← New search

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
Clear category filter
130,000 miles · Dec 21, 2012
Engine

IT HAS BEEN PROVEN AND REPORTED MANY TIMES ON THE INTERNET OF THE POOR DESIGN OF THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAINS, TENSIONERS, AND GUIDES FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF NISSAN. OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE HAD TO PAY HUGE REPAIR BILLS DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS THAT WERE PLACED IN THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURE…

Read full complaint

IT HAS BEEN PROVEN AND REPORTED MANY TIMES ON THE INTERNET OF THE POOR DESIGN OF THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAINS, TENSIONERS, AND GUIDES FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF NISSAN. OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE HAD TO PAY HUGE REPAIR BILLS DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS THAT WERE PLACED IN THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED. THEY WEAR OUT PREMATURELY AND THE ENGINE HAS TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE CAR TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THIS IS INEXCUSABLE ON THE PART OF NISSAN AND THE OWNERS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY THESE HUGE REPAIR COSTS TO REPLACE A PART THAT WAS DEFECTIVE IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10489439

96,000 miles · Nov 18, 2012
EnginePower Train

I AM HAVING VERY BAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES. WHEN I TAKE OFF IT JERKS REAL BAD IN THE LOWER GEARS AND THEN WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN ABOUT TO COME TO A STOP IT ALSO KICKS AND JERKS REAL BAD WHEN IT GEARS DOWN IN THE LOWER GEARS. AND SOMETIMES IT JUST WONT GO AT ALL..AND THEN WHEN I SIT THERE A MIN AND PUT MY CAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE IT…

Read full complaint

I AM HAVING VERY BAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES. WHEN I TAKE OFF IT JERKS REAL BAD IN THE LOWER GEARS AND THEN WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN ABOUT TO COME TO A STOP IT ALSO KICKS AND JERKS REAL BAD WHEN IT GEARS DOWN IN THE LOWER GEARS. AND SOMETIMES IT JUST WONT GO AT ALL..AND THEN WHEN I SIT THERE A MIN AND PUT MY CAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE IT HESITATES FOR AFEW SECS AND THEN JUMPS REAL BAD AND THEN GOES INTO DRIVE.IT USUALLY DOES ALL THIS WHEN THE CAR IS WARMED UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10485046

89,999 miles · Nov 17, 2012
EnginePower Train

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE 2008. THE TRANSMISSION START JERKING AT 80 THOUSAND+ MILES ON IT.. IT JERKS FROM 3RD GEAR TO 2ND WHILE MOVING. I TOOK IT TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY CANNOT HELP. THEN I CALLED NISSAN USA AND ASKED THEM FOR HELP NISSAN SAID ITS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO!! DEALERSHIP TOLD ME T…

Read full complaint

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE 2008. THE TRANSMISSION START JERKING AT 80 THOUSAND+ MILES ON IT.. IT JERKS FROM 3RD GEAR TO 2ND WHILE MOVING. I TOOK IT TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY CANNOT HELP. THEN I CALLED NISSAN USA AND ASKED THEM FOR HELP NISSAN SAID ITS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO!! DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST ME 4000+ TO GET TRANSMISSION REPLACED... I RESEARCHED THERE'S THOUSAND OF MORE PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. AND NISSAN IS PUTTING PEOPLES LIFE IN DANGER AND WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484989

90,000 miles · Sep 27, 2012
EnginePower Train

I BOUGHT A 2005 MAXIMA 3.5 SL IN 2006 BRAND NEW IN SOUTH CAROLINA. I FIRST STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WHEN I HAD MY 60,000 MILE SERVICE. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER THE SERVICE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO CODES, AND CLEARED THE LIGHT. I THEN TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE 90,000 SERVI…

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT A 2005 MAXIMA 3.5 SL IN 2006 BRAND NEW IN SOUTH CAROLINA. I FIRST STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WHEN I HAD MY 60,000 MILE SERVICE. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER THE SERVICE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO CODES, AND CLEARED THE LIGHT. I THEN TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE 90,000 SERVICE AND ONCE AGAIN AROUND A WEEK OR TWO LATER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND NOW THEIR WAS CODES SAYING MY EGR VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN I DID MY 60,000 MILE SERVICE. NEEDLESS TO SAY THEIR WAS A RECALL THAT THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED IT FOR FREE BUT I WAS JUST OVER THE MILEAGE WHERE IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE AT NO COST TO ME. ABOUT 3 MONTHS LATER MY CAR JERKED REALLY HARD, AND MY CAR LOST COMPLETE POWER THEN JERKED ONCE MORE AND STARTED TO MOVE. THE GAUGES IN THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY OUT AND EVERY LIGHT POSSIBLE ON THE DASH CAME ON. FIRST I WAS TOLD I HAVE TO REPLACE FOUR SENSORS, AND SO I DID SO ALONG WITH THE EGR VALVE. THE CAR RAN FINE FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. WHEN I WENT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE OR VICE VERSA IT WOULD JERK REAL HARD BEFORE ENGAGING. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID MY TRANSMISSION SENSOR WAS BAD. I JUST HAD IT REPLACED TWO WEEKS AGO, AND NOW MY CAR IS BACK IS THE SHOP DOING THE SAME THING. THE TCS SLIP, AND EVERY LIGHT ON THE DASH IS ON, AND NONE OF MY GAUGES ARE WORKING. NOW THEY SAY IT MIGHT BE THE COMPUTER THAT IS BAD. THIS LAST TIME I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM MISSOURI AND IT DISENGAGED AND WOULD NOT PUT UP SPEED WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED, AND HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE MY 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR AND GOT SCARED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10477325

58,000 miles · Sep 18, 2012
EnginePower Train

AT APPROXIMATELY 58,000 MY VEHICLE STARTED SLIPPING AND JERKING. IT GETS STUCK AND DOESN'T MOVE OR WILL MOVE AT VERY HIGH SPEED. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WHEN DIAGNOSED BY TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS I WAS TOLD IT IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM. CONTACTED MANUFACTURE AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475895

90,500 miles · Sep 8, 2012
Engine

WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS UP TO NORMAL OPERATION IT BEGINS JERKING EXTREMELY HARD AND SHIFTING HARD, SOMETIMES BANGS ON SHIFT AND REVS AND JUMPS INTO GEAR. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH IS GOING TO COST AROUND $3700!!!! NOT TO MENTION EVERY MECHANIC THAT I TOOK IT TOO MENTION THAT THIS YEAR AND MAKE …

Read full complaint

WHEN THE VEHICLE GETS UP TO NORMAL OPERATION IT BEGINS JERKING EXTREMELY HARD AND SHIFTING HARD, SOMETIMES BANGS ON SHIFT AND REVS AND JUMPS INTO GEAR. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH IS GOING TO COST AROUND $3700!!!! NOT TO MENTION EVERY MECHANIC THAT I TOOK IT TOO MENTION THAT THIS YEAR AND MAKE ARE NOTORIOUS FOR NEEDING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474321

107,000 miles · Aug 7, 2012
EnginePower Train

WHEN BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. ISSUE WORSENED WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING RAPIDLY. FLUIDS CHANGED REGULARLY. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST. HAS NOW BECOME RECURRING. UPON REVIEW, IT APPEARS TO BE WIDE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE 2005 AND 2006 YEAR MODEL WITH THE AISIN RE5F22A 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANS…

Read full complaint

WHEN BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. ISSUE WORSENED WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING RAPIDLY. FLUIDS CHANGED REGULARLY. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST. HAS NOW BECOME RECURRING. UPON REVIEW, IT APPEARS TO BE WIDE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE 2005 AND 2006 YEAR MODEL WITH THE AISIN RE5F22A 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469474

74,300 miles · Jun 28, 2012
EnginePower Train

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO OR OUT OF REVERSE. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF DRIVE THE ENGINE REVS AND THERE IS A SUDDEN JERK. THE CAR ALSO JERKS WHENEVER SWITCHING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. THE CAR HAS 70K+ MILES AND RESEA…

Read full complaint

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO OR OUT OF REVERSE. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF DRIVE THE ENGINE REVS AND THERE IS A SUDDEN JERK. THE CAR ALSO JERKS WHENEVER SWITCHING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. THE CAR HAS 70K+ MILES AND RESEARCH SHOWS THAT TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AT THIS MILEAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10463499

98,000 miles · Jun 21, 2012
Engine

MY 2005 NISSAN IS JERKING DANGEROUSLY WHILE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. NISSAN KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND CHOSE NOT TO INFORM ME JUST TO MAKE A SELL. I BELIEVE THAT THE TRANNY IS DEFECTED AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND NISSAN SEE…

Read full complaint

MY 2005 NISSAN IS JERKING DANGEROUSLY WHILE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. NISSAN KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND CHOSE NOT TO INFORM ME JUST TO MAKE A SELL. I BELIEVE THAT THE TRANNY IS DEFECTED AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND NISSAN SEEMS TO REFUSE TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND SPENT 12,000 ON THE CAR NOW THEY ARE ASKING ME TO PAY 4500 FOR THE TRANNY. IF THIS WAS TOLD TO ME THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR WAS BOUGHT I WOULD HAVE WENT AND BROUGHT A HONDA INSTEAD. RIP OFF AND DANGER ALERT TO ANYONE THAT OWN THIS MODEL VEHICLE. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10462501

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2012
EnginePower Train

I BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS (JUST RIGHT OVER 100K MILES), I HAVE NOTICED MAJOR JERKING AND PULLING WHILE DRIVING OR SHIFTING GEARS. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC, BUT WHEN I START TO GO, IT TAKES IT A FEW SECONDS TO GET IN GEAR AND JERKS. I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH 2…

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS (JUST RIGHT OVER 100K MILES), I HAVE NOTICED MAJOR JERKING AND PULLING WHILE DRIVING OR SHIFTING GEARS. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC, BUT WHEN I START TO GO, IT TAKES IT A FEW SECONDS TO GET IN GEAR AND JERKS. I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH 2004-2005 MODELS. ARE THERE ANY RECALLS AS OF YET? I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT MAXIMAS AND DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION, ESPECIALLY THIS EARLY ON! PLEASE HELP! THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460050

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.