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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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110,000 miles · Nov 17, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE GEAR SLIPPED AS THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED BEFORE SUDDENLY ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO JERK FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE GEAR SLIPPED AS THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED BEFORE SUDDENLY ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO JERK FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 02/01/12*LJ UPDATED 02/08/12

NHTSA ODI #10436255

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2011
Power Train

SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN PUT IN D OR R THEN HARD JERK AND CLUNKING SOUND WHEN GOES INTO GEAR. HAS A HARD JERKING WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND DOWN SHIFTING. WILL SLIP IN AND OUT OF GEAR WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. RPM'S WILL REV UP TO 6000-7000 BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THIS MAINLY HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS WARMED UP. BUT GOES IN AND OUT OF GE…

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SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN PUT IN D OR R THEN HARD JERK AND CLUNKING SOUND WHEN GOES INTO GEAR. HAS A HARD JERKING WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND DOWN SHIFTING. WILL SLIP IN AND OUT OF GEAR WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. RPM'S WILL REV UP TO 6000-7000 BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THIS MAINLY HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS WARMED UP. BUT GOES IN AND OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN 20-40 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436253

91,000 miles · Nov 17, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK ABNORMALLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE WOULD BECOME MORE SEVERE WHEN THE ENGINE HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK ABNORMALLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE WOULD BECOME MORE SEVERE WHEN THE ENGINE HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10436250

49,000 miles · Nov 17, 2011
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 49000 MILES ON A NEW PREOWNED VEHICLE PURCHASED ONE MONTH EARLIER. DROVE THE CAR FOR ALMOST ONE YEAR TO THE DATE, AND NOW EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AGAIN. DEALER SUGGEST NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS WILL MAKE THREE TRANSMISSIONS FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 75000 MILES.....NOT TO MENTION TWO CRACKED ENGINE MOUNT…

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TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 49000 MILES ON A NEW PREOWNED VEHICLE PURCHASED ONE MONTH EARLIER. DROVE THE CAR FOR ALMOST ONE YEAR TO THE DATE, AND NOW EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AGAIN. DEALER SUGGEST NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS WILL MAKE THREE TRANSMISSIONS FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 75000 MILES.....NOT TO MENTION TWO CRACKED ENGINE MOUNTS, FRONT SUSPENSION WORK AND NEEDS A NEW TIMING BELT ALL WITHIN 1 YEAR OF OWNING. THIS IS SUPPOSE TO BE A PRE-CERTIFIED CAR!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436225

76,000 miles · Nov 15, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWNSHIFT AT LOW SPEEDS AND HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWNSHIFT AT LOW SPEEDS AND HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ODI #10435684

6,500 miles · Nov 14, 2011
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WILL JERK OUT OF GEAR FROM SHIFTING FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435583

61,000 miles · Nov 10, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK AND SHIFT OUT OF GEAR WITH SEVERE HESITATION. THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION PROGRESSED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THE TRANSMISSION BE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK AND SHIFT OUT OF GEAR WITH SEVERE HESITATION. THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION PROGRESSED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THE TRANSMISSION BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ODI #10435197

120,000 miles · Nov 9, 2011
Power Train

MY MAXIMA SHIFTS HARD WHEN SWITCHING INTO 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. IT PUSHES THE CAR FORWARD WHEN MOVING AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM 5TH TO 4TH GEAR, THERE IS A TEMPORARY "NO SHIFT" WHERE IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR IS NOT IN A GEAR AND THE RPM DROPS LOW. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR DIRECTLY INTO "DRIVE", IT TAKES THE VEHICLE 3-5 SECO…

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MY MAXIMA SHIFTS HARD WHEN SWITCHING INTO 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. IT PUSHES THE CAR FORWARD WHEN MOVING AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM 5TH TO 4TH GEAR, THERE IS A TEMPORARY "NO SHIFT" WHERE IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR IS NOT IN A GEAR AND THE RPM DROPS LOW. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR DIRECTLY INTO "DRIVE", IT TAKES THE VEHICLE 3-5 SECONDS TO SWITCH INTO GEAR. WHEN IT SWITCHES INTO "DRIVE", YOU CAN FEEL IT PUSH THE CAR WHEN YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. IF YOU PUSH THE GAS WHEN IT COMPLETELY DOES NOT SHIFT, THE TRANSMISSION WILL CLUNK AND JERK THE CAR FORWARD. RECENTLY AT 126,000 MILES, THE CAR IS SWITCHING GEARS MORE FREELY THAN NORMAL, CONSTANTLY SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH GEAR. WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS AT A FASTER SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP, LOSING POWER TO THE CAR AND JERKING BACK INTO GEAR. SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR WILL COME OUT OF GEAR AND GO RIGHT BACK IN. THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 2004-2005 MAXIMAS ARE OBVIOUSLY FAULTY. ALSO, WHEN PUSHING THE GAS, THERE IS A DELAY ON MOVING FORWARD AND RESULTS IN A HARDER PUSH FORWARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435092

89,000 miles · Nov 8, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT HARD WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS OR WHEN DECREASING SPEED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT HARD WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS OR WHEN DECREASING SPEED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,400 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. THE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10434898

120,000 miles · Nov 8, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP BUT THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT GEARS INACCURATELY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE DEFECT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP BUT THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT GEARS INACCURATELY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE DEFECT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 140,000. UPDATED 12/16/11 *BF UPDATED 12/23/11

NHTSA ODI #10434843

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.