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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
120,109 miles · Jan 30, 2011
Power Train

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SL WITH 5 SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD, WON'T DOWNSHIFT, SOMETIMES KICKS HARD, DELAYED SHIFTING AND EXHIBITS ALL OTHER SYMPTOMS OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT HERE AND ON THE BLOGS ONLINE. SHOP WANTS $3000 FOR REBUILD, IT'S TIME TO MAKE NISSAN TAKE CARE OF ITS OBLIGATIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10379608

70,000 miles · Jan 28, 2011
Power Train

I BOUGHT A USED 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA IN 2007 - WORKED WELL FOR ABOUT A YEAR. AT THE END OF 2008 MY CAR BEGAN TO SLOWLY JERK WHEN DECELERATING AND PULLING OFF AN EXIT OR MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC (NOT NISSAN) AND WAS TOLD MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. I TRIED TO CONTACT NISSAN BUT I NEED TO BRIN…

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I BOUGHT A USED 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA IN 2007 - WORKED WELL FOR ABOUT A YEAR. AT THE END OF 2008 MY CAR BEGAN TO SLOWLY JERK WHEN DECELERATING AND PULLING OFF AN EXIT OR MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC (NOT NISSAN) AND WAS TOLD MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. I TRIED TO CONTACT NISSAN BUT I NEED TO BRING IT TO THEIR DEALER AND PAY $200 JUST FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT AND TELL ME WHAT I ALREADY KNOW, OR BE IGNORANT AND SAY THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING LIKE THEY DID TO OTHER MAXIMA OWNERS. FOR OVER A YEAR ALL I WOULD USE THIS CAR FOR WAS TO AND FROM WORK, IF I HAD TO RUN ERRANDS OR GO OUT, I WALKED OR RODE WITH A FRIEND. FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY I PAY EACH MONTH, THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. AS OF JULY 2010 MY CAR CANNOT DRIVE MORE THAN 15 MILES AT A TIME WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE OFF THE BATTERY AND RESET THE CAR SO IT CAN GO ANOTHER 15 MILES. I STILL OWE MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE AND YET I HAD TO GO BUY ANOTHER CAR JUST SO I CAN GET TO WORK. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS!! WHEN IS NISSAN GOING TO OWN UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT. UNFORTUNATELY, IT SEEMS THAT SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO GET SEVERELY HURT OR LOSE THEIR LIFE IN ORDER FOR NISSAN TO RECOGNIZE. I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE AND HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, AND HAVE SPENT $1,000+ AT NISSAN FOR THEM TO FIX EVERYTHING BUT THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAVE DONE MOTOR MOUNT REPLACEMENTS & TRANSMISSION FLUSHES AND STILL HAVE PROBLEMS. WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO STAND UP FOR THE CONSUMERS AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? I AM PAYING A CAR NOTE AND INSURANCE TO SEE MY CAR SIT IN MY PARKING LOT EVERYDAY. THE CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY, AND GETS WORSE OVER TIME. 500 COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED ON HERE, AND STILL NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF BLOGS AND WEBSITES OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING. I CONTACTED MY ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND RECEIVED BASICALLY NO HELP. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10379401

142,000 miles · Jan 26, 2011
Power Train

TRANSMISSION KEEPS JERKING OFF. GEARS GET STUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378877

60,000 miles · Jan 26, 2011
Power Train

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA TRANSMISSION FAILING AFTER ONLY 60000 MILES. HAVE HAD HARD SHIFTING SINCE NEW AND NISSAN KNOWS THIS TRANNY IS DEFECTIVE. VIN NUMBER [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378756

93,000 miles · Jan 25, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DECELERATING FROM APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY WHILE SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR. THE FAILURE WAS MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS WARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DECELERATING FROM APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY WHILE SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR. THE FAILURE WAS MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS WARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ODI #10378625

50,000 miles · Jan 21, 2011
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND STALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE SHO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND STALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY SIX YEARS OLD. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10378135

75,000 miles · Jan 18, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM BROKE DOWN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT FAILED ALL TOGETHER. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN THAT ALLOWS RUST TO BUILD UP BETWEEN THE WHEEL SENSORS AND THE HUB, WHICH APPEARS TO BE MOST PREVALENT IN THE SALT STATES. THE INITIAL SYMPTOMS INCLUDE THE ABS FIRING DURING REGULAR BRAKING, WHICH COU…

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THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM BROKE DOWN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT FAILED ALL TOGETHER. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN THAT ALLOWS RUST TO BUILD UP BETWEEN THE WHEEL SENSORS AND THE HUB, WHICH APPEARS TO BE MOST PREVALENT IN THE SALT STATES. THE INITIAL SYMPTOMS INCLUDE THE ABS FIRING DURING REGULAR BRAKING, WHICH COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN AT HIGH SPEEDS. EVENTUALLY, THE MISFIRING ABS WILL CAUSE THE ABS CONTROLLER TO BURN OUT COMPLETELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10377093

47,000 miles · Jan 14, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE FRACTURED AND WERE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN KNOCKING AND SHIFTING ABNORMALLY HARD WHEN GOING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEARS AND ALSO WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE FRACTURED AND WERE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN KNOCKING AND SHIFTING ABNORMALLY HARD WHEN GOING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEARS AND ALSO WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 2/28/11 *CN UPDATED 03/07/11

NHTSA ODI #10376718

90,000 miles · Jan 13, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE WITH VQ35 3.5L V6 ENGINE - TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS MY MAXIMA TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN IN THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAINS WEARING THE TENSIONERS OUT FASTER THAN THEY SHOULD. NISSAN QUOTES ANYWHERE FROM $1,500 TO $3,000 DOLLARS TO COMPLETE REPAIR WHICH USUALLY CONSISTS …

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2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE WITH VQ35 3.5L V6 ENGINE - TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS MY MAXIMA TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN IN THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAINS WEARING THE TENSIONERS OUT FASTER THAN THEY SHOULD. NISSAN QUOTES ANYWHERE FROM $1,500 TO $3,000 DOLLARS TO COMPLETE REPAIR WHICH USUALLY CONSISTS OF REMOVING THE ENGINE FROM THE VEHICLE! MANY COMPLAINTS ON MULTIPLE FORUMS ONLINE FROM MANY DIFFERENT OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THIS SAME ISSUE, NORMALLY OCCURRING AROUND 60,000 MILE MARK. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE ALL OF THESE VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED. THE COST FOR THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE I AM STILL FINANCING IS CATASTROPHIC! NISSAN WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM I SHOULD BE HAVING WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS STILL BEING FINANCED FOR A FEW MORE YEARS. TIMING CHAINS WERE DESIGNED TO ALLOW CUSTOMERS THE SECURITY OF NOT MESSING WITH THEM FOR WAY MORE THAN 100K MILES, OR 60K MILES RATHER! I AM SO LUCKY MINE HAS EVEN LASTED THIS LONG AND NISSAN REFUSES CUSTOMERS REGULARLY WHO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE. NISSAN NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS REPAIR SINCE THEY KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUE, RELEASED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (NTB07-042C) HIGHLIGHTING THE ISSUE, AND NOTIFY THEIR TECHNICIANS OF THE FAULTY SECONDARY TIMING CHAIN DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10376530

47,471 miles · Jan 12, 2011
Power Train

I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE AS HAVING POWER TRAIN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO BP NISSAN AND THEY DID A DIAGNOSTICS ON THE TRANSMISSION AND DETERMINED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. NISSAN TO CALL ME BACK TODAY, WE'LL SEE. AFTER THE DEALER DID THE DIAGNOSTICS, I WAS DRIVING HOME AND WHAT …

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I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE AS HAVING POWER TRAIN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO BP NISSAN AND THEY DID A DIAGNOSTICS ON THE TRANSMISSION AND DETERMINED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. NISSAN TO CALL ME BACK TODAY, WE'LL SEE. AFTER THE DEALER DID THE DIAGNOSTICS, I WAS DRIVING HOME AND WHAT A COINCIDENCE, THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CAME ON. IT SEEMS THAT EVERY TIME I HAVE MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR ONE THING, SHORTLY AFTER LIGHTS START COMING ON. I GUESS THEY DON'T RESET OR SOMETHING AS THEY SHOULD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10376356

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.