSAN BUYER. THIS, DUE TO LACK OF SUPPORT FROM NISSAN MOTORS & LACK OF QUALITY CONTROL ON SUSPENSIONS & TIRES. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN AUTOMOBILE, DUE TO THIS EXPERIENCE & LACK OF PRODUCT BACKING BY THE MANUFACTURER. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10136968

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN ACCELERATING, THERE'S A RATTLING SOUND/NOISE COMING FROM AROUND THE ENGINE AREA. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10136150

29,738 miles · Aug 30, 2005
Tires

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIRES HAD CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALLS. THE TIRES WERE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF OLD. THE TIRES CAME ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THE CAR WAS BOUGHT. A GOODYEAR DEALER CHECKED THE TIRES AND THE CONSUMER WOULD REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES. THE TIRES WERE GOODYEAR EAGLES RSA. CONSUMER NOTICED THE CRACKS YESTERDAY. THE FAC…

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DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIRES HAD CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALLS. THE TIRES WERE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF OLD. THE TIRES CAME ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THE CAR WAS BOUGHT. A GOODYEAR DEALER CHECKED THE TIRES AND THE CONSUMER WOULD REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES. THE TIRES WERE GOODYEAR EAGLES RSA. CONSUMER NOTICED THE CRACKS YESTERDAY. THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE WAS WILL CHECK THE TIRES. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10130772

10,000 miles · Aug 29, 2005
Tires

DT: 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT HAS CONTINENTAL, CONTITOURING , TIRE, SIZE P225/55/R17 LEAKED AIR ALMOST TO THE POINT OF BEING FLAT. THIS HAPPENS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, SUCH AS TWO WEEKS, THESE LEAKS WERE SLOW, AND OCCURRED FOUR TIRES. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH IN A SCHOOL ZONE AND HEARD A POP, PULLED OVE,R AND THE RIGHT…

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DT: 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT HAS CONTINENTAL, CONTITOURING , TIRE, SIZE P225/55/R17 LEAKED AIR ALMOST TO THE POINT OF BEING FLAT. THIS HAPPENS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, SUCH AS TWO WEEKS, THESE LEAKS WERE SLOW, AND OCCURRED FOUR TIRES. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH IN A SCHOOL ZONE AND HEARD A POP, PULLED OVE,R AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT ON THE RIM. THIS OCCURRED NEAR A GAS STATION ,AND CONSUMER DROVE THERE TO GAS STATION TO PUT AIR IN THE TIRE, BUT THE AIR SYSTEM AT THE GAS STATION WOULD NOT WORK. CALLED FAMILY MEMBER TO BRING AN AIR PIGGY AND THE TIRE WOULD NOT INFLATE. WAITED FOR TIRE DEALER TO OPEN BECAUSE THIS WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING AND THEY COULD NOT INFLATE THE TIRE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THEY NOTE THA T INSIDE OF THE TIRE RUNNING VERTICALLY FROM THE RIM TO THE TOP OF THE TIRE HAD A SPLIT. DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION THIS COULD NOT BE REPAIRED , AND A NEW TIRE WOULD HAVE TO BE PURCHASED. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO SUGGESTED DISCUSSING THIS MATTER WITH TIRE MANUFACTURER. CONTACTED CONTINENTAL, WHO SAID CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO TAKETIRE TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER WHICH WAS A CONSIDERABLE DRIVE FOR INSPECTION OF THE TIRE. CALLED A SECOND TIME, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEND OUT A CALL TAG AND REQUEST TIRES BACK. CONSUMER HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND AND PAID FOR THIS OUT OF POCKET. HAVE NOT SENT THOSE TIRES TO CONTINENTAL AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10134606

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

FRONT STRUTS REPLACED ON MY BRAND NEW 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA AFTER 9 MONTHS. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE MY ROTORS TURNED AFTER 18K MILES. I KNOW OF OTHERS THAT HAD/HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10133132

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.