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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 →

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.

16 crash reports10 fire reports19 injury reports

Engine complaints

61 reports
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10,000 miles · Dec 5, 2016
Engine

TIMING CHAIN NOISE/TIMING CHAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS NOISE STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #10929920

175,000 miles · Jul 4, 2016
Air BagsElectrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)CrashInjury

"TAMARA INFLATORS" SEAT BELTS DIDN'T LOCK OR LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. SMASHED BODY ALL THE WAY TO BACK SEAT BOTTOM TO GROUND. ENGINE WAS IDLING VERY HIGH FELT/SOUND AS IF WE WERE GOING 60 BUT ONLY WAS GOING 40. NO AIR BAGS CAME ON. BRAKES GRINDING. BACK WINDOW BLEW OUT AND TIRES FLAT IN BACK.. WINDOWS SLOW ON DRIVERS SIDE. WHEN TH…

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"TAMARA INFLATORS" SEAT BELTS DIDN'T LOCK OR LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. SMASHED BODY ALL THE WAY TO BACK SEAT BOTTOM TO GROUND. ENGINE WAS IDLING VERY HIGH FELT/SOUND AS IF WE WERE GOING 60 BUT ONLY WAS GOING 40. NO AIR BAGS CAME ON. BRAKES GRINDING. BACK WINDOW BLEW OUT AND TIRES FLAT IN BACK.. WINDOWS SLOW ON DRIVERS SIDE. WHEN THE SHERIFF TAHOE HIT US AT 80MPH ON U.S. 40 GREENFIELD IN WAS IN THE SHOP AT J&M TRUCK AN TRAILER ON THE WEST SIDE OF INDIANAPOLIS HAVING THE OIL LEAKED FIXED AND TIRES ALL FIXED AND ROTORS AND LIGHTS BY [XXX] A COUPLE MONTHS PRIOR. I HAD MY LITTLE GIRL IN THE BACK SEAT AS WELL WHERE SHERIFF HIT AND RAN. I UPLOADED A BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURE. VIN#[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10882397

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

TRANSMISSION SKIPPING

NHTSA ODI #10873312

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

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 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?

NHTSA ODI #10871862

106,000 miles · Nov 11, 2015
EngineUnknown Or Other

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER FAULTIER WHY THEY DON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IS NO ONLY ONE CA EVERY SINGLE OWNER OF NISSAN MAXIMA IS HAVING THIS ISSUE FROM 2002 TO 2006 NISSAN MAXIMAS

NHTSA ODI #10789809

95,000 miles · Oct 29, 2015
EngineEquipment

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,00…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 08/16/16*LJ *JS

NHTSA ODI #10787069

170,000 miles · Sep 28, 2015
EngineService BrakesSteering

PRIOR TO INCIDENT CAR WAS SHIFTING REALLY HARD AND SLIPPING GEARS. ONCE WHEN DRIVING, CAR SUDDENLY WENT INTO A SAFETY MODE NOT LETTING IT SHIFT OUT OF 5TH GEAR. GOING DOWN HILL CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL BECAUSE OF BEING IN 5TH GEAR AND CAR ENGINE TURNED OFF, AS WELL AS POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. HAD IT BEEN ON A BUSY ROAD A …

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PRIOR TO INCIDENT CAR WAS SHIFTING REALLY HARD AND SLIPPING GEARS. ONCE WHEN DRIVING, CAR SUDDENLY WENT INTO A SAFETY MODE NOT LETTING IT SHIFT OUT OF 5TH GEAR. GOING DOWN HILL CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL BECAUSE OF BEING IN 5TH GEAR AND CAR ENGINE TURNED OFF, AS WELL AS POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. HAD IT BEEN ON A BUSY ROAD A CRASH WOULD HAVE OCCURRED.

NHTSA ODI #10778054

48,639 miles · Aug 26, 2015
Engine

WITHIN ONE MONTH OF GETTING THE CAR, TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING. IT WOULD JERK REALLY HARD AND ALMOST RED LINE BETWEEN 1ST, 2ND, AND 3RD GEAR. IT ALSO DOES IT WHEN I TRY TO REVERSE! IT JERKED SO HARD ONE TIME I THOUGHT SOMEBODY HAD HIT THE BACK OF MY CAR! I TOOK IT BACK TO CARMAX (WHERE I ORIGINALLY GOT IT) AND THEY TOLD ME IT…

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WITHIN ONE MONTH OF GETTING THE CAR, TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING. IT WOULD JERK REALLY HARD AND ALMOST RED LINE BETWEEN 1ST, 2ND, AND 3RD GEAR. IT ALSO DOES IT WHEN I TRY TO REVERSE! IT JERKED SO HARD ONE TIME I THOUGHT SOMEBODY HAD HIT THE BACK OF MY CAR! I TOOK IT BACK TO CARMAX (WHERE I ORIGINALLY GOT IT) AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE VALVE. THEY QUOTED 2000.00 TO FIX THE CAR, BUT SINCE I HAD IT FOR LESS THAN 30 DAYS THEY FIXED IT. SEVEN MONTHS LATER I STARTED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M SO FRUSTRATED! I JUST WANT ANOTHER CAR! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN, EVER! AFTER RESEARCHING AND READING ALL THE REVIEWS, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS ME WITH THIS CAR. (ALONG WITH OTHER NISSAN MODELS). DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE! DON'T BUY ANY OF THESE MODELS FROM NISSAN OR ANYONE ELSE! (2004-2006 MAXIMA)

NHTSA ODI #10759451

85,000 miles · Aug 8, 2015
Engine

THE CAR STARTED JERKING WHEN YOU PUT IT IN GEER.THEN IT STARTED JERKING AND CHANGING WHILE DRIVING AND TAKE OFF AT A RAPID SPEED.I TOOK IT TO NISSAN IN DECEMBER 2010 TO GET IT CHECKED OUT FOR THE JERKING AND TO GET AN OIL CHANGE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I HAD TAKEN A EXTENDED WARRANTY OUT.I PURC…

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THE CAR STARTED JERKING WHEN YOU PUT IT IN GEER.THEN IT STARTED JERKING AND CHANGING WHILE DRIVING AND TAKE OFF AT A RAPID SPEED.I TOOK IT TO NISSAN IN DECEMBER 2010 TO GET IT CHECKED OUT FOR THE JERKING AND TO GET AN OIL CHANGE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I HAD TAKEN A EXTENDED WARRANTY OUT.I PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. 2011 PATHFINDER. I TOOK MY MAXIMA BACK TO NISSAN IN JULY 2015 BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND THE CAR WAS STILL DOING THE SAME BUT WORSE. THE DEALER NEVER SAT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CAR FOR THE TRANSMISSION. A FAMILY MEMBER FOUND THIS WEBSITE FOR ME.

NHTSA ODI #10747197

71,000 miles · Aug 6, 2015
EnginePower TrainSteeringInjury

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA FROM CARMAX IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND CHANGE GEARS REALLY ROUGH. THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN CHANGING GEARS EITHER AT IDLE OR WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION DOES IT THE MOST BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND AND SECOND TO THIRD AND WHEN DOWN…

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I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA FROM CARMAX IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND CHANGE GEARS REALLY ROUGH. THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN CHANGING GEARS EITHER AT IDLE OR WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION DOES IT THE MOST BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND AND SECOND TO THIRD AND WHEN DOWNSHIFTING IN THOSE SAME GEARS. MY MAIN CONCERN IS MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE OR ANY OTHER FAMILIES IN THE SAME VEHICLE WHEN WE ARE DRIVING IN THE VEHICE OUR HEADS AND NECKS GET WHIPPED BACK AND FORTH VERY ROUGHLY. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION CHANGING GEARS ON ITS OWN WHILE IM DRIVING THE CAR. I ONLY ASK FOR YOU TO PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND MAKE IT A RECALL. NISSAN DID NOT WANT TO HELP ME OUT OR ANYONE ELSE. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND HEARD NUMEROUS STORIES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. NISSAN PUT OUT A POOR PRODUCT AND WONT FIX IT. THEY NEED TO OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKE, BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR DIES. I ASK OF YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. NOT ONLY FOR MY SAFETY OR MY INFANT'S SAFETY BUT FOR ANYONE WHO OWNS THIS VEHICLE. PS. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR I WOULD HAVE NEVER GOTTEN IT. PPS. THE TEST DRIVE AND THE 1ST MONTH WERE FINE UNTIL NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS OCCURRED. PLEASE HELP, PLEASE HELP! GET THIS RECALL ACTIVE! THANKS, FRANK

NHTSA ODI #10746773

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.