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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
120,000 miles · Sep 6, 2012
Power Train

DELAYED ENGAGEMENT OF TRANSMISSION FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND NEUTRAL TO DRIVE, ALSO "SHIFT JERK" AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHILE ACCELERATING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474092

124,000 miles · Sep 4, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO RESPOND WHEN ACCELERATING AT INITIAL START-UP OR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLAC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO RESPOND WHEN ACCELERATING AT INITIAL START-UP OR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON 9/13/2012. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,303. UPDATED 01/18/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE CAM AND CRANK SHAFT SENSORS WENT BAD. THE SENSORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TELLING THE VEHICLE WHICH GEAR TO BE IN AT START UP. WITH THE SENSOR FAILURE, THE CAR SITS IN 5TH GEAR. THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE ACCELERATION AFTER SITTING IDLE, OR WHEN STARTING THE CAR. UPDATED 1/24/2013*JS

NHTSA ODI #10473776

120,000 miles · Aug 29, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ODI #10472966

95,000 miles · Aug 23, 2012
Power Train

I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF MY 04 NISSAN MAXIMA AND HAVE EXPERIENCED MY MAXIMA VIOLENTLY JERKING WHEN TAKING OFF OR WHEN STOPPING. ALSO WHILE TAKING OFF TO TURN AT AN INTERSECTION OR AT A STOP SIGN IT SOMETIMES STALLS. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5 AND AM VERY CONCERNED THAT MY CAR IS GOING TO STALL AND I WILL BE HIT IN THE …

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I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF MY 04 NISSAN MAXIMA AND HAVE EXPERIENCED MY MAXIMA VIOLENTLY JERKING WHEN TAKING OFF OR WHEN STOPPING. ALSO WHILE TAKING OFF TO TURN AT AN INTERSECTION OR AT A STOP SIGN IT SOMETIMES STALLS. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5 AND AM VERY CONCERNED THAT MY CAR IS GOING TO STALL AND I WILL BE HIT IN THE SIDE OF MY CAR. I HAD THE CAR TESTED BY A PRIVATE COMPANY AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE NISSAN MAXIMA 04-07 MODELS. NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND SOMEONE WILL END UP GETTING HURT IF THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES. PLEASE CHECK OUT WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2004/NISSAN/MAXIMA/AUTOMATIC+TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471975

138 miles · Aug 20, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED, AT FIRST THE VEHICLE JERKED ABRUPTLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND, AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A FEW MILES IT SEEMS LIKE ITS NOT GEARING PROPERLY, NOW THE VEHICLE STARTS JERKING AS SOON AS I START DRIVING JERKING FROM 1ST, 2ND TO 3RD, AFTER 30 MILES THE VEHICLE DRIVES OK. ALSO THERE'S BEEN TIMES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDA…

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VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED, AT FIRST THE VEHICLE JERKED ABRUPTLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND, AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A FEW MILES IT SEEMS LIKE ITS NOT GEARING PROPERLY, NOW THE VEHICLE STARTS JERKING AS SOON AS I START DRIVING JERKING FROM 1ST, 2ND TO 3RD, AFTER 30 MILES THE VEHICLE DRIVES OK. ALSO THERE'S BEEN TIMES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILS TO ACCELERATE. VEHICLE ALSO JERKS WHEN CHANGING TO REVERSE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THE COST COULD BE ABOUT 4,000 TO 5,000 WHICH IS ABOUT WHAT THE VEHICLE IS WORTH. THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY NISSAN, THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ITS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM AND OWNER SHOULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACEMENTS COSTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471605

115,000 miles · Aug 14, 2012
Power Train

CAR SHIFTS REALLY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND REVS LIKE ITS NOT CATCHING GEAR LIKE ITS SUPPOSED TO DO AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUSH IS NOT THE FIX NISSAN HAS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS WHY IS NOTHING GETTING DONE HIGHER UP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR SERIOUS INJURED. 543 REPORTS AND WHAT HAS GOT DONE THUS FAR. ALSO WHEN PUTTING …

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CAR SHIFTS REALLY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND REVS LIKE ITS NOT CATCHING GEAR LIKE ITS SUPPOSED TO DO AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUSH IS NOT THE FIX NISSAN HAS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS WHY IS NOTHING GETTING DONE HIGHER UP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR SERIOUS INJURED. 543 REPORTS AND WHAT HAS GOT DONE THUS FAR. ALSO WHEN PUTTING IN DRIVE IT PAUSES THEN SWITCHES INTO GEAR CAUSE IT TO JERK REAL BAD LIKE THE TRANNY AN MOTOR MOUNTS ARE ABOUT TO FALL OUT. PLEASE SOMEONE TAKE ACTION ABOUT THIS ISSUE !!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470598

94,000 miles · Aug 13, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, WHO BOTH ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR OR CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, WHO BOTH ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR OR CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ODI #10470363

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SL. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 16 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SL. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 16 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,688.

NHTSA ODI #10468949

70,000 miles · Aug 1, 2012
Power Train

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WHEN THEY FIRST CAME OUT, AND EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT. NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT, AND IT DROVE SMOOTHLY. A FEW MONTHS AGO, AFTER HITTING ABOUT 70,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN MESSING UP. IF THE CAR IS SHIFTING UP OR DOWN, INTO 1ST, 2ND, OR 3RD GEAR, IT JERKS. THE MORE THE CAR HEATS U…

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I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WHEN THEY FIRST CAME OUT, AND EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT. NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT, AND IT DROVE SMOOTHLY. A FEW MONTHS AGO, AFTER HITTING ABOUT 70,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN MESSING UP. IF THE CAR IS SHIFTING UP OR DOWN, INTO 1ST, 2ND, OR 3RD GEAR, IT JERKS. THE MORE THE CAR HEATS UP, THE HARDER THE CAR JERKS. IT WAS JERKS IF I'M SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN THE CAR REVS UP TO 5,000 RPMS AND JERKS VERY HARD. IT IS NOT SAFE AT ALL, AND THERE ARE MANY CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468845

90,000 miles · Aug 1, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK WITH HESITATION INTO THE THIRD GEAR. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHENEVER THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSIO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK WITH HESITATION INTO THE THIRD GEAR. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHENEVER THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE CONSISTENT PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10468799

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.