IllustrationSTRUTS ON 2004 MAXIMA HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE SO FAR (13,000 MILES PRESENTLY ON CAR). FIRST TIME AT APPROX 6,000 MILES.*AK
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 reportsSUN ROOF ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED DUE TO LEAKAGE BECAUSE IT WAS INSTALLED WRONGLY. THE STRUT SUSPENSION MALFUNCTIONED, IT MADE A CLUNKING NOISE AS IF IT WAS LOOSE. *AK
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH ONLY 30 MILES, WE WERE THE FIRST ONE'S TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR. DURING THE DRIVE WE NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL BETWEEN 60-80 MILES PER HOUR. THE SALES PERSON ADVISED US THAT THE CAR SIMPLY NEEDED TO BE BALANCE SINCE IT HAS BEEN SITTING ON THE LOT FOR FOR 4MONTHS AND THE TIRES HAD A DULL …
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I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH ONLY 30 MILES, WE WERE THE FIRST ONE'S TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR. DURING THE DRIVE WE NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL BETWEEN 60-80 MILES PER HOUR. THE SALES PERSON ADVISED US THAT THE CAR SIMPLY NEEDED TO BE BALANCE SINCE IT HAS BEEN SITTING ON THE LOT FOR FOR 4MONTHS AND THE TIRES HAD A DULL SPOT. WE SCHEDULED THE SERVICE 4 DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE. AFTER THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES WITH BRAND NEW CONTINENTAL TIRES, ALIGNED, ROAD FORCE BALANCE THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSIST. NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIR SAID THAT THE CAR WAS TUNED TO SPEC AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY I AM PAYING FOR A DEFECTIVE CAR AND CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MAXVA7@COMCAST.NET. *AK
THE MAXIMA HAD 1600 MILES ON IT AND THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT FAILED. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; NO EXCESSIVE ROADS ENCOUNTERED.*AK THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOTH FRONT STRUTS. AT 5500 MILES THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT IS BEGINING TO FAIL YET AGAIN. NISSAN IS KNOWINGLY REPLACING DEFECTIVE STRUTS WITH DEFECTIVE S…
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THE MAXIMA HAD 1600 MILES ON IT AND THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT FAILED. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; NO EXCESSIVE ROADS ENCOUNTERED.*AK THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOTH FRONT STRUTS. AT 5500 MILES THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT IS BEGINING TO FAIL YET AGAIN. NISSAN IS KNOWINGLY REPLACING DEFECTIVE STRUTS WITH DEFECTIVE STRUTS! THE REASON IS THAT NO OTHER STRUTS ARE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE
FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE CRACKED ON THE INSIDE OF THE SIDEWALL. *AK PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE CRACKED ON THE INSIDE OF SIDEWALL. GOODYEAR REPRESENTATIVE STATED THERE WAS A BAD BATCH OF TIRES AND THAT THEY HAD REPLACED A NUMBER OF BAD TIRES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED . *TC
BAD STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY AT 45-60 MPH, THEN SEVERE VIBRATION AT 75 MPH (HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEED). MANUFACTURER CONTACTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, INDICATED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN. A LOUD WINDING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT AND REAR. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK *SC
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK & I HEARD AND FELT A BLOW AND HEARD AIR FROM THE OUTSIDE, AND THEN I LOOKED UP AND SAW MY SUN ROOF WAS SHATTERED. I WAS FREAKING OUT, AND DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY KNEW THIS SUN ROOF WAS A RECALL. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED NOR RECEIVED A LETTER FROM NISSAN. I HAD GLASS, AND MY ARM AND MY BACK AND MY 17 MONTH…
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I WAS DRIVING TO WORK & I HEARD AND FELT A BLOW AND HEARD AIR FROM THE OUTSIDE, AND THEN I LOOKED UP AND SAW MY SUN ROOF WAS SHATTERED. I WAS FREAKING OUT, AND DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY KNEW THIS SUN ROOF WAS A RECALL. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED NOR RECEIVED A LETTER FROM NISSAN. I HAD GLASS, AND MY ARM AND MY BACK AND MY 17 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER CAR SEAT HAD GLASS ALL OVER IT, AND PIECES OF GLASS IN IT'S FABRIC. I WILL NEVER PUT HER BACK IN HER CAR SEAT NOR WILL MY FAMILY, NOR I FEEL SAFE EVER AGAIN. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE!!! I FEEL NISSAN SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR MY BABY'S CAR SEAT, AND PUT ME INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WILL TELL MY FMAILY & FRIENDS NOT TO BUY THIS CAR FROM NISSAN. IT'S NOT SAFE AT ALL!!!*AK
WHEN REVERSING MY BRAKES SQUEAK ALMOST EVERY TIME. 8000 MILES ON VEHICAL, WELL KEPT, NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO AND THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG. NO INSPECTION OF MY BRAKES WERE DONE, JUST VISUALLY.*AK
NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. 8000 MILES ON MY VEHICAL. PURCHASED CAR IN APRIL. FEW WEEKS AFTERWARDS I HEARD A RATTLING SOUND ON THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL VERY TIME I DRIVE OVER SMALL BUMPS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN JULY AFTER MUCH DENIAL THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM AND WAS SENT HOME. NOTHING WAS COR…
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NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. 8000 MILES ON MY VEHICAL. PURCHASED CAR IN APRIL. FEW WEEKS AFTERWARDS I HEARD A RATTLING SOUND ON THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL VERY TIME I DRIVE OVER SMALL BUMPS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN JULY AFTER MUCH DENIAL THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM AND WAS SENT HOME. NOTHING WAS CORRECTED AND I STILL HEAR THE SOUND TO THIS DAY.*AK
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.