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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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132,000 miles · Sep 10, 2012
Power Train

TRANSMISSION JERKS IN 2ND AND 3RD SHIFTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474442

108,373 miles · Aug 29, 2012
Power Train

I BOUGHT THIS CAR LESS THAN A WEEK AGO. IT'S ALREADY BEGINNING TO JERK AND CLUNK WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND SECOND GEAR. YESTERDAY IT BEGAN TO REV AND THEN JUMP BACK INTO GEAR WHENEVER I TRIED TO PULL AWAY FROM A STOPPED POSITION. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND HE PAID $1700 + TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT BECAUSE HE FE…

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I BOUGHT THIS CAR LESS THAN A WEEK AGO. IT'S ALREADY BEGINNING TO JERK AND CLUNK WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND SECOND GEAR. YESTERDAY IT BEGAN TO REV AND THEN JUMP BACK INTO GEAR WHENEVER I TRIED TO PULL AWAY FROM A STOPPED POSITION. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND HE PAID $1700 + TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT BECAUSE HE FELT BAD FOR SELLING ME A JUNK CAR!. BUT FROM WHAT I'M HEARING FROM OTHER DRIVERS WITH THE SAME CAR A REBUILD ONLY HELPS FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS OR SO THEN THE CAR ACTS UP AGAIN.... I'M IN THE U.S. MARINES AND I NEED A RELIABLE CAR TO GO HOME AND CHECK ON MY SICK FATHER EVERY SO OFTEN AND THIS ISN'T SEEMING SO RELIABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10472981

75,000 miles · Aug 28, 2012
Power Train

TRANSMISSIONS JERKS REALLY HARD THEN GRINDS WHILE DRIVING (TAKING OFF) UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY DOES IT EVERY TIME I TRY TO DRIVE IT AND IS NOW PARKED DUE TO IT POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE JERKING STARTED AT 75,000 MILES EVERY NOW AND THEN UNTIL IT BECAME CONSISTENT UP TO 127,000 MILES THEN PARKED! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10472716

81,000 miles · Aug 27, 2012
Power Train

ERRATIC SHIFTING, NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10472694

105,000 miles · Aug 27, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #10472625

62,000 miles · Aug 22, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED BUT FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED BUT FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ODI #10471889

80,222 miles · Aug 20, 2012
Power Train

MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. 1. THERE IS A MAJOR DELAY AFTER THE SHIFT LEVER IS PUT IN DRIVE 2. BETWEEN 1ST TO 2ND GEARS THE CAR CLUNKS AND JERKS INTO GEAR CAUSING THE TIRES SCREECH 3. AFTER ABOUT ONE HOUR OF DRIVING AND I COME TO A STOP, THE CAR WILL NOT TO MOVE OR RESPOND AS IT SHOULD. I CAN BE…

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MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. 1. THERE IS A MAJOR DELAY AFTER THE SHIFT LEVER IS PUT IN DRIVE 2. BETWEEN 1ST TO 2ND GEARS THE CAR CLUNKS AND JERKS INTO GEAR CAUSING THE TIRES SCREECH 3. AFTER ABOUT ONE HOUR OF DRIVING AND I COME TO A STOP, THE CAR WILL NOT TO MOVE OR RESPOND AS IT SHOULD. I CAN BE AT 3000 RPM AT A STOP SIGN AND THE CAR WILL JUST CREEP ALONG UNTIL IT BUILDS UP SPEED. IF I DON'T LET OFF OF THE GAS AFTER SPEED STARTS BUILDING UP TO 20 MPH, IT WELL CLUB AND JERK INTO GEAR ALMOST CAUSING THE CAR WILL TO TURN OUT OF CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471612

1,300,000 miles · Aug 13, 2012
Power Train

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I STARTED FORWARD, CAR MOVED AND THEN JUST REVVED. CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ME. CAR WAS MOVING AND THEN WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE SHIFTED, IT FROZE . WAS TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT AFTER THAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470454

75,000 miles · Aug 10, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 2 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE EXHIBITED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 2 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE EXHIBITED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE VALVE BODY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND SUGGESTED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED.THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE AND ADVISED TO HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10470103

72,000 miles · Aug 9, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI #10470034

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.