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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
50,000 miles · May 20, 2012
Power Train

MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS SUFFERED SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SWITCHED FROM "PARK," TO "DRIVE," IT SOMETIMES TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS TO ENGAGE. WHEN IT DOES, THE CAR JERKS REALLY BAD. ALSO, THE CAR JERKS HORRIBLY BAD WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS WHILE DRIVING. THE JERKING …

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MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS SUFFERED SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SWITCHED FROM "PARK," TO "DRIVE," IT SOMETIMES TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS TO ENGAGE. WHEN IT DOES, THE CAR JERKS REALLY BAD. ALSO, THE CAR JERKS HORRIBLY BAD WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS WHILE DRIVING. THE JERKING CAN BE SO SEVERE AT TIMES, THE CAR WILL VEER TO THE LEFT. I FEE THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN! THE CAR HAS ALMOST VEERED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION! WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT A DEAD STOP (STOP SIGN, RED LIGHT, ETC.), IT WILL ALSO TAKE A FEW SECONDS TO ENGAGE ITSELF TO DRIVE. MY NISSAN MAXIMA HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES! NO CAR SHOULD BE HAVING SUCH SEVERE PROBLEMS AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE. I HAVE BEEN REVIEWING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF NISSAN MAXIMA CAR OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THAT NISSAN WOULD TURN A BLIND EYE TO AN ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE TO BE AWARE OF!! I HAVE BEEN A HUGE ADVOCATE OF NISSAN, IF THIS ISSUE DOES NOT GET RESOLVED BY NISSAN, YOU CAN BET THAT I WILL NOT ONLY NEVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN, BUT CONVINCE EVERYONE I KNOW TO NEVER BUY A NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10459060

82,000 miles · May 17, 2012
EnginePower Train

I HAVE MY TRANSMISSION JERKING TURNS OUT I NEED A VALVE BODY JUST LIKE SO MANY OTHER MAXIMA OWNERS THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10458805

90,000 miles · May 17, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WHEN CHANGING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WHEN CHANGING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10458772

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2012
Power Train

MY TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN 5TH. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC WITH A SLAP STICK, I HAVE TRIED TO MANUALLY GEAR IT DOWN AND IT WILL JERK AND MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND WILL NOT COME OUT OF 5TH. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND WAIT ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES AND CRANK IT TO SEE IF IT IS BACK IN 1ST 9 TIMES OUT OF 10 IT IS STILL IN 5…

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MY TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN 5TH. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC WITH A SLAP STICK, I HAVE TRIED TO MANUALLY GEAR IT DOWN AND IT WILL JERK AND MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND WILL NOT COME OUT OF 5TH. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND WAIT ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES AND CRANK IT TO SEE IF IT IS BACK IN 1ST 9 TIMES OUT OF 10 IT IS STILL IN 5TH SO I HAVE TO KEEP TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RE CRANK IT AND IT ACTS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO START! *JS

NHTSA ODI #10457215

115,000 miles · Apr 27, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA AND WHEN I BOUGHT IT I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A GREAT CAR THAT WAS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO ALTHOUGH I STILL LIKE THE CAR IT IS STARTING TO MAKE THIS TICKING NOISE THE TICKING NOISE IS COMING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN AND IS DOING THAT BECAUSE OF A PIECE OF PLASTIC HAS GOTTEN LOOSE ON THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES S…

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I OWN A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA AND WHEN I BOUGHT IT I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A GREAT CAR THAT WAS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO ALTHOUGH I STILL LIKE THE CAR IT IS STARTING TO MAKE THIS TICKING NOISE THE TICKING NOISE IS COMING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN AND IS DOING THAT BECAUSE OF A PIECE OF PLASTIC HAS GOTTEN LOOSE ON THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES SO NOW THAT THIS PIECE OF PLASTIC IS LOOSE MY TIMING CHAIN COULD POSSIBLY SNAP AND DAMAGE MY ENTIRE MOTOR SO I DECIDE OK ILL JUST FIX IT BUT OH NO ITS 1500 DOLLARS TO FIX BECAUSE OF ALL THE LABOR THAT IS NEEDED TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED BECAUSE OF THE LABOR INVOLVED IN GETTING TO THE TIMING CHAIN SO MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHY DO YOU HAVE A STUPID PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT IS NOW FAILING FOR ALMOST ALL VQ 35 ENGINES IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE WHY AS A COMPANY YOU ARE SO CHEAP THAT YOU CANT DESIGN SOMETHING MORE DURABLE THAN A PIECE OF PLASTIC TO HOLD TOGETHER THE ENGINE OF MY CAR THAT WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT IN 2004 WAS GOING FOR LIKE 26000 DOLLARS HOW CHEAP CAN YOU GET UNBELIEVABLE YOU WOULD THINK I WOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MY CAR DYING BECAUSE OF THIS ONE STUPID PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT IS BASICALLY DEFECTIVE AND WAS NOT MEANT TO HOLD TOGETHER A TIMING CHAIN WHAT A CRAP COMPANY NOW IM ON THE HOOK FOR 3 YEARS AND I HAVE TO PRAY THAT MY CHAIN DOESN'T SNAP BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD TO PAY 1500 DOLLARS TO FIX MY CAR BECAUSE OF A STUPID PIECE OF PLASTIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10456648

158,000 miles · Apr 21, 2012
Power Train

TURNED INTO HARD SHIFT THEN UPTICK OF 500 RPMS BETWEEN 2ND AND ... 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SHIMMY IN STEERING,TRANSMISSION JERK. 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10455978

88,000 miles · Apr 18, 2012
Power Train

I AM THE ORIGINAL AND ONLY OWNER OF MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA 3.5 SE. I AM VIGILANT ABOUT THE UPKEEP AND PROPER MAINTENANCE OF MY CAR. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING ISSUES AT APPROXIMATELY 88,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION IS JERKING/BUCKING VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE AND AGAIN WHEN SHIFTING INTO FIRST AND SECOND…

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I AM THE ORIGINAL AND ONLY OWNER OF MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA 3.5 SE. I AM VIGILANT ABOUT THE UPKEEP AND PROPER MAINTENANCE OF MY CAR. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING ISSUES AT APPROXIMATELY 88,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION IS JERKING/BUCKING VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE AND AGAIN WHEN SHIFTING INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. IT IS ALSO JERKING WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR. AT FIRST, THE SHIFTING PROBLEM WAS AN OCCASIONAL OCCURRENCE, HOWEVER, IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. NOW IT IS ALMOST CONSTANT. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND THAT HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF '04-05 MAXIMA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS IS QUITE OBVIOUSLY A NISSAN MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY NISSAN CORP. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10455683

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2012
Power Train

TRANSMISSION HANGS INBETWEEN PARK REVERSE NEUTRAL AND DRIVE. JERKS WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10453268

70,000 miles · Mar 24, 2012
Power Train

VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT 45MPH. TRANSMISSION ACTING VERY STRANGELY NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10452847

86,000 miles · Mar 7, 2012
Power Train

VERY HARD SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 3RD BACK TO 2ND. I TALK TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HE TOLD ME THAT ALL 04 MAXIMA AND SOME OF THE 05 MAXIMA HAD BAD TRANSMISSION AND NISSAN CORPORATION NEEDS TO RECALL THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10450695

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.