IllustrationVEHICLE MAKES CLUNKING, JERKING NOISES AND BAD CLUNKING SOUNDS WHEN YOU PUT IT INTO GEAR OR SHIFT GEARS, DIGITAL GEAR DISPLAY SHOWS VEHICLE IS IN 5TH GEAR ALL THE TIME, ACCELERATES VERY SLOWLY.
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
370–25K
4225–50K
19850–75K
31075–100K
201100–150K
34150K+
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
Power Train complaints
777 reportsI HAVE AN 05 NISSAN MAXIMA AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING HARD AND ERRATICALLY
THE CAR HAS A SOUND AS IF IT WERE METAL FATIGUE IN THE FRONT OF THE HOOD A HARD BLOW SOUNDS LOUD EVERY TIME THE CAR MOVES FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM THEY SAY WHAT IS A FACTORY DEFECT I AM AFRAID THAT IT IS A METAL THAT IS UNDER FATIGUE AND THE ENGINE FALLS ON THE GROUND RUNNING ON THE …
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THE CAR HAS A SOUND AS IF IT WERE METAL FATIGUE IN THE FRONT OF THE HOOD A HARD BLOW SOUNDS LOUD EVERY TIME THE CAR MOVES FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM THEY SAY WHAT IS A FACTORY DEFECT I AM AFRAID THAT IT IS A METAL THAT IS UNDER FATIGUE AND THE ENGINE FALLS ON THE GROUND RUNNING ON THE STREET.
MY CAR ONLY HAS 112337 MILE AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION , NOW AT 112954 HAVE TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE . THE TRANSMISSION WAS HARD SHIFTING/ JERKING WHEN YOU GET TO ABOUT 30-35 MPH . SO IT COST ALMOST 4,000.00 TO FIX AND THE THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER QUIT WORKING AFTER 500 MILES WITH NEW TRANSMISSION AND T…
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MY CAR ONLY HAS 112337 MILE AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION , NOW AT 112954 HAVE TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE . THE TRANSMISSION WAS HARD SHIFTING/ JERKING WHEN YOU GET TO ABOUT 30-35 MPH . SO IT COST ALMOST 4,000.00 TO FIX AND THE THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER QUIT WORKING AFTER 500 MILES WITH NEW TRANSMISSION AND TOOK THE CAR TO ELECTRICAL SHOP TO FIND OUT I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND AFTER ALL THE MONEY PUT IN THIS CAR I DON'T THINK IT IS WORTH FIXING THE ABS CONSIDERING I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR IN OCT. 2018 AND THOUGHT I GOT A GREAT CAR AND ALREDY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY PUT IN IT AND COULD NEVER SELL IT FOR THE MONEY I HAVE IN IT NISSAN SHOULD BE FIXING THESE ISSUES NOT ME CONSIDERING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THESE CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AT THE SAME MILEAGE
THIS CAR HAS NOTHING BUT ISSUES. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAINS ALONG WITH CONTINUING TO DEAL WITH THE CARS TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE REVVING AND TROWING ITSELF IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND DYING THE THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD OR HIGHWAY. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES WITH NISSAN REFU…
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THIS CAR HAS NOTHING BUT ISSUES. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAINS ALONG WITH CONTINUING TO DEAL WITH THE CARS TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE REVVING AND TROWING ITSELF IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND DYING THE THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD OR HIGHWAY. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES WITH NISSAN REFUSING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OR ADMIT FAULT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. IM SURE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY HURT FROM THIS ISSUE AND SEEMS STRONG ENOUGH TO BE MADE INTO A CLASS ACTION SUIT.
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE... CV TRANSMISSION COULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. CV TRANSMISSION COULD HESITATE IN SHIFTING TO NEXT OR PREVIOUS GEAR. THIS CAN CAUSE HARD, VIOLENT SHIFTING TO OCCUR WHICH COULD SERIOUSLY DAMAGE THE VEHICLE AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
THE 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A TERRIBLE TRANSMISSION. PROBLEMS SHIFTING GEARS AND WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE IT WONT SHIFT OUT OF GEARS TO GO FASTER. SUCH AS IF I STOP AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND THEN TRY TO GO AGAIN IT ACCELERATES VERY (5MPH). ALSO WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, IT DOES THIS LOUD BANGING JERK THAT JERKS THE ENTIRE…
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THE 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A TERRIBLE TRANSMISSION. PROBLEMS SHIFTING GEARS AND WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE IT WONT SHIFT OUT OF GEARS TO GO FASTER. SUCH AS IF I STOP AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND THEN TRY TO GO AGAIN IT ACCELERATES VERY (5MPH). ALSO WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, IT DOES THIS LOUD BANGING JERK THAT JERKS THE ENTIRE CAR. WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE NISSIAN MAXIMA TRANSMISSION AND NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION. CAR IS ONLY 13 YEARS OLD.
SUDDEN SURGES AND JOLTING WHEN TRYING TO PARK CAR EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
CAR WOULD STAY IN 5TH GEAR WHEN TURNED. IT WOULD MOVE BUT AT SLOW RATE. NOW IT WILL MOVE ABOUT A 100 FEET THEN GEAR WONT ENGAGE. YOU CAN GIVE IT GAS BUT IT JUST WONT MOVE. ILL LET IT COOL DOWN AND IT MOVE AGAIN BUT WILL RESUME PROBLEM.
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.