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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 →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 reportsFRONT 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
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
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
IVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE PROBLEMS FIXED WITH MY NEW CAR. IT HAS BEEN SHAKING (STEERING WHEEL), ON MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT, APRIL 8/2004 @ DOBBS NISSAN MEMPHIS, TN. IVE HAD THE CAR IN 5 DIFFERENT CAR DEALERSHIPS--- #1APRIL 12/04 COURTESY NISSAN INC., RICHARDSON, TX-- #2 APRIL 14/04 DOBBS NISSAN, MEMPHI…
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IVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE PROBLEMS FIXED WITH MY NEW CAR. IT HAS BEEN SHAKING (STEERING WHEEL), ON MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT, APRIL 8/2004 @ DOBBS NISSAN MEMPHIS, TN. IVE HAD THE CAR IN 5 DIFFERENT CAR DEALERSHIPS--- #1APRIL 12/04 COURTESY NISSAN INC., RICHARDSON, TX-- #2 APRIL 14/04 DOBBS NISSAN, MEMPHIS, TN---#3 MAY 7/04 CARLOCK, TUPELO, MS ---#4 MAY 17/04 CRUMP NISSAN, JASPER, AL--- #5 COLUMBUS, MS NUMEROUS TIMES. AFTER 5 (FIVE) SETS TIRES, THATS 20 (TWENTY) NEW TIRES, 12 BEING CONTINENTAL ALL WEATHER AND 8 BRIDGESTONE POTENZA S-03 AND 10 (TEN) BALANCE JOBS, I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS AROUND 10,000 MILES NOW AND ABOUT HALF OF THEM WERE PUT ON GOING TO THE DEALERS. I SENT A REGISTERED LETTER MAY 25-2004 TO CONSUMERS AFFAIRS, AND THEN NISSAN FLEW IN A TECHNICAL SPECIALIST FROM CA. HE TOOK A FEW PICTURES OF THE TIRES. GUESS WHAT? IT NEEDED A BALANCE JOB. NOW, THE DEALER HAS 2 MORE TIRES ORDERED, IVE HAD TO GET ALL THESE TIRES MYSELF, BUT THE LAST TWO. IM NO TECHNICAL SPECIALIST BUT I BELIEVE ITS THE CAR NOT THE TIRES. LOOKS LIKE THE LEMON LAW IS NEXT!!!*AK
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH A LOUD EXPLOSION OCCURRED. REAR TAILGATE GLASS AND SUN ROOF GLASS SHATTERED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT. THEN, A YEAR LATER, A RECALL FOR THE SUN ROOF GLASS WAS ISSUED. *AK
1. NORMAL DRIVING; 2. BOTH FRONT STRUTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE BLOWN; AND 3. DEALER REPLACED THE PARTS UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY SINCE PURCHASED IN JUNE, 2004. SHIMMY OCCURS BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH. HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 4 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY EVEN APPLIED THE FOLLOWING SERVICE BULLETIN TO NO AVAIL: SERVICE BULLETIN NUM : 04085 , DATE OF BULLETIN: JUL 16, 2004 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10008836. *NM
STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES AT SPEEDS FROM 50-80 MPH AND ALSO SHIMMIES HARSHLY WHEN BRAKING AT LOWER SPEEDS. I HAD THIS IN FOR REPAIR TWICE SO FAR. THE FIRST TIME THEY TURNED THE ROTORS. THE NEXT TIME THEY ROTATED THE TIRES. ALSO, HAD GPS/NAV SYSTEM IN FOR REPAIR THREE TIMES TO DATE. THE DVD WAS REPROGRAMMED THE FIRST TIME AND REPL…
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STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES AT SPEEDS FROM 50-80 MPH AND ALSO SHIMMIES HARSHLY WHEN BRAKING AT LOWER SPEEDS. I HAD THIS IN FOR REPAIR TWICE SO FAR. THE FIRST TIME THEY TURNED THE ROTORS. THE NEXT TIME THEY ROTATED THE TIRES. ALSO, HAD GPS/NAV SYSTEM IN FOR REPAIR THREE TIMES TO DATE. THE DVD WAS REPROGRAMMED THE FIRST TIME AND REPLACED TWICE. I'M GETTING READY TO FILE A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT. *NM
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY AT ANY SPEED. *AK THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, SEATS, A DEFECT IN THE RUBBER MOLDING OF THE WINDSHIELD, THE BRAKES SQUEALED, THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE OUT OF ROUND AND A GRINDING SOUND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED A FEW TIMES, THE BRA…
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WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY AT ANY SPEED. *AK THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, SEATS, A DEFECT IN THE RUBBER MOLDING OF THE WINDSHIELD, THE BRAKES SQUEALED, THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE OUT OF ROUND AND A GRINDING SOUND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED A FEW TIMES, THE BRAKES WERE LUBED AND SANDED, POWER STEERING RACK WAS ADJUSTED, BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND A BRAND NEW SET OF TIRES WERE ADDED. *SC
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.