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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.

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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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

8 reports
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36,010 miles · Oct 17, 2012
Latches/locks/linkages

STOPPED AT A LOCAL SHOP, GOT OUT OF CAR TO MAIL A LETTER, CAR STILL RUNNING, KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE DOORS LOCKED ON THE CAR WHILE IT WAS RUNNING AND NO ONE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. LUCKILY I DID NOT HAVE MY CHILD IN THE CAR SEAT, IT WAS HOT AND IT TOOK ME HAVING TO GET SOMEONE TO GO TO MY HOME AND RETRIEVE A SPARE KEY TO OPEN T…

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STOPPED AT A LOCAL SHOP, GOT OUT OF CAR TO MAIL A LETTER, CAR STILL RUNNING, KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE DOORS LOCKED ON THE CAR WHILE IT WAS RUNNING AND NO ONE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. LUCKILY I DID NOT HAVE MY CHILD IN THE CAR SEAT, IT WAS HOT AND IT TOOK ME HAVING TO GET SOMEONE TO GO TO MY HOME AND RETRIEVE A SPARE KEY TO OPEN THE DOOR. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND BECAUSE IT WAS 10 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR IT. I FILED A COMPLAINT EARLIER, BUT NEVER HEARD A RESPONSE. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY 2005 ALTIMA. THE DOORS ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO LOCK IF CAR IS RUNNING. THIS IS A HAZARD AND A DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10480791

100,000 miles · Jul 12, 2010
Latches/locks/linkages

DRIVERS DOOR LOCK DOES NOT LOCK/UN-LOCK WITH REMOTE ALL THE TIME. MUST USE KEY TO UNLOCK. ONLY NOTICE PROBLEM WITH DRIVERS DOOR LOCK AT THIS TIME. THIS FAILURE HAPPENS 75% OF THE TIME I UNLOCK MY VEHICLE. IT APPEARS TO ALWAYS LOCK, BUT I DO NOT DOUBLE CHECK THE LOCKING SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342573

59,400 miles · Jun 5, 2010
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

THE SECOND AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK HAS GONE OUT ON MY VEHICLE. NOW THE PASSENGER DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY. SINCE THE ONLY WAY TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOOR IS FROM THE INSIDE (NO DOOR LOCK FOR KEY ON OUTSIDE) THIS POTENTIALLY CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH MY FAMILY AND THE NEED TO GET SMALL CHILDREN …

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THE SECOND AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK HAS GONE OUT ON MY VEHICLE. NOW THE PASSENGER DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY. SINCE THE ONLY WAY TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOOR IS FROM THE INSIDE (NO DOOR LOCK FOR KEY ON OUTSIDE) THIS POTENTIALLY CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH MY FAMILY AND THE NEED TO GET SMALL CHILDREN IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE THAT ARE REQUIRED TO RIDE IN THE BACK WITH CHILD SEATS BY STATE LAW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334765

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2010
Latches/locks/linkages

DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR IN 05 MAXIMA NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10323693

45,000 miles · Jun 16, 2009
Latches/locks/linkages

DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCK - 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCK, WHETHER ACTUATED FROM THE BUTTON ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR OR BY THE KEY FOB, DOES NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR(S) RELIABLY. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM. MY WIFE DID NOT EVEN KNOW FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LOCKING WHEN SHE USED…

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DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCK - 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCK, WHETHER ACTUATED FROM THE BUTTON ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR OR BY THE KEY FOB, DOES NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR(S) RELIABLY. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM. MY WIFE DID NOT EVEN KNOW FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LOCKING WHEN SHE USED THE REMOTE KEY FOB. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED NOT ONLY IN A THEFT BUT ALSO A VEHICLE INTRUSION BY AN ASSAILANT. I WILL SUBMIT MY VEHICLE IDN LATER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274016

89,900 miles · Oct 28, 2008
Latches/locks/linkages

ALL FOUR DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED, NO DOORS CAN BE UNLOCKED OR LOCKED VIA THE DOOR SWITCH OR THE REMOTES. VERY UNSAFE, CAN NOT GET CHILDREN OUT OF BACK SEATS WITHOUT REACHING INTO THE BACK SEAT THROUGH THE INTERIOR AREA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246906

40,000 miles · Sep 10, 2008
Latches/locks/linkages

DRIVER DOOR IS NOT LOCKING. DEALER IS SAYING THAT THE ACTUATORS FAILED AND IT WILL COST $400. THIS HAPPEN WITH 40K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241778

32,030 miles · Jun 12, 2008
Latches/locks/linkages

NISSAN MAXIMA 2005 - 2 WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR NOT WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230857

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.