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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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Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2010
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA STARTED TO SHIFT EXTREMELY HARD. NOT ONLY THAT BUT IN TRAFFIC IT CAN BE VERY SCAREY ALMOST CAUSING YOU TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU OR BEING ALMOST HIT IN THE REAR BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION GETS STUCK AND THEN SHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD. THIS VEHICLE IS USED TO TRANSPORT MY KIDS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX NIS…

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MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA STARTED TO SHIFT EXTREMELY HARD. NOT ONLY THAT BUT IN TRAFFIC IT CAN BE VERY SCAREY ALMOST CAUSING YOU TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU OR BEING ALMOST HIT IN THE REAR BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION GETS STUCK AND THEN SHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD. THIS VEHICLE IS USED TO TRANSPORT MY KIDS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX NISSANS MISTAKES. TIMES ARE DIFFICULT FINANCIALLY RIGHT NOW. NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THERE MISTAKES. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SELL VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT RELIABLE. PLEASE HELP US WITH THIS SITUATION. IT NOT ONLY PUT MY CHILDREN IN DANGER BUT IT HAS TAKEN A FINANCIAL TOW ON MY FAMILY. NISSAN NEEDS TO FIX THIS!!!

NHTSA ODI #10366093

66,000 miles · Nov 7, 2010
Power Train

I PURCHASED A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA BRAND NEW IN JANUARY 2005. I HAD NEVER DRIVEN THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN LOCAL TO WORK. AT 66000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN HARD SHIFTING. I CONTACTED NISSAN CORPORATE OFFICE TO AUTHORIZE AN OUT OF WARRANTY REPAIR AND THEY REFUSED. IT COST ME 3200.00 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. NOW I AM HAVING…

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I PURCHASED A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA BRAND NEW IN JANUARY 2005. I HAD NEVER DRIVEN THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN LOCAL TO WORK. AT 66000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN HARD SHIFTING. I CONTACTED NISSAN CORPORATE OFFICE TO AUTHORIZE AN OUT OF WARRANTY REPAIR AND THEY REFUSED. IT COST ME 3200.00 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. NOW I AM HAVING STRANGE NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT END. I BELIEVE IT IS THE SUSPENSION. THIS CAR HAS NOT LIVED UP TO MY EXPECTATIONS AND I HOPE SOMEONE WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS MAKE AND MODEL CAR AND MAKE THE CONSUMERS BACK WHOLE. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN PRODUCT SIMPLY BECAUSE THE PRODUCTS ARE POORLY MANUFACTURED AND NISSAN DOES NOT STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10364364

48,329 miles · Nov 5, 2010
Power Train

2005 MAXIMA TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I OWN A 2005 MAXIMA I PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER. IN OCT OF 2009 I TOOK TO NISSAN DEALER DUE TO A STRANGE NOISE THAT WOULD OCCUR DURING ACCELERATION. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER FOUND THE BOTTOM MOTOR MOUNTS BROKEN AND REPLACE (UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY) NOW I AM EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PR…

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2005 MAXIMA TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I OWN A 2005 MAXIMA I PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER. IN OCT OF 2009 I TOOK TO NISSAN DEALER DUE TO A STRANGE NOISE THAT WOULD OCCUR DURING ACCELERATION. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER FOUND THE BOTTOM MOTOR MOUNTS BROKEN AND REPLACE (UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY) NOW I AM EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS - HARD SHIFTS FROM 1ST-2ND AND 2ND-1ST. THERE IS NO INDICATOR LIGHT ON THAT SAYS THERE IS A PROBLEM. TOOK TO A NISSAN DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING - YET THE PROBLEM EXISTS AND IS GETTING WORSE. I AM NOW OUT OF MY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAVE READ COUNTLESS BLOGS THAT RELATE TO THE SAME ISSUES I AM EXPERIENCING AND YET NISSAN FAILS TO RESPOND TO THE CONSUMER. THE MOTOR MOUNT ISSUE SEEMS TO BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE, BUT NISSAN SIMPLY CHARGES YOU A $125. INSPECTION FEE AND SENDS YOU DOWN THE ROAD TELLING YOU YOUR CAR IS FINE, WHEN IT ISN'T. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO DEMAND A RECALL??? I AM JUST GETTING BACK ON MY FEET AFTER LOSING MY JOB, LOSING MY HOUSE AND NOW HAVING TO DEAL WITH A CAR THAT WILL BREAK DOWN ANY DAY - LEAVING ME TO WONDER HOW THE HELL I WILL GET TO WORK. I SAY CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT - AGAINST NISSAN AND OUR GOVERNMENT WHO SHOULD BE REGULATED VEHICLES AND THE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE FILED AGAINST THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10364103

74,656 miles · Nov 4, 2010
Power Train

THE PROBLEM FIRST APPEARED WITH HARD, ALMOST VIOLENT JERKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. NOT TOO LONG AFTER THAT STARTED, I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION CEASED AND I HAD TO LIMP IT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND BE TOWED. THE TRANSMISSION, TORQUE CONVERTER AND MOTOR MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTOR MOUNTS WER…

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THE PROBLEM FIRST APPEARED WITH HARD, ALMOST VIOLENT JERKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. NOT TOO LONG AFTER THAT STARTED, I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION CEASED AND I HAD TO LIMP IT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND BE TOWED. THE TRANSMISSION, TORQUE CONVERTER AND MOTOR MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN FROM THE HARD SHIFTING. IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY SIX MONTHS. FROM THE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE SEEN, NISSAN EQUIPPED THIS MODEL YEAR (AND 2004) WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION YET THEY WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS BY ISSUING A RECALL. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR WAS $3,559. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10364051

121,000 miles · Nov 4, 2010
Power Train

SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE. MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA'S TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. IT MAKES A "POPPING" NOISE. I HAVE HAD THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED. IT STILL NEEDS STRUT MOUNTS & POSSIBLY NEW STRUTS. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY "NEAR MISSES" IN TRAFFIC OR ANYTHING THOUGH. I AM UNEMPLOYED & CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT IN ORDER TO SELL IT. I'M SURE THE …

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SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE. MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA'S TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. IT MAKES A "POPPING" NOISE. I HAVE HAD THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED. IT STILL NEEDS STRUT MOUNTS & POSSIBLY NEW STRUTS. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY "NEAR MISSES" IN TRAFFIC OR ANYTHING THOUGH. I AM UNEMPLOYED & CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT IN ORDER TO SELL IT. I'M SURE THE "CORPORATE" PEOPLE AT NISSAN DOESN'T HAVE ANY OF THESE DILEMMAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10364004

87,000 miles · Nov 2, 2010
Power Train

2005 NISSAN MAXIMA JERKS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE PROBLEM OCCURS CONSTANTLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. ALSO OCCURS WHEN DOWN SHIFTING. THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A HESITATION ON THE VEHICLE WHEN DOWN SHIFTING AT WHICH POINT, IT FINALLY GETS INTO GEAR WITH A JERK MOVEMENT. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND ONLY HAS ABOUT 88…

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2005 NISSAN MAXIMA JERKS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE PROBLEM OCCURS CONSTANTLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. ALSO OCCURS WHEN DOWN SHIFTING. THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A HESITATION ON THE VEHICLE WHEN DOWN SHIFTING AT WHICH POINT, IT FINALLY GETS INTO GEAR WITH A JERK MOVEMENT. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND ONLY HAS ABOUT 88,000 MILES. TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED HOPING IT WOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY AND I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST AROUND $3,000. FURTHERMORE, I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNTS. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE MAKING THE SAME COMPLAINT AND NISSAN WOULD NEVER FIX THIS ON THEIR OWN BEHALF. IT APPEARS THAT THE ISSUE IS VERY COMMON WITH NISSAN 2004/05/06 VEHICLES AND IT APPEARS TO BE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WITH SEVERAL COMPLAINTS BEING FILED NOW, I AM SURPRISED NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THIS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10363716

60,000 miles · Nov 1, 2010
Power Train

WE OWN A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. AT 63,000 MILES, THIS VEHICLE JERKS AND SHIFTS ON ITS OWN. WE HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE FOR OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THESE TYPE OF PROBLEMS, AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS EXTREMELY DISTURBING. THERE ARE MANY FAMILIES OUT THERE EXPERIENCING THE SANE EXACT TYPE OF PROBLEMS! NISSAN IS UNWILLING TO HELP THEIR CU…

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WE OWN A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. AT 63,000 MILES, THIS VEHICLE JERKS AND SHIFTS ON ITS OWN. WE HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE FOR OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THESE TYPE OF PROBLEMS, AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS EXTREMELY DISTURBING. THERE ARE MANY FAMILIES OUT THERE EXPERIENCING THE SANE EXACT TYPE OF PROBLEMS! NISSAN IS UNWILLING TO HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS. THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON, BUT THEY WONT ADMIT THAT THERE IS SOMETHING FAULTY WITH THEIR DESIGN. WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND WITH ENGINE MOUNTS. UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS. WHEN WE BOUGHT THIS CAR, WE THOUGHT WE WERE MAKING A GOOD INVESTMENT. PLEASE HELP US!!!!!! SOMEONE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS FURTHER AND ISSUE A RECALL. JUST LIKE US, THERE MUST BE OTHER FAMILIES DRIVING THEIR 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA IN THESE CONDITIONS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THEIR CARS, AND NISSAN WON'T DO A THING TO HELP. PLEASE DON'T WAIT FOR A FATALITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10363613

67,000 miles · Oct 29, 2010
Power Train

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE PERFORMANCE ISSUE/FAILURE. PURCHASE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. TRANSMISSION STARTED STICKING GOING INTO 2 ND GEAR. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES. PROBLEM ESCALATED- . TRANSMISSION BANGS WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR. TRANSMISSION SURGES WHEN ACCE…

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THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE PERFORMANCE ISSUE/FAILURE. PURCHASE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. TRANSMISSION STARTED STICKING GOING INTO 2 ND GEAR. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES. PROBLEM ESCALATED- . TRANSMISSION BANGS WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR. TRANSMISSION SURGES WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER SLOWING DOWN. TRANSMISSION HESITATES AT LEAST 15 SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING INTO GEAR WHEN IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. PROBLEM OCCURS REGULARLY WHEN CAR IS WARMED UP WHEN TAKING OFF INTO TRAFFIC THE GEARS STICK WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO HESITATE ALMOST STALL. THIS IS NOW A CONSISTENT PROBLEM. I AM AFRAID THAT SOMEONE WILL RUN INTO ME AND INJURE IF NOT KILL MY CHILD WHO RIDES IN THE BACK SEAT AND/OR ANOTHER DRIVER COULD BE INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY CLAIMED NOT TO BE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH THEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. I FILED A CLAIM WITH THEM AND THEY DENIED IT WITH NO WRITTEN EXPLANATION. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE CAR SERVICED ON TIME AT THE DEALER. I AM NOW TOLD THAT I COULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FOR $4000. THIS IS AN OUT RAGE THAT NISSAN IS ALLOWED TO BE SO IRRESPONSIBLE BY NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR FAULTY AND DANGEROUS VEHICLE. THEY ARE GETTING AWAY WITH PUTTING DRIVERS LIVES AT RISK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362970

89,000 miles · Oct 28, 2010
Power Train

I PURCHASED MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA IN 2008, IN AUGUST 2009 MY VEHICLE QUIT ON THE HIGHWAY, SINCE THAT TIME I'VE TAKEN IT TO 3 MECHANICS INCLUDING 2 NISSAN DEALERSHIPS, THEY FINALLY GOT MY CAR RUNNING HOWEVER IT JERKS VIOLENTLY WHILE SHIFTING FROM 1-3RD GEARS. RECENTLY I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE REVVED THEN JE…

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I PURCHASED MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA IN 2008, IN AUGUST 2009 MY VEHICLE QUIT ON THE HIGHWAY, SINCE THAT TIME I'VE TAKEN IT TO 3 MECHANICS INCLUDING 2 NISSAN DEALERSHIPS, THEY FINALLY GOT MY CAR RUNNING HOWEVER IT JERKS VIOLENTLY WHILE SHIFTING FROM 1-3RD GEARS. RECENTLY I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE REVVED THEN JERKED ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. I CANNOT BELIEVE ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS AND NO RECALL. NISSAN SHOULD BE ASHAMED! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362789

77,816 miles · Oct 23, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SHIFTING VERY HARD NOW FOR A FEW MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO BE SERVICED AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME MY FLUIDS WERE DIRTY. I HAVE REGULAR OIL CHANGES DONE AND RECENTLY PAID FOR A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. THIS CAR IS SHIFTING IN MID DRIVE DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSIS…

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I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SHIFTING VERY HARD NOW FOR A FEW MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO BE SERVICED AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME MY FLUIDS WERE DIRTY. I HAVE REGULAR OIL CHANGES DONE AND RECENTLY PAID FOR A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. THIS CAR IS SHIFTING IN MID DRIVE DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSIST AND THE DEALERSHIP ISN'T HELPING FIX IT. I'VE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. NO ONE IS GETTING ANY ANSWERS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO OTHER MOTORIST AS WELL AS MYSELF. I WAS DRIVING TODAY AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SHIFT AS I DROVE. I HAD TO GET INTO THE SLOWER LANE BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO DIE ON ME! IT DIDN'T WANT GO UP IN GEAR! WITH SO MANY PEOPLE POSTING COMPLAINTS LIKE MYSELF, IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD LOOK INTO THIS MORE. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH THESE CARS AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL! IF NOT, THIS MAY CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH SERIOUS INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH. SOMETHING NEED TO BE DONE, AND SOON!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362077

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.