CAR REVS UP ON ITS OWN, ALSO SLIPS WHEN ACCELERATING I PARKED THE CAR AND GEAR WOULD SLAM WHEN SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE,REVERSE AND WHENEVER SHIFTED TOLD IT IS DUE TO A BAD BODY VALVE WHICH IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 2004 THRU 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA AND OTHER NISSAN MODELS. *TR
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 reportsTHERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS IN THE NHTSA DATABASE ABOUT THE 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA!!! 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA PURCHASED NEW IN 2004. THE CAR KEEPS MAKING SUDDEN VIOLENT JERKING MOVEMENTS WHILE DRIVING CREATING A POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR A CAR ACCIDENT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR. I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR O…
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THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS IN THE NHTSA DATABASE ABOUT THE 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA!!! 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA PURCHASED NEW IN 2004. THE CAR KEEPS MAKING SUDDEN VIOLENT JERKING MOVEMENTS WHILE DRIVING CREATING A POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR A CAR ACCIDENT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR. I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS AND CAN NOT GO MORE THAT 35MPH. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE AFTER BEING AT A STOP. THERE IS A LONG HESITATION BEFORE THE CAR BEGINS TO DRIVE AFTER BEING PUT IN GEAR TO DRIVE. IT ALSO JERKS FORWARD SUDDENLY WHEN IT DOES DECIDE TO MOVE. SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T MOVE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. AT STOP LIGHTS I HAVE TO SHIFT GEARS AT TIMES TO GET IT TO MOVE. ANOTHER INCIDENT INCLUDED THE CAR NOT STOPPING. I HAD TO MOVE IT INTO FIRST GEAR TO GET IT TO STOP. THE CAR JERKS BACKWARDS WHEN REVERSING. WHEN THESE PROBLEMS STARTED THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN BECAUSE WE SUSPECTED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THEY TOLD US IT WAS NOT THE TRANSMISSION BUT INSTEAD MOTOR MOUNTS,RODS, AND BOLTS. I SPENT ALMOST $3,000 TO REPAIR IT AND THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. NOW, I AM BEING TOLD THAT IT IS THE TRANSMISSION AND GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $3100. NISSAN HAS DIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM. WE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT FOR THE 2004-2005 MAXIMA. THIS INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT NISSAN IS ACTUALLY AWARE OF. THE BATTERY HAS ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED 3TIMES. THE POWER DOORS NO LONGER WORK NEITHER DOES THE SUN ROOF. I HAVE TO DRIVE TO GET TO WORK AND TO GET THE KIDS TO SCHOOL. I DO NOT LIKE TO DRIVE WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR FOR FEAR THAT THE CAR WILL NOT STOP AGAIN OR THAT THERE WILL BE A COLLISION BECAUSE OF THE JERKY MOVEMENTS AND THE CARS HESITATION. NISSAN HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NO RESOLUTION HAS BEEN OFFERED AT THIS TIME. *TR
2005 NISSAN MAXIMA PURCHASED NEW IN 2004. THE CAR KEEPS MAKING SUDDEN VIOLENT JERKING MOVEMENTS WHILE DRIVING CREATING A POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR A CAR ACCIDENT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR. I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS AND CAN NOT GO MORE THAT 35MPH. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING W…
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2005 NISSAN MAXIMA PURCHASED NEW IN 2004. THE CAR KEEPS MAKING SUDDEN VIOLENT JERKING MOVEMENTS WHILE DRIVING CREATING A POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR A CAR ACCIDENT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR. I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS AND CAN NOT GO MORE THAT 35MPH. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE AFTER BEING AT A STOP. THERE IS A LONG HESITATION BEFORE THE CAR BEGINS TO DRIVE AFTER BEING PUT IN GEAR TO DRIVE. IT ALSO JERKS FORWARD SUDDENLY WHEN IT DOES DECIDE TO MOVE. SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T MOVE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. AT STOP LIGHTS I HAVE TO SHIFT GEARS AT TIMES TO GET IT TO MOVE. ANOTHER INCIDENT INCLUDED THE CAR NOT STOPPING. I HAD TO MOVE IT INTO FIRST GEAR TO GET IT TO STOP. THE CAR JERKS BACKWARDS WHEN REVERSING. WHEN THESE PROBLEMS STARTED THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN BECAUSE WE SUSPECTED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THEY TOLD US IT WAS NOT THE TRANSMISSION BUT INSTEAD MOTOR MOUNTS,RODS, AND BOLTS. I SPENT ALMOST $3,000 TO REPAIR IT AND THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. NOW, I AM BEING TOLD THAT IT IS THE TRANSMISSION AND GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $3100. NISSAN HAS DIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM. WE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT FOR THE 2004-2005 MAXIMA. THIS INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT NISSAN IS ACTUALLY AWARE OF. THE BATTERY HAS ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED 3TIMES. THE POWER DOORS NO LONGER WORK NEITHER DOES THE SUN ROOF. I HAVE TO DRIVE TO GET TO WORK AND TO GET THE KIDS TO SCHOOL. I DO NOT LIKE TO DRIVE WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR FOR FEAR THAT THE CAR WILL NOT STOP AGAIN OR THAT THERE WILL BE A COLLISION BECAUSE OF THE JERKY MOVEMENTS AND THE CARS HESITATION. NISSAN HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NO RESOLUTION HAS BEEN OFFERED AT THIS TIME. CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGIN TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SENSOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE BRAKE PA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGIN TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SENSOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURES ALL RECURRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
DASHBOARD CLUSTER AND ABS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, IS THIS A RECALL ISSUE IF NOT SHOLD BE. *TR
ALL THE SUDDEN THE INSTRUMENT SHUT DOWN (OUT OF ORDER) I GOT PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE AND INSTRUCTED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR TIL FIXING THE PROBLEM. *TR
MAY/2110-WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA I DEVELOPED COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO BILL DENNY'S CAR REPAIR. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS DIRECTLY UNDER A COIN TRAY ON THE DASH. THE CORNERS ARE NOT SECURE AND SMALL COINS WERE ABLE TO SLIP DOWN THERE THUS SHORT CIRCUITING THE ELECT…
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MAY/2110-WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA I DEVELOPED COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO BILL DENNY'S CAR REPAIR. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS DIRECTLY UNDER A COIN TRAY ON THE DASH. THE CORNERS ARE NOT SECURE AND SMALL COINS WERE ABLE TO SLIP DOWN THERE THUS SHORT CIRCUITING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. MY AUTO REPAIR PERSON RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WELL KNOWN TO NISSAN. MANY NISSAN OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM HAPPEN TO THEM. THE COMPLAINTS ARE ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS 5 YRS OLD BUT IT ALSO HAPPENED TO NISSAN OWNERS WHEN THEIR MAXIMA WAS NEW. THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE BUT A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. NISSAN IS IGNORING MY REQUEST TO PAY FOR MY AUTO'S REPAIR BECAUSE MY CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. NISSAN HAS IN FACT FIXED THIS DEFECT. WHEN I HAD MY CAR REPAIRED IN MAY THIS PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. . JOHN ANELLO WRITER FOR AUTO TECH ON WHEELS WROTE AN ARTICLE OF THE MONTH FOR HIS MAGAZINE 06/2009- IT WAS ENTIRELY ABOUT THIS DEFECT. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR THIS TO BE IGNORED BY NISSAN . MY CAR COULD HAVE FAILED ON A HIGHWAY AT A HIGH SPEED WITH A DEADLY OUTCOME. I MADE A COMPLAINT THRU THE STATE OF MD CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION MY CASE NO#[XXX]. PLEASE HELP! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
IMPROPER BRAKING FUNCTION WITH ABS IN 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA - STARTED WITH NOISE AND "SOFT" BRAKES. IT CONTINUED TO A POINT WHERE THE ABS WAS INCORRECTLY BEING ACTIVATED (EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS OFF). IT SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO A SPEED SENSOR IN THE WHEELS. THIS CONTROLS THE ABS ACTIVATION AND THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER. THE SPEEDOMETER…
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IMPROPER BRAKING FUNCTION WITH ABS IN 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA - STARTED WITH NOISE AND "SOFT" BRAKES. IT CONTINUED TO A POINT WHERE THE ABS WAS INCORRECTLY BEING ACTIVATED (EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS OFF). IT SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO A SPEED SENSOR IN THE WHEELS. THIS CONTROLS THE ABS ACTIVATION AND THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS STOPPED WORKING. AND DUE TO THE ABS BEING UNDER CONSTANT STRAIN, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED.
ON JUNE 23, 2009 MY 2005 MAXIMA WAS PARKED IN AN ENCLOSED GARAGE WITHIN MY HOME. ON THAT SAME DATE I ATTEMPTED TO ENTER MY VEHICLE AND WAS GREETED WITH AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF SMOKE UPON OPENING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. NO FIRE WAS OCCURRING, SO I OPENED ALL CAR DOORS AND GARAGE DOORS TO CLEAR THE SMOKE. WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED I …
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ON JUNE 23, 2009 MY 2005 MAXIMA WAS PARKED IN AN ENCLOSED GARAGE WITHIN MY HOME. ON THAT SAME DATE I ATTEMPTED TO ENTER MY VEHICLE AND WAS GREETED WITH AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF SMOKE UPON OPENING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. NO FIRE WAS OCCURRING, SO I OPENED ALL CAR DOORS AND GARAGE DOORS TO CLEAR THE SMOKE. WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED I DISCOVERED MY CAR HAD, AT SOME POINT IN THE PRIOR 8 HOURS, HAD AN INTERIOR FIRE AND HAD LUCKILY SELF-EXTINGUISHED. THE FIRE SEEMED TO ORIGINATE NEAR THE FUSE BOX, LOCATED TO THE LEFT OF THE STEERING COLUMN, ON THE UNDER SIDE OF THE DASH. THE FIRE MELTED THE FUSE BOX AND SURROUNDING DASH AREA, SPREADING AROUND THE UNDERSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN TO JUST ABOVE THE IGNITION ON THE DASH. NO POLICE OR FIRE EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE CALLED AS THE FIRE WAS OUT. MY INSURANCE WAS IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED AND A TOW ORDERED TO TAKE THE MAXIMA TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP. I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO ADVISE THEM OF THIS FIRE. AFTER A FEW WEEKS THEY COMMUNICATED THAT NISSAN WOULD NOT INVESTIGATE THE FIRE. MY INSURANCE COVERED THE COST OF THE REPAIRS AND THE REPAIRS TOOK PLACE. UPON COMPLETION OF THE REPAIRS THE DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED WHEN THEY TESTED THE LUMBAR SWITCH, THAT IT WAS OVERHEATING THE FUSE PANEL AND THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. MY INSURANCE WAS CONTACTED TO COME OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO ASSESS THE NEW DISCOVERY. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER, SERVICE MANAGER, AND SERVICE TECHNICIAN MET AND AGREED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS A PINCHED LUMBAR SWITCH AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I PAID THE COST OF THE SWITCH AS INSURANCE ONLY COVERS DAMAGES. THE LUMBAR SWITCH WAS RECALLED IN 2006. MY LUMBAR SWITCH WAS REPAIRED IN APRIL OF 2006. THE RECALL STATES THE LUMBAR SWITCH WIRING COULD BECOME PINCHED AND CAUSE A FIRE. I ASKED BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO REFUND AND INVESTIGATE MY FIRE AND IT'S ASSOCIATION TO THE RECALL. AT THIS TIME NEITHER IS COOPERATIVE AND REFUSES TO ASSIST OR INVESTIGATE. *TR
MY 2005 MAXIMA HAD BEEN PARKED IN MY GARAGE WHEN AN ELECTRICAL FIRE OCCURRED NEAR OR IN THE FUSE PANEL. WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE FIRE HAD SOMEHOW CONTAINED ITSELF AND SELF-EXTINGUISHED. THE CAR WAS SEALED SO WE ASSUME IT RAN OUT OF OXYGEN AS THE SMOKE DID NOT LEAK TO THE GARAGE. THE LOWER DASH PANEL ON THE …
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MY 2005 MAXIMA HAD BEEN PARKED IN MY GARAGE WHEN AN ELECTRICAL FIRE OCCURRED NEAR OR IN THE FUSE PANEL. WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE FIRE HAD SOMEHOW CONTAINED ITSELF AND SELF-EXTINGUISHED. THE CAR WAS SEALED SO WE ASSUME IT RAN OUT OF OXYGEN AS THE SMOKE DID NOT LEAK TO THE GARAGE. THE LOWER DASH PANEL ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN APPEARS TO BE THE INITIAL FIRE. AS I AM NOT AN EXPERT, I CAN ONLY ASSUME THE HOUSING FOR THE FUSE PANEL WOULD RELATE TO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AS THIS IS WHERE MOST OF THE DAMAGE OCCURRED. THE FIRE MELTED THAT PANEL TO THE FLOORBOARD AND SPREAD AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN, AROUND THE IGNITION AND SLIGHTLY UP TO THE UPPER DASHBOARD (RIGHT SIDE), AGAIN CAUSING THE DASH TO MELT. PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT WOULD NOT ENGAGE ANY MOVEMENT. I HAD NOT ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT AS I RARELY, IF EVER, MOVE MY SEAT. THIS HAD OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 4-6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. ANOTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE THE CAR HAD PRIOR WAS THE SEAT BELT LIGHT INDICATOR WOULD REMAIN ON WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WAS INDEED BUCKLED. I DO NOT KNOW IF THESE ELECTRICAL ISSUES RELATE TO THE ELECTRICAL FIRE. I DID HOWEVER FIND ANOTHER REPORT ON NHTSA INVOLVING THE SAME TYPE OF POWER SEAT ISSUES AND SIMILAR ELECTRICAL FIRE TO THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OF MY MAXIMA. AT THIS TIME THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IS NOT SURE HOW THE FIRE STARTED AND IS NOT CLAIMING NISSAN LIABILITY. I AM CONCERNED THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF FIRE AND REPLACE THE DAMAGED COMPONENTS OF MY CAR WITH THE SAME POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL FIRE HAZARDS. I FEEL THIS FIRE SHOULD BE CAUSE FOR INVESTIGATION AS MY MAXIMA APPEARS TO BE AT LEAST THE SECOND NISSAN WITH THE SAME EXACT ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND FIRE. *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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