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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

Power Train complaints

777 reports
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100,000 miles · Nov 3, 2014
Power Train

AROUND 100,000 MILES MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA SE STARTED HAVING MINOR ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT STARTED SLAMMING INTO GEAR IN BETWEEN SHIFTS AND WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. IT DIDN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME SO I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT, BUT AS TIME WENT ON IT STARTED GETTING WORSE AND IT WOULD HAPPEN MORE FREQUEN…

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AROUND 100,000 MILES MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA SE STARTED HAVING MINOR ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT STARTED SLAMMING INTO GEAR IN BETWEEN SHIFTS AND WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. IT DIDN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME SO I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT, BUT AS TIME WENT ON IT STARTED GETTING WORSE AND IT WOULD HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY. NOW IT HAS ABOUT 106000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS GETTING MUCH WORSE. THE OTHER DAY IT GOT STUCK IN 5TH GEAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AND EVEN WITH THE CAR IN PARK IT WOULD STILL READ 5TH GEAR ON THE DASH. I ENDED UP RESETTING THE BATTERY AND IT CLEARED THE ISSUE LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET IT HOME. THE CAR IS STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUES MORE AND MORE EACH DAY AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER IT WILL LAST. I REALLY LIKE THE CAR BUT I READ ON MANY FORUMS THAT 100'S OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AND I WAS REALLY HOPING TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL. I WOULD HATE TO PUT ANOTHER TRANSMISSION IN IT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUES AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10652044

Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TRANSMISSION SLIPS, JERKS HAS ISSUE AFTER ISSUE.. ALSO HAVING CATALYST ISSUES (EXHAUST, HEAT SHIELD ETC). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651904

90,000 miles · Oct 27, 2014
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS ROUGHLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED OR SHOOK WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEARS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS ROUGHLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED OR SHOOK WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEARS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10650226

63,000 miles · Oct 15, 2014
Power Train

CAR HAS 66,000 MILES ON IT. AND TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING CAR JERKS WHEN PULLING OFF AND AFTER TURNING CORNERS. DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT UNTIL A MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE 2004 2005 MODELS HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. NOW I'M LOOKING ON RECALL WEBSITE AND I SEE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE'S COMPLAINTS. I PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH 3,200 MIL…

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CAR HAS 66,000 MILES ON IT. AND TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING CAR JERKS WHEN PULLING OFF AND AFTER TURNING CORNERS. DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT UNTIL A MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE 2004 2005 MODELS HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. NOW I'M LOOKING ON RECALL WEBSITE AND I SEE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE'S COMPLAINTS. I PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH 3,200 MILES ON IT I GUESS THE 1ST OWNER GOT WIND OF PROBLEM AND IMMEDIATELY GOT RID OF IT IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW. I ALSO HAVE A 1997 NISSAN SENTRA NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THEY NISSAN IS PUTTING OUR LIVES IN JEOPARDY. WE KEEP PUTTING MONEY OUT TO FIX THIS CAR WHEN THEY SHOULD BE FIXING IT FOR FREE WHEN DOES IT STOP WHO DO WE NEED TO CONTACT ALL THESE COMPLAINTS AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644732

89,000 miles · Oct 6, 2014
Power Train

IT WAS A WARM JANUARY DAY AND ON THE WAY TO LUNCH THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE INTERSECTION WAS 2 MILE DRIVE FROM MY HOUSE. LUCKILY EVERYONE WAS PAYING ATTENTION THAT DAY OR MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN HURT. WE PULLED THE CAR HOME. WE DON'T DRIVE IT BECAUSE IM NOT TAK…

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IT WAS A WARM JANUARY DAY AND ON THE WAY TO LUNCH THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE INTERSECTION WAS 2 MILE DRIVE FROM MY HOUSE. LUCKILY EVERYONE WAS PAYING ATTENTION THAT DAY OR MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN HURT. WE PULLED THE CAR HOME. WE DON'T DRIVE IT BECAUSE IM NOT TAKING THE RISK OF IT HAPPENING AGAIN IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION. NISSAN NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641574

65,000 miles · Sep 25, 2014
Power Train

I BOUGHT MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA IN AUGUST 8, 2013 USED WITH APPROX. 63K MILES WITH NO WARRANTY. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC IN 90 DEGREE WEATHER, I NOTICED MY CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD GET STUCK TO THE FLOOR. DURING THIS TIME I WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS AT ALL, I HAD TO PULL OVER & SIT FOR ABOUT 20 MIN…

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I BOUGHT MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA IN AUGUST 8, 2013 USED WITH APPROX. 63K MILES WITH NO WARRANTY. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC IN 90 DEGREE WEATHER, I NOTICED MY CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD GET STUCK TO THE FLOOR. DURING THIS TIME I WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS AT ALL, I HAD TO PULL OVER & SIT FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO GET THE CAR MOVING AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER & THEY "BLED THE LINE". THEY SAID THE FLUID IN THE CLUTCH WOULD GET HOT & TURN INTO "VAPOR" WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO GET STUCK & ADVISED I USE DOT4 FLUID IN THE FUTURE. 5 MONTHS LATER (IN THE WINTER) THE CLUTCH PEDAL AGAIN STARTED GETTING STUCK TO THE FLOOR, I WAS ABLE TO "POP" IT BACK WITH MY FOOT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL I GOT TO MY DESTINATION. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER, PAID $150 TO "DIAGNOSE" ONLY FOR SOMEONE TO TELL ME THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM & THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE APART MY TRANSMISSION (ANOTHER $650) TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM FURTHER. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WENT SOMEWHERE ELSE. I HAD A MECHANIC FRIEND LOOK AT IT WHO TOLD ME TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH MASTER & SLAVE CYLINDER, THEREFORE, I DID. SOLVED THE ISSUE, UNTIL NOW (5 MONTHS LATER). MY CLUTCH HAS BEEN GETTING STUCK TO THE FLOOR & LOOSING PRESSURE OCCASIONALLY THE PAST MONTH, FINALLY YESTERDAY, IT HAS BECOME UN-DRIVABLE. I CANNOT PULL IT BACK UP ENOUGH TO SHIFT IT INTO GEAR. I WAS TOLD MY A MECHANIC TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER AGAIN & HOPEFULLY THAT SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I DRIVE EVERYDAY IN THIS CAR WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN & HAVE HAD NEAR MISSES AT TIMES BECAUSE I CANNOT GET THE CAR INTO GEAR. I READ ONLINE FORUMS REGARDING THE NISSAN ALTIMA'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I AM SURE AFTER I REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER AGAIN I WILL HAVE THIS ISSUE WITHIN MONTHS. I HAVE THREE MORE YEARS OF PAYING ON THIS PIECE OF JUNK UNTIL I CAN GET RID OF IT! I NEED A RELIABLE CAR, NISSAN NEEDS TO FIX IT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638877

104,455 miles · Sep 24, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

CAR JERKS WHEN ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION REACHES APPX 20 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638683

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2014
Power Train

THE VALVE BODY OR VALVE ASSEMBLY ON THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING CAUSING HARD SHIFT AND HIGH REVS WHILE SHIFTING. WHICH IS VERY HARD AND COULD CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. IT IS WELL KNOWN BY NISSAN AND THEY ARE NO HELP AT FIXING THIS PROBLEM. NEW VALVE BODY IS AROUND $1100 WITHOUT LABOR. IF WAITED TO LONG TO REPLACE, NEW TRAN…

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THE VALVE BODY OR VALVE ASSEMBLY ON THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING CAUSING HARD SHIFT AND HIGH REVS WHILE SHIFTING. WHICH IS VERY HARD AND COULD CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. IT IS WELL KNOWN BY NISSAN AND THEY ARE NO HELP AT FIXING THIS PROBLEM. NEW VALVE BODY IS AROUND $1100 WITHOUT LABOR. IF WAITED TO LONG TO REPLACE, NEW TRANSMISSION COULD COST $3400. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10633808

78,000 miles · Sep 4, 2014
EnginePower Train

MY CAR HAS BEEN JERKING WHEN GOING INTO SECOND AND THIRD GEARS, ENGINE REVS WHILE DRIVING THEN JERKS AGAIN AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE. I AM SCARED TO BE CLOSE TO ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO NEXT. IT ONLY HAS 83,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN KEPT UP FOR SERVICES AND NO REAL PROBLEMS UNTIL NOW. I WOULD LIKE …

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MY CAR HAS BEEN JERKING WHEN GOING INTO SECOND AND THIRD GEARS, ENGINE REVS WHILE DRIVING THEN JERKS AGAIN AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE. I AM SCARED TO BE CLOSE TO ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO NEXT. IT ONLY HAS 83,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN KEPT UP FOR SERVICES AND NO REAL PROBLEMS UNTIL NOW. I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TO BE INVESTIGATED TO THE FULLEST. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND ONE OF THE REASON I BOUGHT IT WAS FOR ITS SAFETY RECORD, WHICH I AM NOT FEELING VERY SAFE IN IT NOW. I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE MILEAGE I HAVE ON IT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10630767

75,000 miles · Aug 31, 2014
EnginePower Train

TRANSMISSION CLUNKS WHEN SHIFTING, ENGINE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES WORN OUT MAKING LOUD NOISES AT IDLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629660

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.