TRANSMISSION SKIPPING
2005 Nissan Maxima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Maxima years
Owner complaints for the 2005 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
822 reports with mileage · 126 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 777 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
38 reportsI'VE NOTICED WAY TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAVING TRANSMISSION. ISSUES AROUND 125K MILES. WHENEVER I SHIFT TO REVERSE, DRIVE , FIRST,SECOND, OR THIRD THERE IS A DELAY AND LOUD THUD. I'VE SEEN WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND THE FACT THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL IS A SHAME. SOMEONE NEEDS TO D…
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I'VE NOTICED WAY TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAVING TRANSMISSION. ISSUES AROUND 125K MILES. WHENEVER I SHIFT TO REVERSE, DRIVE , FIRST,SECOND, OR THIRD THERE IS A DELAY AND LOUD THUD. I'VE SEEN WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND THE FACT THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL IS A SHAME. SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING. ANYONE?
TODAY IS MARCH 26, 2015 AND FOR THE PAST WEEK; MY CAR HAS BEEN STALLING WHEN I AM SHIFTING GEARS. TODAY I WAS IN A NOT SAFE SITUATION AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN I SHIFTED THE GEARS TO MY CAR TO BEGIN DRIVING, THE CAR STALLED ON ME ALLOWING ME TO ONLY DRIVE AROUND 5-10 MPH DOWN THE STREET. I HAD TO HURRY UP AND PULL OVER BECAUSE I H…
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TODAY IS MARCH 26, 2015 AND FOR THE PAST WEEK; MY CAR HAS BEEN STALLING WHEN I AM SHIFTING GEARS. TODAY I WAS IN A NOT SAFE SITUATION AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN I SHIFTED THE GEARS TO MY CAR TO BEGIN DRIVING, THE CAR STALLED ON ME ALLOWING ME TO ONLY DRIVE AROUND 5-10 MPH DOWN THE STREET. I HAD TO HURRY UP AND PULL OVER BECAUSE I HAD CARS BEHIND ME. *TR
I HAVE HAD MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS NOW. FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS IT'S HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. IT TURNS OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING IT AND I LOSE ALL POWER POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. I ALMOST DROVE INTO THE RIVER YESTERDAY BECAUSE IT SHUT OFF GOING AROUND A TURN AND I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. MY CAR STARTS ACT…
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I HAVE HAD MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS NOW. FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS IT'S HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. IT TURNS OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING IT AND I LOSE ALL POWER POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. I ALMOST DROVE INTO THE RIVER YESTERDAY BECAUSE IT SHUT OFF GOING AROUND A TURN AND I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. MY CAR STARTS ACTING UP AFTER IT WARMS UP ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER START. IT WILL SHIFT VERY HARD AND IS FINE ONCE IT IS PAST 3RD GEAR BUT IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET TO THIRD WHEN IT STARTS TO MESS UP THE RPMS WILL GO UP TO 4 AND 5 THROUGH 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. WHEN YOU'RE GOING DOWNHILL IT WILL DOWNSHIFT LIKE YOU SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. ALSO IF YOU SWITCH OVER TO MANUAL IT WILL SAY YOU'RE IN 5TH GEAR AND REALLY YOU'RE IN 1ST. THE SERVICE ENGINE DIAGNOSIS READS A CODE FOR THE CAM SHAFT SENSORS. I HAVE CHANGED BOTH OF THEM BANK 1 AND BANK 2 AND IT DID NOT FIX ANYTHING. NISSAN HAS FAILED TO DO ANYTHING AND IT'S HAPPENING TO A TON OF CARS. IF I'M ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR SHUTS OFF, IT NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD SITUATION. IF YOU TAKE IT TO NISSAN THEY TRY TO GET YOU TO BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A TWO YEAR OLD AND THE JERKING OF THE CAR OR ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER IS NOT SAFE FOR HER OR ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO REVIEW THIS, I APPRECIATE IT. *TR
WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR AFTER 2-3 MONTHS I HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIX. AFTER , A COUPLE OF WEEKS I STILL WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR , I TOOK IT BACK THEY SAID , IT WASN'T NOTHING WRONG WITH IT . THEN MY AIR CONDITION WENT OUT, IT WAS MY AIR COMPRESSOR TOOK IT IN TO THE NISSAN …
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WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR AFTER 2-3 MONTHS I HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIX. AFTER , A COUPLE OF WEEKS I STILL WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR , I TOOK IT BACK THEY SAID , IT WASN'T NOTHING WRONG WITH IT . THEN MY AIR CONDITION WENT OUT, IT WAS MY AIR COMPRESSOR TOOK IT IN TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIX, AFTER, A WEEK OR TWO IT WENT OUT AGAIN TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT LOOKED AT I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A PART ( SOME TYPE OF CLIP ). JUNE 10 , 2014 MY CAR WAS ON FIRE IN MY GARAGE WHILE I WAS SLEEPING. WHEN I WOKE UP THAT MORNING MY HEADLIGHTS WERE FLASHING OFF AND ON . WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR MY WINDOW WAS FULL OF SUT AND MY WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED . WHEN I OPEN THE CAR DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE THE DASH BOARD AND UNDER THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED , THE ODOMETER AND THE FUSE BOX (EVERYTHING ON THE DRIVER SIDE WAS MELTED ) .YOU CAN SMELLED THE SMOKE,THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT JUST IN CASE IT SPARKED BACK UP. UNDER THE HOOD WAS NOT DAMAGE. I HAVE PICTURES OF DAMAGES. THEY HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE IT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. THE RESULTS WAS IT STARTED FROM THE FUSE BOX. MY CAR WAS TOTALED OUT BY MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER. I FEEL THIS MATTER NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO AND SOMETHING NEED TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION . THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO BEFORE IT HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE . *TR
THE ABS SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE BASED UPON NISSAN MANUFACTURERS BULLETIN REGARDING MAXIMA'S YEARS 2004, 2005, 2006. THE REQUIREMENT OF NISSAN TO REPLACE 2-REAR WHEEL HUBS $444.10, 2-REAR ABS WHEEL SENSORS $627.20, AND POSSIBLY THE ABS ACTUATOR-ASSY $1306.51 ALL DUE TO THE TECHNICAL FACT THAT WATER ACCUMULATES IN THE WHEEL HUBS AND …
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
I DRIVE THE CAR AND IT IS HARD TO SHIFT GEARS. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT JERKS VERY HARD. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS SAID BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS NOT THE TRANSMISSION BUT INSTEAD IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNTS THAT WERE THE PROBLEM. ONCE THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS FIXED, THE PROBLEM STILL PERSIST. I CALL THE DEALER BACK AND …
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I DRIVE THE CAR AND IT IS HARD TO SHIFT GEARS. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT JERKS VERY HARD. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS SAID BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS NOT THE TRANSMISSION BUT INSTEAD IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNTS THAT WERE THE PROBLEM. ONCE THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS FIXED, THE PROBLEM STILL PERSIST. I CALL THE DEALER BACK AND THEY HAVE YET TO GIVE ME A RESPONSE. WHEN DRIVING, IN BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR IT SHIFT TO THE 4TH OR 5TH GEAR CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK FORWARD IF SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. COMPLICATED SITUATION. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION IS DOING HARD SHIFTS AND I FEAR IT IS GOING TO FAIL. ALSO THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR IS GIVING ME PROBLEMS TOO. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN TOWN THE CAR STARTED JERKING ERRATICALLY, LAUNCHING FORWARD, HARD JERKS, CAR SHAKING LIKE CRAZY, SMELL BURNING SMELL IN THE CAR, I ALMOST HIT OTHER CARS DUE TO MY CAR JERKING FORWARD. I WAS FRIGHTENED... THE CAR IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE TO SAY THE VERY LEAST. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED YOU ARE DRIVING,…
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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN TOWN THE CAR STARTED JERKING ERRATICALLY, LAUNCHING FORWARD, HARD JERKS, CAR SHAKING LIKE CRAZY, SMELL BURNING SMELL IN THE CAR, I ALMOST HIT OTHER CARS DUE TO MY CAR JERKING FORWARD. I WAS FRIGHTENED... THE CAR IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE TO SAY THE VERY LEAST. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED YOU ARE DRIVING, IT JERKS AND LAUNCHES FORWARD AT WILL. MY CHILDREN COULD HAVE GOT SERIOUSLY HURT RIDING IN THIS CAR. I PAID CLOSE TO $800 TOGET THIS CAR FIXED IN MAY OF 2013, ONLY TO HAVE IT ALL HAPPEN ALL OVER AGAIN AS THE NISSAN CORPORATION KNEW OF DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS IN THE NISSAN MAXIAMAS. YET, THEY CONTINUE TO SELL THESE "DEATH TRAPS", TO CITIZENS.. THIS IS AN ATROCITY, WHAT THE NISSAN CORPORATION HAS TO DONE IT'S CONSUMERS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND WENT TO GO AND APPLY MY BRAKES. AT THIS TIME MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS LIT UP WITH AN ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. I TALKED TO FIRESTONE AND TOLD THEM THE ISSUE AS I WAS OUT OF TOWN. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD RUN A QUICK DIAGNOSTIC. I DID AND THEY FOUND IT TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND WENT TO GO AND APPLY MY BRAKES. AT THIS TIME MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS LIT UP WITH AN ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. I TALKED TO FIRESTONE AND TOLD THEM THE ISSUE AS I WAS OUT OF TOWN. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD RUN A QUICK DIAGNOSTIC. I DID AND THEY FOUND IT TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE AT NISSAN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AS THERE IS A TSB ON THE VEHICLE FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THE ABS SENSOR AND POSSIBLY THE WHEELHUB, IF ALL WAS DONE I WOULD BE OUT ABOUT $3000. I ASKED THE DEALER WHAT ISSUES COULD ARISE AND THEY TOLD ME MY BRAKES COULD LOCK UP WHEN DRIVING. I FIND THIS TO BE UNACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY IF DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 70 WITH A BIG TRUCK FOLLOWING. I GOT IN TOUCH WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY DID SOME RESEARCH, BUT CAME BACK WITH THE WOULD NOT HELP WITH ANY REPAIRS. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 2004-2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. FOR SOME PEOPLE THIS HAS GONE ON TOO LONG WITH NISSAN NOT WANTING TO HELP OUT. A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. *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.
05V338000 · Child Seat:latch Strap
Jul 26, 2005
CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE LOWER ANCHORAGE BRACKETS IN THE REAR SEATS DO NOT MEET THE LOCATION REQUIREMENT IN THIS STANDARD. THIS MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY IN ATTACHING SOME CHILD SEATS TO THESE BRACKETS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A CHILD SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER ANCHORAGE BRACKETS WITH MODIFIED BRACKETS TO ENSURE THAT THE STANDARD IS MET. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 28, 2006. THE INFINITI Q45 MODEL VEHICLES ARE BEING CAMPAIGNED UNDER A SEPARATE RECALL (PLEASE SEE 05V374000). OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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