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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
886,000 miles · Aug 19, 2009
Power Train

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURES. I THINK THIS IS NEGLECT FOR THE NISSAN CONSUMER DEPT NOT RECALLING THERE TRANSMISSIONS, FAILING BEFORE 100,000 MIL WITH THE MANY COMPLAINTS THEY ARE RECEIVING. SOMEONE NEEDS TO STEP IN AND HELP US. HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY ONE GETTING HURT/INJURED THIS FAR. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WA…

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2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURES. I THINK THIS IS NEGLECT FOR THE NISSAN CONSUMER DEPT NOT RECALLING THERE TRANSMISSIONS, FAILING BEFORE 100,000 MIL WITH THE MANY COMPLAINTS THEY ARE RECEIVING. SOMEONE NEEDS TO STEP IN AND HELP US. HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY ONE GETTING HURT/INJURED THIS FAR. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE TO DO BUT REPLACE THE TRANS AND THIS IS NOT FAIR FOR ALL THE 2004 NISSAN OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10281019

82,000 miles · Aug 19, 2009
Power Train

NISSAN MAXIMA TRANSMISSION JERKS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. EVERYTIME THE CAR IS PLACED ON DRIVE OR REVERSE OR NEUTRAL YOU CAN FEEL THE JERK AND LOUD CLUNK NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. BEING READING ALL THE REVIEWS ON THIS PROBLEMS AND IT SEEMS THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280961

60,000 miles · Aug 13, 2009
Power Train

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA CAR IS BANGING CHANGING GEARS AND ALSO GETTING SUCK IN 5TH GEAR AND WONT COME OUT TILL I TURN THE ENGINE OFF. REPLACE TRANSMISSION FLUID NO CHANGE, CANNOT AFFORD NEW TRANSMISSION THE CAR HAS 67,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280301

66,524 miles · Aug 7, 2009
Power TrainInjury

1. MY PROBLEMS OCCUR WITH MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WHEN I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT FROM A TAKE OFF AFTER A TOLL THAT THE CAR WOULD JERK INTO SECOND GEAR. IT HAS SINCE PROGRESSED INTO A JERKING AND SLAMMING INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEAR ON ACCELERATION AND 3RD TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 1ST IN DECELERATION. IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY THAT I USE MY CAR. I H…

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1. MY PROBLEMS OCCUR WITH MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WHEN I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT FROM A TAKE OFF AFTER A TOLL THAT THE CAR WOULD JERK INTO SECOND GEAR. IT HAS SINCE PROGRESSED INTO A JERKING AND SLAMMING INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEAR ON ACCELERATION AND 3RD TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 1ST IN DECELERATION. IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY THAT I USE MY CAR. I HAVE HAD MY TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED AND SEVERAL ENGINE SENSORS REPLACED BY A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM HAS NEVER GONE AWAY AND JUST GETS WORSE WITH TIME. I HAD BEEN TOLD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION. I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS WILL ACTUALLY FIX MY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10279645

34,000 miles · Aug 5, 2009
Power Train

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA AT 66,000 MILES. AT 34,000 MILES, I HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH A MILD SLIPPING AND HARD SHIFT AND WHEN I TOOK IT IN, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THINKING THIS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THEIR "NEW ADVERTISED" SHIFT 2.0 FEATURE, I CONTINUED TO USE IT. AS TIME WE ON, THIS PROBLE…

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I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA AT 66,000 MILES. AT 34,000 MILES, I HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH A MILD SLIPPING AND HARD SHIFT AND WHEN I TOOK IT IN, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THINKING THIS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THEIR "NEW ADVERTISED" SHIFT 2.0 FEATURE, I CONTINUED TO USE IT. AS TIME WE ON, THIS PROBLEM BECAME WORSE AND WORSE AND NOW WHEN I TAKE IT INTO NISSAN, THEY SAY NOW IT IS A PROBLEM WITH AN "INTERNAL FAILURE" AND TOO BAD, PAY THEM $3,800. WHEN I CHALLENGED THIS ISSUE AND PROVIDED PROOF THAT I HAVE SERVICED MY ENTIRE CAR INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION PROPERLY, NISSAN REP TOLD ME THAT "NISSAN WOULD CONSIDER MY ISSUE IF I WAS A MORE LOYAL CUSTOMER TO THEM AND HAD MY SERVICE DONE WITH THEM". I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EARS. IF I DIDN'T PAY TRIPLE THE CHARGE AMOUNTS FOR THE SAME SERVICE THROUGH THEM, THEY WOULD CONSIDER MY "INTERNAL FAILURE" IN MY TRANSMISSION AS A PROBLEM OF THEIRS. I COULDN'T AND STILL CAN'T BELIEVE THIS WAS SAID TO ME. THEIR ARE A QUITE A FEW NOTED FAILURES OF THIS TRANSMISSION LISTED ON A WEB-SITE ON THE INTERNET. THESE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE DRIVING AND YOUR CAR WANT SHIFT GEARS WHILE YOUR CROSSING INTO AN INTERSECTION. YOU NEED TO ASSIST IN THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10279515

68,000 miles · Aug 3, 2009
Power Train

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA AND I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR JERKING INTO AND OUT OF GEAR. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON CARSURVEY.ORG WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND NISSAN DOESN'T SEEM TO BE HELPING ANYONE. WITH AS MANY COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE READ YOU WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION. I HOPE SOM…

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I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA AND I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR JERKING INTO AND OUT OF GEAR. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON CARSURVEY.ORG WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND NISSAN DOESN'T SEEM TO BE HELPING ANYONE. WITH AS MANY COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE READ YOU WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION. I HOPE SOMEONE COULD LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE QUITE A PROBLEM IN 2004 NISSAN MAXIMAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10279192

86,365 miles · Aug 2, 2009
Power Train

I HAVE 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. I AM EXPERIENCING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR ON 3RD. OR EXPERIENCE EXTREME HESITATION WHEN GOING TO 3RD. SEEMS NOT TO SECURELY SIT IN GEAR. THEN INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN REVERSING. CAR HESITATES 3-5 SEC TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THEN ONCE IT DOES. IT DROPS VERY HARD INTO GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10279098

80,000 miles · Aug 2, 2009
Power Train

NHTSA, PLEASE, PLEASE GO TO THE WEBSITE I HAVE PASTED BELOW AND LOOK AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE 2004 MAXIMA. NISSAN HAS TURNED A BLIND EYE TO THE AMERICAN CONSUMER AND ARE LOOKING THE OTHER WAY ON THE DEFECTS IN AUTOMOBILE. WE LOOK TO AND RELY ON THE NHTSA TO HELP RESOLVE SERIOUS DEFECTS IN THIS AUTOMOBILE THAT SHOULD BE RE…

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NHTSA, PLEASE, PLEASE GO TO THE WEBSITE I HAVE PASTED BELOW AND LOOK AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE 2004 MAXIMA. NISSAN HAS TURNED A BLIND EYE TO THE AMERICAN CONSUMER AND ARE LOOKING THE OTHER WAY ON THE DEFECTS IN AUTOMOBILE. WE LOOK TO AND RELY ON THE NHTSA TO HELP RESOLVE SERIOUS DEFECTS IN THIS AUTOMOBILE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. NISSAN DOESN'T WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND WE NEED YOU. IT IS NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT OWNERS OF THE 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA ARE ALL HAVING THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND OTHER ISSUES. I WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE THIS CAR ANYMORE DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION POSES NOT ONLY TO THE DRIVER BUT ANYONE IN IT'S PATH ON THE ROAD. THE CAR JERKS, STALLS, AND ON OCCASION FLAT LOSES POWER IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. W.CARSURVEY.ORG/REVIEWS/NISSAN/MAXIMA/R61092/COMMENTS/. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10279066

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainTires

2004 MAXIMA HAS HAD TIMING CHAIN NOISE FOR YEARS HAS BEEN BLOWING OIL FOR 2 YEARS NOW TRANSMISSION IS BANGING AND SHIFTING VERY HARD LOSING POWER ETC. FOR 3 MONTHS NOW HAD TRANS FLUSHED DID NOT HELP AT ALL TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE IN THE FIRST YEAR A/C HAS NOT WORKED FOR 2 YEARS THIS CAR IS VERY MUCH A LEMON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278731

63,421 miles · Jul 29, 2009
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION LURCHED FORWARD AND MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM SECOND INTO FIRST GEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION LURCHED FORWARD AND MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM SECOND INTO FIRST GEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. A TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE COMPUTER SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,421 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,319.

NHTSA ODI #10278687

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.