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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
113,000 miles · Nov 4, 2012
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

AFTER STOPPING AT TRAFFIC SIGNAL, THE CAR DOESN'T MOVE AND STARTS JERKING WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. 2 MONTHS BACK THE GEAR WOULDN'T SHIFT FROM 5TH, TOOK TO DEALER THEY REPLACED A BAD SENSOR AND NOW IT JERKS AND DOESN'T MOVE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10483287

90,000 miles · Nov 1, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ODI #10482828

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10479919

130,000 miles · Oct 3, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine

THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS NOW DISPLAYED. NEED TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND HAVE IT TOWED. THE GROUND WIRE WAS BROKEN OFF THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED THE COMPUTER TO SHORT OUT AS WELL AS ALL OF THE SIX IGNITION COILS AS TOO MUCH VOLTAGE WAS SENT TO THE COILS. NISSAN KNOWS ABO…

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THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS NOW DISPLAYED. NEED TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND HAVE IT TOWED. THE GROUND WIRE WAS BROKEN OFF THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED THE COMPUTER TO SHORT OUT AS WELL AS ALL OF THE SIX IGNITION COILS AS TOO MUCH VOLTAGE WAS SENT TO THE COILS. NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT DID NOT ISSUE ANY RECALL. THIS CAN ALSO CAUSE A FIRE IN THE CAR IF THE WIRES HEAT UP AND CATCH THE EVAP SYSTEM; THEREFORE I WOULD RECOMMEND ISSUING A RECALL OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10478451

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2012
Power Train

THE PROBLEM STARTED SMALL AND HAS BECOME AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND LAGS BETWEEN SHIFTS. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY ENGAGES IT DOES SO WITH A HARD BANG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10477438

81,000 miles · Sep 28, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT IMPROPERLY WHEN ACCELERATING UNTIL IT REACHED THIRD GEAR. ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHED THIRD GEAR, IT WOULD START TO JERK AND EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSM…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT IMPROPERLY WHEN ACCELERATING UNTIL IT REACHED THIRD GEAR. ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHED THIRD GEAR, IT WOULD START TO JERK AND EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ODI #10477407

128,000 miles · Sep 24, 2012
Power Train

IT STARTED WITH A DELAY FROM REVERSE TO 1ST, OR VICE-VERSA, FOLLOWED BY A HARD "THUD" AS THE CAR GOT INTO GEAR. THEN, EVERY TIME THE CAR WARMED UP, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHILE SWITCHING GEARS. NOW, THE CAR WILL ONLY OPERATE IN REVERSE AND 5TH GEAR. SO IT'S LIKE DRIVING A LAWN MOWER. I SEE THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVE HAD T…

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IT STARTED WITH A DELAY FROM REVERSE TO 1ST, OR VICE-VERSA, FOLLOWED BY A HARD "THUD" AS THE CAR GOT INTO GEAR. THEN, EVERY TIME THE CAR WARMED UP, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHILE SWITCHING GEARS. NOW, THE CAR WILL ONLY OPERATE IN REVERSE AND 5TH GEAR. SO IT'S LIKE DRIVING A LAWN MOWER. I SEE THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM AND REPORTED IT ON-LINE. ALTHOUGH MY CAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP JUST THIS WEEKEND, AND THEY MENTIONED NOTHING ABOUT A HISTORY WITH THIS MODEL/YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10476920

102,000 miles · Sep 19, 2012
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHENEVER THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHENEVER THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MOTOR MOUNTS AND THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,065.

NHTSA ODI #10475967

106,000 miles · Sep 7, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND THE GEAR WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE WOULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEARS, ACCELERATING OR REVERSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND THE GEAR WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE WOULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEARS, ACCELERATING OR REVERSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 110,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10474246

110,000 miles · Sep 6, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10474133

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.