IllustrationTHE SUN ROOF IS TOO NOISY AND MAKES A LOUD RATTLING SOUND. *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 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE TWICE. FIRST TIME THEY TIGHTENED THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE SECOND TIME DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. ALSO, RADIATOR FAILED. *AK
MARCH 2004 ALL FOUR TIRES ON MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA FOUND TO HAVE CUTS TO THE INSIDE SIDEWALL ALL THE WAY AROUND ALL FOUR TIRES.THE RIGHT REAR TIRE RUN FLAT, DUE TO THE CUTS AND CRACKING ON THE TIRES.CAR TAKEN TO NISSAN DEALER.SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE TIRES.SUGGESTED I GO TO…
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MARCH 2004 ALL FOUR TIRES ON MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA FOUND TO HAVE CUTS TO THE INSIDE SIDEWALL ALL THE WAY AROUND ALL FOUR TIRES.THE RIGHT REAR TIRE RUN FLAT, DUE TO THE CUTS AND CRACKING ON THE TIRES.CAR TAKEN TO NISSAN DEALER.SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE TIRES.SUGGESTED I GO TO GOODYEAR DEALER AND HAVE TIRES REPLACED.SUGGESTED THAT THE TIRES CAUSED VIBRATION IN STEERING.GOODYEAR REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES IN MARCH 2004.AUGUEST 2004 FIVE MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM PERSIST, ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE CUTS AND CRACKS ALL THE WAY AROUND THEM SAME AS BEFORE.CAR STEERING IS VIBRATING MOORE.PROBLEM NOT SOLVED CAR TAKEN BACK TO NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT.SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED THAT PROBLEMS WITH TIRES HAVE TO BE TAKEN UP WITH TIRE MANUFACTURE,DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT TIRES,TOLD ME HE COULD NOT GET TO ME TODAY AUG 18,04,COME BACK AUG20,04 AND THEY WOULD SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO.GOODYEAR INSPECTED THE TIRES AND INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL TIRES ON THIS YEAR ,MAKE AND MODEL CAR.IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE CAR THAT IS CAUSEING THE PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES,THE GOODYEAR DEALER DO NOT HAVE THE TIRES IN STOCK,AND DO NOT NO EXACTLY WHEN THEY WILL HAVE THEM.GOODYEAR ONLY MAKE ONE TIRE TO FIT THE MAXIMA SE P245/45R18.MEANWHILE I AM STILL TRAVELING ON THE DEFECTED TIRES PUTTING MY LIFE AT RISK.I HAVE TO TRAVEL 45 MILES ONEWAY TO GET TO THE NEAREST NISSAN/GOODYEAR DEALER.THIS WAS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDARATION.GOODYEAR AND NISSAN ARE PLAY ING PASS THE BUCK.HOWEVER THEY ARE PLAYING WITH MY FAMILIES LIFE.PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTILL A LIFE IS TAKEN BEFORE YOU ACT,TO MANY LIVES ARE AT RISK.*ALL
I AM EXPERIENCING SEVERE VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING OF MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. IN MARCH OF 2004 AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS FOR ROTATIONS AND BALANCING, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKED ON THE ENTER WALL OF THE TIRES. NISSIAN SUGGESTED THAT I GO TO GOODYEAR DEALER AND HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED. GOODYEAR REPLACED THE TIRES AND FIVE MONTHS LAT…
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I AM EXPERIENCING SEVERE VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING OF MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. IN MARCH OF 2004 AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS FOR ROTATIONS AND BALANCING, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKED ON THE ENTER WALL OF THE TIRES. NISSIAN SUGGESTED THAT I GO TO GOODYEAR DEALER AND HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED. GOODYEAR REPLACED THE TIRES AND FIVE MONTHS LATER, ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE CRACKED AGAIN. WE QUESTIONED NISSIAN TO SEE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE THAT WAS CAUSING THE TIRES TO CRACK. NISSIAN ADVISE ANY PROBLEM CONCERING THE TIRES SHOULD BE TAKEN UP WITH GOODYEAR AND SAID IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. AT THIS TIME, AUGUST 17, 2004 I STILL HAVE ALL FOUR CRACKED TIRES ON MY VEHICLE AND IT IS VIBRATING EVEN MORE. GOODYEAR ADVISED THAT THE ONLY SET OF TIRES MADE FOR THIS VEHICLE IS GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-AP245/45R18. GOODYEAR ADVISED US THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THIS TIRE IN STOCK AND IT WILL BE ABOUT A WEEK OR SO BEFORE THEY CAN GET IT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL TIRES FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL CAR. *JB
WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED HEAVILY. IT WAS HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. *AK THE DEALER EXCHANGED THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER AND THE NEW VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO PULL. *SC *JB
STERING AND VIBRATION AT 50 TO 70 MPH. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE VEERD TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE VEERED EVEN MORE TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. DEALER HAS PERFORMED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT TWICE WITHIN A THIRTY DAY PERIOD.*AK
WHEN DRIVING 5 MPH A RATTLING NOISE CAME FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT FRONT STRUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THAT PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. *AK
PASSENGER SIDE STRUT MAKES NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. *AK
CONCERNS INVOLVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS ON THE LATEST CARS.*MR THE CONSUMER TEST DROVE THE 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE DRIVER STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HILL AND REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL SINCE TODAY'S CAR…
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CONCERNS INVOLVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS ON THE LATEST CARS.*MR THE CONSUMER TEST DROVE THE 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE DRIVER STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HILL AND REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL SINCE TODAY'S CAR HAVE A VERY LOW REV. ENGINE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN. HE THINKS THE NEW VEHICLE'S SHOULD BE PRODUCED LIKE THE FORMER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE WHEN YOU REMOVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE THE CAR NEVER ROLLS BACK. *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.