IllustrationTRANSMISSION JUMPS AND SKIPS AROUND 30 -45 MPH WHEN HOT DOES NOT WON'T TO DRIVE AT ALL. AT THE START U PUT IN DRIVE IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING THE SHARPLY JUMPS INTO GEAR. *TR
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 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE CHANGING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE CHANGING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE SWITCHED GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE SWITCHED GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,798 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,993.
I AM TOLD THAT I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. AFTER CAREFUL RESEARCH, AND TWO MECHANIC OPINIONS IT HAS BEEN TOLD TO ME THAT NISSAN KNEW THAT THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL OF MAXIMA AND HAS NOT OWNED UP TO THIS PROBLEM. NEITHER HAVE THEY RECALLED OR TRYING RIGHT THEIR WRONG. THESE ITEMS ARE THE L…
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I AM TOLD THAT I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. AFTER CAREFUL RESEARCH, AND TWO MECHANIC OPINIONS IT HAS BEEN TOLD TO ME THAT NISSAN KNEW THAT THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL OF MAXIMA AND HAS NOT OWNED UP TO THIS PROBLEM. NEITHER HAVE THEY RECALLED OR TRYING RIGHT THEIR WRONG. THESE ITEMS ARE THE LIFE OF THE CAR. I HAVE ALSO CHECKED THE REVIEWS ON EDMUNDS.COM AND THERE ARE SEVERAL OWNERS OF THIS SAME CAR THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES AND COMPLAINTS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MEASURES CAN BE TAKEN AGAINST NISSAN FOR THEM OWN UP TO THESE DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS. IT WILL HURT THEM IN THE LONG RUN IF THEY DO NOT. I WILL CERTAINLY MAKE SURE THAT THE WORLD KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE A NISSAN. I ONLY WISH I HAD DONE THIS BEFORE I PURCHASED THIS CAR. *TR
TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, TOOK IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC WAS TOLD NEED NEW TRANSMISSION AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. READ UP ON THE ISSUES AND THIS HAS BEEN A REPORTED PROBLEM FOR 1000'S OF MAXIMAS. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, DISCOVERED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED FOR SAME PROBLEM AS WELL. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE ABNORMALLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, KICKING, JERKING, AND HARDSHIFTING FROM GEAR TO GEAR. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND THEN JUMPS INTO GEAR. *JS
I HAVE A 2005 MAXIMA AND I AM HAVING VERY BAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES. WHEN I TAKE OFF IT JERKS REAL BAD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AND THEN WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN ABOUT TO COME TO A STOP IT ALSO KICKS AND JERKS REAL BAD WHEN IT GEARS DOWN TO 1ST AND 2ND AND SOMETIMES IT JUST WONT GO AT ALL..AND THEN WHEN I SIT THERE A MIN AND PUT MY …
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I HAVE A 2005 MAXIMA AND I AM HAVING VERY BAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES. WHEN I TAKE OFF IT JERKS REAL BAD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AND THEN WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN ABOUT TO COME TO A STOP IT ALSO KICKS AND JERKS REAL BAD WHEN IT GEARS DOWN TO 1ST AND 2ND AND SOMETIMES IT JUST WONT GO AT ALL..AND THEN WHEN I SIT THERE A MIN AND PUT MY CAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE IT HESITATES FOR ATLEAST 7 TO 10 SECS. AND THEN JUMPS REAL BAD AND THEN GOES INTO DRIVE.IT USUALLY DOES ALL THIS WHEN THE CAR IS HOT. I BOUGHT MY MAXIMA 18 MONTHS BACK, USED. I STARTED NOTICING THIS ABOUT 8 MONTHS BACK WHEN THERE WAS A VERY EVIDENT LAG IN SHIFTING AND THEN ONLY DURING PARK<>REVERSE<>DRIVE. THIS WAS AT AROUND 95,000 MILES AND WHEN I BOUGHT IT HAD 87,000. NOW IT HAS BECOME WORSE TO A POINT WHERE IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WE HAVE A 2 YR OLD DAUGHTER WHO ALWAYS HAS TO BE TRANSPORTED TO DAY CARE AND HOME IN THIS CAR. NOW I AM UNABLE TO SELL IT BECAUSE NO BODY WOULD PAY EVEN 25% OF WHAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR AND WE ARE LEFT WITH NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE THIS UNTIL IT FAILS EVEN THOUGH IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS CAR. PLEASE HAVE NISSAN HELP ME FIX THIS CAR OR BETTER RECALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP FIX MY CAR. THANKS. *TR
WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR OR FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, THERE IS SOMETIMES A HESITATION AND THEN A VIOLENT JERK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO CATCH UP TO THE ENGINE. I WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND FILLED AND THIS SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AFTER DOING SO, THIS PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A COU…
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WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR OR FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, THERE IS SOMETIMES A HESITATION AND THEN A VIOLENT JERK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO CATCH UP TO THE ENGINE. I WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND FILLED AND THIS SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AFTER DOING SO, THIS PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND IS NOW BACK AND HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. *TR
I NOTICE ALOT OF THE 2004 2005 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS. I WAS WONDERING WHY NISSAN WAS NOT CALLING FOR A RECALL OF THIS, THEY NEED TO. *TR
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.