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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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118,281 miles · Apr 8, 2011
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR AND WAS CURRENTLY MALFUNCT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR AND WAS CURRENTLY MALFUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT ADDRESSED IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,281.

NHTSA ODI #10395271

40,000 miles · Apr 7, 2011
Power Train

WHEN PUTTING THE CAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE IT HESITATES AND THEN JERKS INTO GEAR. HARD SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD. WHEN DOWNSHIFTING THIS ALSO HAPPENS IN THE SAME GEARS. THIS STARTED AROUND $40,000 MILES AND HAPPENS EVERYTIME THE CAR IS DROVE. WHEN THE CAR IS HOT IT JERKS ALOT HARDER WHEN SHIFTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10395147

60,000 miles · Apr 6, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE, VIOLENTLY JERK, AND STALL SPORADICALLY. THE FAILURE BEGAN TWO YEARS AGO AND THE DEALER MADE SEVEN ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED THE CONTACT $800 TOWARD REPAIRS Y…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE, VIOLENTLY JERK, AND STALL SPORADICALLY. THE FAILURE BEGAN TWO YEARS AGO AND THE DEALER MADE SEVEN ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED THE CONTACT $800 TOWARD REPAIRS YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,696 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10394479

93,000 miles · Apr 4, 2011
Power TrainCrash

I HAVE 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA IT HAD A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION I WENT TO THE DEALER SHIP THEY SAID THIS MODEL COMING WITH A MINOR DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION THEY TOLD ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOU TO GET THE RECALL START. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10394240

130,000 miles · Apr 3, 2011
Power Train

2005 NISSAN MAXIMA WAS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND ALSO DOWNSHIFTING VERY HARD AS WELL. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ALSO SLIP OCCASIONALLY WHEN DRIVING SLOW THROUGH FOR AN EXAMPLE A ROW OF STOP SIGNS. 2 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION $3800.00 FROM A DEALER AND THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM OFFERE…

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2005 NISSAN MAXIMA WAS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND ALSO DOWNSHIFTING VERY HARD AS WELL. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ALSO SLIP OCCASIONALLY WHEN DRIVING SLOW THROUGH FOR AN EXAMPLE A ROW OF STOP SIGNS. 2 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION $3800.00 FROM A DEALER AND THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM OFFERED NO HELP BECAUSE I PAID CASH FOR THE CAR. NOW I HAVE MY NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT SHIFTS BETTER BUT I HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME SLIPPAGE PROBLEM AS BEFORE AND ONLY HAD THE NEW TRANSMISSION 3 MONTHS. THERE IS A MAJOR DEFECT IN THESE CARS AND NISSAN SHOULD FIX THAT. I HAVE OWNED 3 NISSANS BUT AFTER I GET RID OF THIS CAR I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER ONE IF NISSAN DOESN'T TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THEIR MISTAKES. NO MATTER HOW COSTLY, THEY WILL END UP LOOSING ALOT OF LONG TIME CUSTOMERS IF THEY DON'T. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10394100

105,000 miles · Apr 1, 2011
Power Train

2005 NISSAN MAXIMA-HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION-JERKING AND JUMPING BETWEEN 1ST & 2ND GEAR WHEN STARTING,SLOWING DOWN, AND SHIFTING GEARS. ALSO JERKING WHEN ON CRUISE CONTROL. HESITATION WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, AND FORWARD TO REVERSE. THIS IS MY 3RD MAXIMA SO I'M LOYAL BUT VERY UPSET!!! I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A FORME…

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2005 NISSAN MAXIMA-HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION-JERKING AND JUMPING BETWEEN 1ST & 2ND GEAR WHEN STARTING,SLOWING DOWN, AND SHIFTING GEARS. ALSO JERKING WHEN ON CRUISE CONTROL. HESITATION WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, AND FORWARD TO REVERSE. THIS IS MY 3RD MAXIMA SO I'M LOYAL BUT VERY UPSET!!! I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A FORMER NISSAN MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 AND 2005'S MAXIMA TRANSMISSION AND NISSAN IS DOING NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10393927

36,000 miles · Mar 31, 2011
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO SECOND OR THIRD GEAR, THE GEAR ENGAGED WITH VIOLENT FORCE, AND SOMETIMES THE GEAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR OVER AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL TRANSMISSION MECHANIC TO BE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO SECOND OR THIRD GEAR, THE GEAR ENGAGED WITH VIOLENT FORCE, AND SOMETIMES THE GEAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR OVER AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL TRANSMISSION MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10393858

92,000 miles · Mar 29, 2011
Power Train

MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS. I BOUGHT IT NEW. I DO A LOT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK AND HAVE ABOUT 93,000 MILES NOW ON THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE LONG DISTANCES EVERY DAY. THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION HAS BECOME MORE NOTICEABLE WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS …

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MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS. I BOUGHT IT NEW. I DO A LOT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK AND HAVE ABOUT 93,000 MILES NOW ON THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE LONG DISTANCES EVERY DAY. THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION HAS BECOME MORE NOTICEABLE WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND SOMETIMES 3RD AND BACK DOWN AND FEELS LIKE A BUCKING BRONCO. TODAY THE TRANS SLIPPED COMPLETELY WHILE ACCELERATING AT LEAST THREE TIMES ON MY DRIVE IN TO WORK AND THE RPM'S WENT FLYING. IT'S NEVER SLIPPED COMPLETELY UNTIL TODAY. THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AND IT SHOULD BE LASTING A LOT LONGER THAN 5 YEARS. OVER THE PAST 2-3 MONTHS THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE. NOW IT DOES THE BUCKING BRONCO THING EVERY DAY, SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. I HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THE CAR IN ONCE (TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP) AND THEY TRIED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH THAT COST NEARLY $400. IT SEEMED TO HELP FOR A COUPLE WEEKS BUT THE PROBLEM IS BACK AND IS MUCH WORSE NOW. I AM PLANNING TO TAKE IT IN AGAIN BUT I'M BEING TOLD THAT IT MAY COST ME $1,500 TO $2,000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF REPORTS ONLINE FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THIS CAN'T BE A COINCIDENCE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BY NISSAN CORPORATE RIGHT AWAY!

NHTSA ODI #10393664

70,000 miles · Mar 29, 2011
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION KNOCKED ROUGHLY. WHEN DRIVING, THE GEARS WOULD SLIP AND THE RPMS WOULD REV. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,557. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION KNOCKED ROUGHLY. WHEN DRIVING, THE GEARS WOULD SLIP AND THE RPMS WOULD REV. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,557. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10393602

92,000 miles · Mar 29, 2011
Power Train

HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. IT HAS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT IS JERKING REAL HARD BETWEEN 1-2 GEAR AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN IT ALSO JERKS. IT JERKS SO HARD IT FEEL LIKE IM BEING REARENDED. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE! THEY KNOW THEY PUT A MESSED UP TARANSMISSION IN THESE CARS! IT …

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HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. IT HAS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT IS JERKING REAL HARD BETWEEN 1-2 GEAR AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN IT ALSO JERKS. IT JERKS SO HARD IT FEEL LIKE IM BEING REARENDED. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE! THEY KNOW THEY PUT A MESSED UP TARANSMISSION IN THESE CARS! IT IS NOT FAIR! I AM NOT GOIN TO GET KILLED BECAUSE MY CAR WILL NOT GO WHEN I PULL OUT ON FREEWAY. I COULD OF GOT KILLED! IT JERKS WHEN GOING FROM DRIVE TO PARK. I PULLED OUT ON FREEWAY THIS MORNING AND MY CAR WOULD NOT GO, ALMOST GOT HIT BY A VEHICLE. THIS IS A DEFECTED TRANSMISIION AND THERE ARE 1,000'S OF COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE WEB ABOUT THESE CARS. NISSAN WILL NOT HELP ME AT ALL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. SOMEONE CAN GET KILLED BECAUSE OF POOR WORKMANSHIP DONE ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IS NOT RIGHT! THIS NEEDS A RECALL AND NISSAN NEEDS TO FIX THIS! NISSAN NEEDS TO FIX THIS! THEY NEED TO FIX THIS!!! MY FAMILY WILL SUE THEM IF WE GET HIT BY A CAR AND ME AND MY KIDS DIE BECAUSE OF MY TRANSMISSION NOT GOING INTO GEAR AND GETTING STUCK!

NHTSA ODI #10393543

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.