I HAVE 04 NISSAN MAXIMA AND IT HAVE ONLY 47078 MILES ON IT. THE CAR IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM FROM 1 TO 2 GEAR IS HARD SHIFT. I HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAME KIND OF PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. THERE IS NO INCIDENT CRASH WITH THIS CAR. THEY CHANGE THE FILER AND OTHER STUFF THEY ALSO CHANGE THE FLUID. *TR
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
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.
What owners actually said
1,425 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS ERRATIC SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS MOVED FROM DRIVE INTO REVERSE, AN EXCESSIVE JERKING MOTION OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEP…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS ERRATIC SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS MOVED FROM DRIVE INTO REVERSE, AN EXCESSIVE JERKING MOTION OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CV AXLE DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS, THE "SLIP" INDICATOR LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD WOULD BLINK AS THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I WOULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE. MY NISSAN DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS EVENT. WHEN THIS LOCK UP WOULD HAPPEN, THE CAR "PULLED" VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT AND I WOULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. WHEN THES…
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OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS, THE "SLIP" INDICATOR LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD WOULD BLINK AS THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I WOULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE. MY NISSAN DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS EVENT. WHEN THIS LOCK UP WOULD HAPPEN, THE CAR "PULLED" VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT AND I WOULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. WHEN THESE EVENTS WOULD HAPPEN MY VEHICLE SPEED WOULD BE BETWEEN 25 AND 40 MPH AND ON A DRY ROAD AND EITHER DRIVING STRAIGHT OR AROUND A MINOR CURVE. ON SAT. 5/30 WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35 AND 45 MPH THE SLIP LIGHT CAME ON 3 TIMES WITHIN 10 MINUTES. THE FIRST TIME A VIOLENT PULL TO THE RIGHT WITH LOSS OF CONTROL CAUSING ME TO GO ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE SECOND TIME, BOTH FRONT BRAKES ENGAGED AND THE CAR ALMOST CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE CAR BEHIND ME MISSED REAR ENDING ME BY 5-6 FEET. THE THIRD TIME BOTH FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP PULLING ME TO THE RIGHT. NO DAMAGE. THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN THESE EVENTS HAPPEN. SUDDEN AND SHOCKING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE BRAKES LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON. MY NISSAN DEALER TELLS ME THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO "CODES" IN THE PAST, BUT ON SAT. THE VEHICLE "THREW" A CODE INDICATING THE YAW/G FORCE SENSOR HAD FAILED. AS THE DRIVER OF THE CAR, YOU ARE OUT OF CONTROL AND RISKING YOUR LIFE, PROPERTY,AND THE SAFETY OF OTHER MOTORISTS. THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS, PROPERTY DAMAGE, INJURY AND POSSIBLY DEATH. *TR
STARTING ALMOST A YEAR AGO, AROUND 90,000 MILES, MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA BEGAN JERKING VERY HARD WHEN GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND EVEN MORE WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. IT HAPPENS EVERY NOW AND THEN, MOSTLY WHEN THE CAR IS WARMED UP. FEELS LIKE I'VE BEEN HIT FROM THE BACK BY A TRAIN! THE BRAKES ALSO DO A WEIRD JERK WHEN…
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STARTING ALMOST A YEAR AGO, AROUND 90,000 MILES, MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA BEGAN JERKING VERY HARD WHEN GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND EVEN MORE WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. IT HAPPENS EVERY NOW AND THEN, MOSTLY WHEN THE CAR IS WARMED UP. FEELS LIKE I'VE BEEN HIT FROM THE BACK BY A TRAIN! THE BRAKES ALSO DO A WEIRD JERK WHEN SLOWING DOWN NOW. AND WHEN I RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL TO TURN A CORNER, ETC...THEN PRESS THE GAS AGAIN, IT JERKS A LOT THEN TOO. I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT IT'S MORE OFTEN NOW AND I JUST WONDER WHEN I'LL BE LEFT ON THE ROAD STRANDED. *TR
I'VE HAD A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL/STABILITY CONTROL. THE YAW/G FORCE SENSOR FAILED. PRIOR TO THIS BEING DISCOVERED BY A CODE ON THE CAR'S COMPUTER, I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT ON DRY ROADS, ON STRAIGHT ALWAYS AND CURVES AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 25 AND 45, THE PASSENGER FRONT BRAKE WOULD ENGAGE WITHOUT WARNIN…
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I'VE HAD A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL/STABILITY CONTROL. THE YAW/G FORCE SENSOR FAILED. PRIOR TO THIS BEING DISCOVERED BY A CODE ON THE CAR'S COMPUTER, I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT ON DRY ROADS, ON STRAIGHT ALWAYS AND CURVES AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 25 AND 45, THE PASSENGER FRONT BRAKE WOULD ENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CAR WOULD PULL VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT. DEALER INVESTIGATED AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE EXPERIENCES. ON SAT. 5/30 IN UNDER 10 MINUTES 3 TIMES I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN AND UNCONTROLLABLE APPLICATION OF THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE WHICH PULLED ME OFF THE ROAD AND ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD 2 TIMES AND THE APPLICATION OF BOTH FRONT BRAKES WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO COME TO A SUDDEN FULL STOP. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. WHEN THIS FAILURE HAPPENS IT IS UN ANNOUNCED, SUDDEN VIOLENT AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON. NISSAN CONFIRMS THE SENSOR HAS FAILED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS, PROPERTY DAMAGE, INJURIES AND POSSIBLY DEATH. *TR
NOTICED CAR JERKED WHEN SHIFTING DOWN FROM 2ND TO 1ST. THOUGHT I'D BETTER TAKE CAR IN TO HAVE LOOKED AT AND JUST A FEW MINUTES AFTERWARDS, MY CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY. LUCKILY I WAS OFF THE FREEWAY AND WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. WAS TOLD MY NISSAN THERE WAS NO KNOWN ISSUE BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME OTHERWISE BUT …
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NOTICED CAR JERKED WHEN SHIFTING DOWN FROM 2ND TO 1ST. THOUGHT I'D BETTER TAKE CAR IN TO HAVE LOOKED AT AND JUST A FEW MINUTES AFTERWARDS, MY CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY. LUCKILY I WAS OFF THE FREEWAY AND WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. WAS TOLD MY NISSAN THERE WAS NO KNOWN ISSUE BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME OTHERWISE BUT SAID I'D STILL HAVE TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION. I DID THAT IN DECEMBER 08 AND PAID $3600 FOR A REBUILT TRAN WHICH NOW HAS ONLY 5000 MILES ON IT AND THE "SYMPTOMS" OF MY OLD ONE HAVE RETURNED, THIS TIME ALSO JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 1-2. THE OTHER DAY WHEN STOPPING IT JERKED SO HARD I THOUGH I HAD BEEN READ ENDED. IF I HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $3,600 FOR ANOTHER TRANSMISSION THAT'S JUST LUDICROUS! WHY CANT NISSAN ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM? I CANT AFFORD A NEW CAR AND CAN'T AFFORD PAYING FOR NEW TRANSMISSIONS EITHER. I JUST WANT TO FEEL SAFE AND HAVE A SMOOTH RIDE. *TR
ME AND MY WIFE OWN A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA, LAST YEAR IT HAS STARTED HAVING TRANNY PROBLEMS. WHEN YOU ACCELERATE IT JERKS VERY HARD AS IT SHIFTS AND WHEN PUT IN DRIVE IT SLAMS THE CAR VERY HARD. THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH MANY OTHER OWNERS IN EXACT SAME DETAIL. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND MANY PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING FROM THIS EVE…
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ME AND MY WIFE OWN A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA, LAST YEAR IT HAS STARTED HAVING TRANNY PROBLEMS. WHEN YOU ACCELERATE IT JERKS VERY HARD AS IT SHIFTS AND WHEN PUT IN DRIVE IT SLAMS THE CAR VERY HARD. THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH MANY OTHER OWNERS IN EXACT SAME DETAIL. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND MANY PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING FROM THIS EVENT. THE MAXIMA IS SUPPOSE TO BE HIGH QUALITY AND VERY RELIABLE WHEN NISSAN IS SELLING THE CAR, BUT NOT AFTER ITS SOLD AND IN YOUR NAME. PLEASE INVESTIGATE, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
I HAVE NISSAN MAXIMA 2004 THAT HAS A SERIES OF PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT 2 YEARS AGO FROM NISSAN DEALER. THE MOST IMPORTANT IS RECENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT LEFT ME SITTING IN TRAFFIC. TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR IS NOT ABLE TO REACH 2ND GEAR! THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN NISSAN SHOP TWICE AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM ! T…
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I HAVE NISSAN MAXIMA 2004 THAT HAS A SERIES OF PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT 2 YEARS AGO FROM NISSAN DEALER. THE MOST IMPORTANT IS RECENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT LEFT ME SITTING IN TRAFFIC. TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR IS NOT ABLE TO REACH 2ND GEAR! THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN NISSAN SHOP TWICE AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM ! THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF IT FAILS TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT ACCELERATION THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO GET OUT OF HARM'S WAY OR TO SAFELY MANEUVER IN TRAFFIC !!! I JUST REALIZED THAT MANY 2004 MAXIMA OWNERS HAVE EXACTLY SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE! THANK YOU *TR
TRANSMISSION (AUTOMATIC) PROBLEM: CAR SLAMS INTO GEAR WHEN CHANGING FROM 'PARK' INTO 'DRIVE'. ALSO THERE'S A DELAY WHEN GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR IN WHICH ENGINE REVS UP BUT NO GEAR CHANGE. *TR
THE CAR STARTED JERKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. IT STALLS OUT AS YOU ACCELERATE FROM 20 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS DANGEROUS. AFTER RESEARCHING, SIMILAR MODELS AND YEAR OF MY CAR ARE ALL COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT JUST WEAR AND TEAR. THIS MODEL CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE ANY INJURIES ARE REPORTED. TH…
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THE CAR STARTED JERKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. IT STALLS OUT AS YOU ACCELERATE FROM 20 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS DANGEROUS. AFTER RESEARCHING, SIMILAR MODELS AND YEAR OF MY CAR ARE ALL COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT JUST WEAR AND TEAR. THIS MODEL CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE ANY INJURIES ARE REPORTED. THE FAILURE BEGAN TO BE NOTICED AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP. IT STARTED OCCURRING NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEN STARTED SLIPPING AS IT SHIFTS GEARS. TOOK IT TO SHOP TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE TO FIX THIS FAILURE. NISSAN NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE. EVERY CAR IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM, BUT NO ONE IS ACKNOWLEDGING THE ISSUE. *TR
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.
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