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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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99,500 miles · Mar 16, 2014
Power Train

I HAVE HAD MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA FOR 7 MONTHS AND SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR I HAVE NOTICED JERKING. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT HESITATES FOR 3-5 SECONDS THEN IT JERKS. WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR IT JERKS. WHEN IT DOWN SHIFTS FROM 2ND TO 1ST IT JERKS. WHEN DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T RES…

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I HAVE HAD MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA FOR 7 MONTHS AND SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR I HAVE NOTICED JERKING. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT HESITATES FOR 3-5 SECONDS THEN IT JERKS. WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR IT JERKS. WHEN IT DOWN SHIFTS FROM 2ND TO 1ST IT JERKS. WHEN DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T RESPOND WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, IT HESITATES FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS AND THEN JERKS REALLY HARD THEN TAKES OFF. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO DIFFERENT SHOPS TO GET IT WORKED ON BUT WHEN THEY TELL ME IT WILL COST $3000 FOR A TRANSMISSION REPAIR I HAVE GONE BACK TO PICK UP MY CAR BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD THE PRICES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10572692

150,000 miles · Mar 12, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAS A HARD JERK WHEN PUTTING INTO GEAR. SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A DELAY IN THE SHIFT CHANGE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IDLE HARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568927

130,000 miles · Mar 10, 2014
Power Train

SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS! 1. WHEN SLOWING DOWN AROUND A TURN, UPON ACCELERATING, THERE WAS A HARD KNOCK. ALMOST FELT AS IF I HAD GOTTEN REAR ENDED. 2. WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP, SHIFTING FROM 3 TO 2 WAS ALSO VERY HARD 3. SOMETIME WHEN SLOWING DOWN, I WOULD PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL TO AVOID #2 ABOVE. WHEN I WOULD…

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SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS! 1. WHEN SLOWING DOWN AROUND A TURN, UPON ACCELERATING, THERE WAS A HARD KNOCK. ALMOST FELT AS IF I HAD GOTTEN REAR ENDED. 2. WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP, SHIFTING FROM 3 TO 2 WAS ALSO VERY HARD 3. SOMETIME WHEN SLOWING DOWN, I WOULD PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL TO AVOID #2 ABOVE. WHEN I WOULD PUT TRANSMISSION BACK INTO DRIVE, THE CAR WOULD SHIFT HARD FROM FIRST TO SECOND AND THEN TO THIRD. 4. WHEN COASTING DOWNHILL, IT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FEEL AS IF I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568246

13,000 miles · Mar 10, 2014
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE FOR 3000.00 DOLLARS AND NOW MARCH 9 , 2014 IT HAS FAILED AGAIN. I SUSPECT A FACTORY DEFECT. I AM TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND RECURS OFTEN WITH THIS MODEL. DEALERSHIP OR NISSAN MUST REPLACE AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. INTERNET IS FULL OF PERSONAL TESTIMONY BY THOUSANDS FOR THE …

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TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE FOR 3000.00 DOLLARS AND NOW MARCH 9 , 2014 IT HAS FAILED AGAIN. I SUSPECT A FACTORY DEFECT. I AM TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND RECURS OFTEN WITH THIS MODEL. DEALERSHIP OR NISSAN MUST REPLACE AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. INTERNET IS FULL OF PERSONAL TESTIMONY BY THOUSANDS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. NISSAN MUST ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568080

75,000 miles · Feb 26, 2014
Power Train

MY CAR BEGAN JERKING VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING INTO 1ST AND 2ND, JUST AS BAD OR WORSE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING IT WOULD LITERALLY JUMP AROUND IN TRAFFIC. I HAD TO DRIVE IT THIS WAY UNTIL IT BROKE COMPLETELY OR I SAVED THE 2000 TO REPAIR THE VALVE BODY. LUCKILY I CAME UP WITH THIS MONEY BEFORE I WAS STRANDED. IT WAS VERY NERVE RACKING EV…

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MY CAR BEGAN JERKING VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING INTO 1ST AND 2ND, JUST AS BAD OR WORSE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING IT WOULD LITERALLY JUMP AROUND IN TRAFFIC. I HAD TO DRIVE IT THIS WAY UNTIL IT BROKE COMPLETELY OR I SAVED THE 2000 TO REPAIR THE VALVE BODY. LUCKILY I CAME UP WITH THIS MONEY BEFORE I WAS STRANDED. IT WAS VERY NERVE RACKING EVERY TIME I DROVE BECAUSE IT WOULD JERK AND JUMP MAKING ME THINK I WAS GOING TO HIT SOMEONE OR AT TIMES IT FELT LIKE I'D BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND WHEN IT SLAMMED IT 1ST ON DOWNSHIFTING. I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALER TO TRADE IT IN, IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH ALL THESE MODEL CARS. ALSO EVERY TRANSMISSION SHOP IN MY TOWN THAT I CONTACTED KNEW EXACTLY THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAD SEEN IT SO MANY TIMES AND HAD A FLEET OF THEM ALREADY AT THEIR SHOP TO REPAIR. THEN WAS TOLD BY NISSAN CORPORATE THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, SO NO RECALL. SO THIS HAS COST SO MANY PEOPLE THEIR TIME AND MONEY ONLY TO GENERATE MORE PROFIT FOR NISSAN. THESE BAD VALVE BODIES THAT THEY KNOWINGLY PUT IN THESE MODELS WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS HAD TO BE PURCHASED FROM NISSAN!!! THIS IS SO WRONG ON SO MANY LEVELS. I LOVE MY CAR OTHERWISE BUT IT INFURIATES ME THAT NISSAN WILL NOT OWN UP TO WHAT THEY DID WRONG!!! AND ARE MAKING MORE MONEY OFF THE PEOPLE WHO TRUSTED THEM AND THEIR PRODUCTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565918

80,000 miles · Feb 14, 2014
Power Train

NOT LONG AGO MY NISSAN HAS STARTED TO HAVE SHIFTING ISSUES , WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE IT TAKE A FEW SECONDS THEN IT JERKS INTO GEAR WHICH IS WEARING OUT THE MOTOR MOUNTS . I HAVE TRIED CHANGING CAMSHAFT SENSORS WHICH HAS HELPED SOME OTHER PEOPLE BUT DIDN'T NOT FIX MY PROBLEM. NOW THE CAR TAKES OFF WHILE IM DRIVIN…

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NOT LONG AGO MY NISSAN HAS STARTED TO HAVE SHIFTING ISSUES , WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE IT TAKE A FEW SECONDS THEN IT JERKS INTO GEAR WHICH IS WEARING OUT THE MOTOR MOUNTS . I HAVE TRIED CHANGING CAMSHAFT SENSORS WHICH HAS HELPED SOME OTHER PEOPLE BUT DIDN'T NOT FIX MY PROBLEM. NOW THE CAR TAKES OFF WHILE IM DRIVING ! WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A LIGHT THE RPMS WILL JUMP TO 6K AND THE CAR WILL GRAB A GEAR AND TAKE OFF WHICH HAS BEEN VARY UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE LATELY BE CAUSE I AM AFRAID IT WILL RAM ME INTO A CAR INFRONT OF ME . I REALLY LIKE MY CAR INSIDE AND OUT BUT THIS SHIFTING PROBLEM IS KILLING ME AND I DON'T HAVE $4K TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED , I HAVE NO OTHER CARS SO I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE IT TO WHERE I NEED TO GO. I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD THE CAR FOR MORE THAN A FEW MONTHS SO I AM TRAPPED MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT EVEN IF I CANT DRIVE IT .I HAVE READ ON MANY DIFFERENT FORUMS ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND HAVEN'T FOUND A WAY TO FIX IT , WITH AS MANY REVIEWS OF PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR MAXIMA THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10564311

87,000 miles · Feb 5, 2014
Power Train

MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE GEARS JERK VERY HARD AND SLIPS. I'VE HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED,NOTHING HAS HELPED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563130

98,465 miles · Jan 15, 2014
Exterior LightingPower Train

I LIVE IN WASHINGTON STATE. I BOUGHT MY 2005 MAXIMA SE IN FEB 24 2007 WITH 48,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN IT REACH 98,000 MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES), MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN DISPLAYING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. 1.FROM PARK AND/OR REVERSE TO DRIVE IT HAD A 5 SECOND DELAY TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, AND WHEN IT DID IT SHIFTED HARD. 2.T…

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I LIVE IN WASHINGTON STATE. I BOUGHT MY 2005 MAXIMA SE IN FEB 24 2007 WITH 48,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN IT REACH 98,000 MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES), MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN DISPLAYING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. 1.FROM PARK AND/OR REVERSE TO DRIVE IT HAD A 5 SECOND DELAY TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, AND WHEN IT DID IT SHIFTED HARD. 2.TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR DURING SLOW AND GO DRIVING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV AT HIGH RPM?S AND THEN SLAMMING INTO GEAR. 3.VERY HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR WHEN SHIFTING UP AND DOWN AT SPEEDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH. 4.ONCE IT SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, AND SHUT MY ENGINE DOWN. DURING SLOW AND GO DRIVING I COULD FEEL THE TRANSMISSION BEGIN TO SHIFT AT15 MPH, AND GET A HARD SHIFT AT ABOUT 20 AND 25 MPH. IT SHIFTED HARD BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW GEARS. I ALSO, EXPERIENCED LAG TIME, AND HIGH RPM?S BEFORE IT SLAMMED INTO GEARS WHEN SHIFTING. EVERY TRANSMISSION PLACE I WENT TO WANTED $3500 TO $4000 TO REPLACE IT. AS AN ALTERNATIVE, I BOUGHT A USED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH 62,000 MILES IN DEC 15 2008, AND HAD IT INSTALLED FOR $2000.00. AFTER 150,000 MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES) ON THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. I?VE HAD THE CAM SENSORS, SOLENOIDS, AND FLUIDS REPLACED AND IT STILL RESPONSE THE SAME WAY. I FIND IT ODD OF 2 DIFFERENT TRANSMISSIONS THAT ACTING THE SAME WAY. ALSO, EVER SINCE I GOT THIS CAR I HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS EVER YEAR. NOT GOOD FOR A CAR THAT COST $40,000 NEW FROM A COMPANY THAT USED TO HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560053

Mileage unknown · Jan 1, 2014
Power TrainSteeringVehicle Speed Control

WHEN TURNING IN BURGER KING DRIVE THRU TURNING THE VEHICLE THE DRIVE SHAFT SOMETHING IN IT BROKE AND THE WHEELS WOULDN'T TURN. WE WOULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SND IT WOU LD JUST SOUND LIKE POPPING SOUND. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IT COULD HAVE KILLED ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558102

115 miles · Dec 28, 2013
EnginePower Train

MY CAR STARTED JERKING ALL OF A SUDDEN. I , TOOK IT TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION GOING BAD. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WILL COST ME $3,000 OR MORE TO REPAIR. I HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR. I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS IS AN GOING ISSUE UNTIL I STARTED RESEARCHING FURTHER INTO THE HISTORY FOR THE MALE AND MO…

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MY CAR STARTED JERKING ALL OF A SUDDEN. I , TOOK IT TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION GOING BAD. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WILL COST ME $3,000 OR MORE TO REPAIR. I HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR. I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS IS AN GOING ISSUE UNTIL I STARTED RESEARCHING FURTHER INTO THE HISTORY FOR THE MALE AND MODEL OF THIS CAR. NISSAN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND OWN UP TO THEIR DEFECTIVE CARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557547

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.