IllustrationTRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 100K MILES
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 reportsTHE FLOOR PANEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS A HOLE IN IT DUE TO RUST AND ROT. IT FAILED THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SAFETY INSPECTION, MY CAR IS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE, AND I AM A DISABLED MARINE VETERAN. I TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP AND THERE COST WAS $800.00 DOLLARS AND FOR ME BEING DISABLED I CAN NOT AFFORD THAT COST. NISSAN NEEDS …
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THE FLOOR PANEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS A HOLE IN IT DUE TO RUST AND ROT. IT FAILED THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SAFETY INSPECTION, MY CAR IS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE, AND I AM A DISABLED MARINE VETERAN. I TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP AND THERE COST WAS $800.00 DOLLARS AND FOR ME BEING DISABLED I CAN NOT AFFORD THAT COST. NISSAN NEEDS TO STEP UP HERE AND FIX WHAT IS RIGHT, NOT TO CALL ME AND TRY TO SELL ME A NEW CAR. I TOLD THE DEALER WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THIS NEW CAR. I AM SO SICK OF BEING A DISABLED MARINE VETERAN AND BEING TREATED LIKE CRAP. MOST PEOPLE JUST DO NOT GIVE A CRAP THEY JUST WANT YOUR MONEY, SOMETHING I DO NOT HAVE. MY CAR WAS IN A GARAGE MOST OF THE TIME IN A SMALL TOWN.
ON OCTOBER 5, 2016 MY HUSBAND CAME HOME FROM PT AND PARKED THE CAR UNDER OUR CARPORT. WHEN HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR THERE WAS NOT SIGNS OF SMOKE OR ANY WARNING LIGHTS ON IN THE CAR. HE CAME IN THE HOUSE AND STARTED TO GET DRESSED AND ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER OUR NEIGHBOR WAS KNOCKING ON THE DOOR" SCREAMING YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE". THE F…
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ON OCTOBER 5, 2016 MY HUSBAND CAME HOME FROM PT AND PARKED THE CAR UNDER OUR CARPORT. WHEN HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR THERE WAS NOT SIGNS OF SMOKE OR ANY WARNING LIGHTS ON IN THE CAR. HE CAME IN THE HOUSE AND STARTED TO GET DRESSED AND ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER OUR NEIGHBOR WAS KNOCKING ON THE DOOR" SCREAMING YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE". THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE AND AFTER IT WAS OUT THEY FOUND THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE AND RULED IT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I CALLED NNA AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED, SENT PHOTOS, THE POLICE REPORT, AND FIRE REPORT AND THEY STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE 6 WEEKS FOR THEM TO EVEN DECIDE IF THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT HELP WITH ANY FEES TO HAVE THE CAR PRESERVED. WE LIVE ON A MILITARY BASE SO WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AWAY SO THAT MILITARY HOUSING COULD ASSESS THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE TO THE CARPORT AND WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY DAILY FOR HAVING THE CAR SIT AT A TOW YARD WHILE NISSAN DECIDES IF THE WILL EVEN INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. I REALLY FEEL LIKE THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION AGAINST NISSAN BECAUSE WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS THIS CAN'T JUST BE ISOLATED INCIDENTS. *TR
I WAS PULLING OUT AT A STOP SIGN FOR A LEFT TURN WHEN ALL A SUDDEN THE CAR JERKED AND I HEARD A LOUD BANG. THIS WAS MY TRANSMISSION LETTING GO. I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. LUCKILY SOMEONE STOPPED AND HELPED ME PUSH THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
TRANSMISSION SHIFT POORLY, HIGH REV INBETWEEN SHIFTS, HARD DOWN SHIFTS AND EXTREMELY HARD UP SHIFTS. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE DURING ICY CONDITIONS DUE TO THE HIGH REV AND HARD DOWN SHIFTS THAT CAUSE UNCONTROLLABLE LOSS OF DRIVING. *TR
I'M EXPERIENCING THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE WITH THE 02-06 NISSANS. MY FLOOR BOARDS ARE RUSTING OUT AND THESE COMPLAINTS ARE ALL OVER THE INTERNET. I'M AMAZED THAT THIS CAN BE IGNORED
TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN DOWNSHIFTING ON HIGHWAY AND ROADS, THIS IS A VERY HARD JERK THAT IS VERY HAZARDOUS. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE.
FUEL PRESSURE DAMPNER LEAKING GAS AFTER 72,000 MILES ON 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THERE ARE TWO ON FUEL RAIL. IF CLIMATE CONTROL VENT IS OPEN, ONE CAN SMELL GAS IF THERE IS A PROBLEM. VERY POOR DESIGN TO FIX 3 HOURS LABOR TO PULL INTAKE MANIFOLD OFF TO REPAIR, BOLTS UPSIDE DOWN ON DAMPNER AND HARD TO GET TO. JUST REPLACING DAMPNE…
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FUEL PRESSURE DAMPNER LEAKING GAS AFTER 72,000 MILES ON 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THERE ARE TWO ON FUEL RAIL. IF CLIMATE CONTROL VENT IS OPEN, ONE CAN SMELL GAS IF THERE IS A PROBLEM. VERY POOR DESIGN TO FIX 3 HOURS LABOR TO PULL INTAKE MANIFOLD OFF TO REPAIR, BOLTS UPSIDE DOWN ON DAMPNER AND HARD TO GET TO. JUST REPLACING DAMPNERS DID NOT STOP LEAK, FUEL RAIL ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED.
VERY HARD SHIFTING AND DELAY FROM PARK TO DRIVE, HARD SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERS
TRANSMISSION FAILING FOR SECOND TIME. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT/OVERHAULED IN MARCH OF 2014. MILEAGE AT TIME OF REBUILD WAS 111,090 MILES. THE TOTAL COST OF SAID REPAIR WAS $2,996.00. AS OF TODAY AUGUST 19, 2016 THE SAID MENTIONED TRANSMISSION IS FAILING FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 136,XXX MILES. …
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TRANSMISSION FAILING FOR SECOND TIME. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT/OVERHAULED IN MARCH OF 2014. MILEAGE AT TIME OF REBUILD WAS 111,090 MILES. THE TOTAL COST OF SAID REPAIR WAS $2,996.00. AS OF TODAY AUGUST 19, 2016 THE SAID MENTIONED TRANSMISSION IS FAILING FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 136,XXX MILES. THE CURRENT SYMPTOMS WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION ARE, EXTREMELY HARD SHIFTS AND SLIPPING INTO UPPER GEARS.
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.