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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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80,000 miles · Sep 24, 2008
Power Train

2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AUTOMATIC TRAMISSION JERKS OR BUCKLES WHEN SWITCHING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HELP. 90000 MILES ON CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10243303

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2008
Power Train

I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED WITH OTHER CONSUMERS. MY CARE JERKS. I HAVE REPLACED THE AXLES, AIR FLOW METER, AC LINE, IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS, ALTERNATOR, ETC. CURRENTLY, THE TIMING CHANGE AND TENSIONER NEEDS REPAIRING, THE AXLES AGAIN FROM THE JERKING. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WHO CAN NOT AFFORD ALL OF THESE REPAIR…

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I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED WITH OTHER CONSUMERS. MY CARE JERKS. I HAVE REPLACED THE AXLES, AIR FLOW METER, AC LINE, IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS, ALTERNATOR, ETC. CURRENTLY, THE TIMING CHANGE AND TENSIONER NEEDS REPAIRING, THE AXLES AGAIN FROM THE JERKING. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WHO CAN NOT AFFORD ALL OF THESE REPAIRS. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MAXIMA. I ALSO HAVE HAD A DIAGNOSTIC AND IT REVEALED 1 PROBLEM AND ONCE FIX I STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE MORE PROBLEMS ON TOP OF THE JERKING. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234313

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2008
Power Train

I OWN A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH APPROXIMATELY 63,000MILES. I HAVE BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, MAINLY JERKING GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND VICE VERSA WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD. I HAVE GOTTEN IT INSPECTED AND TRANSMISSION FLUSH WAS DONE, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSIST. BEING THAT MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARR…

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I OWN A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH APPROXIMATELY 63,000MILES. I HAVE BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, MAINLY JERKING GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND VICE VERSA WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD. I HAVE GOTTEN IT INSPECTED AND TRANSMISSION FLUSH WAS DONE, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSIST. BEING THAT MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, NISSAN IS ASKING FOR $6000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK ATTACHED SO YOU CAN SEE THE NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF OTHER MAXIMA OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWMORECOMMENTS_REVIEW_61092_3.HTML. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10220750

46,580 miles · Mar 5, 2007
Power Train

MY 2005 MAXIMA HAS 47,000 MILES. RECENTLY, THE CAR CHOKES WHILE STOPPING AS THE CAR IS DOWN SHIFTING BACK INTO 1ST GEAR BEFORE STOPPING. SOMETIME WHILE ACCELERATING THE CAR WILL JUMP INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THIS VEHICLE IS AUTOMATIC TRASMISSION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184258

5,542 miles · Oct 13, 2005
Power Train

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED SHE BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN MAXIM 3.5 SL ON NOVEMBER 15, 04. TOWARDS THE END OF MAY SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE SERVICE BECAUSE SHE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE VEHICLE NOT ACCELERATING AFTER HAVING COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10132854

60 miles · Jul 11, 2005
Power Train

DT: CONSUMER BOUGHT NEW NISSAN MAXIMA 2005 AND HAD DRIVEN VEHICLE FOR A FEW DAYS WHEN WHILE PARKED AT WORK, A CO-WORKER NOTED THERE WAS "BLACK STUFF" WHICH WAS SUSPECTED TO BE BRAKE FLUID. CONCERNED, CALLED DEALERSHIP AND DEALER SAID NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE BUT PLEASE GO TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP THERE WA…

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DT: CONSUMER BOUGHT NEW NISSAN MAXIMA 2005 AND HAD DRIVEN VEHICLE FOR A FEW DAYS WHEN WHILE PARKED AT WORK, A CO-WORKER NOTED THERE WAS "BLACK STUFF" WHICH WAS SUSPECTED TO BE BRAKE FLUID. CONCERNED, CALLED DEALERSHIP AND DEALER SAID NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE BUT PLEASE GO TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP THERE WAS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. A LOCAL DEALER ACCEPTED VEHICLE AND WAS KEPT FOR 4 DAYS AND DETERMINED IT NEEDED A NEW AXLE AND ALSO REPLACED A NEW BRAKE BOOT AS WELL. TOLD DEALERSHIP FROM WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND THEY SAID DO NOT LET THAT DEALERSHIP MAKE THOSE REPAIRS-THEY WOULD COME AND TOW VEHICLE BACK. DEALER TOWED VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS HAD VEHICLE FOR OVER 1 WEEK AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THEY CLAIM REPAIR IS IN PROCESS. DEALER HAS NOT CONFIRMED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS HOWEVER THE SECONDARY DEALERSHIP INSISTS IT WAS A BROKEN AXLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. *NOTE* CONSUMER DISCOVERED SHE DID NOT HAVE VIN AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE UPON FILING A COMPLAINT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10128331

250 miles · May 13, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I PURCHASED A NISSAN MAXIMA SL AT THE START OF NOVEMBER 2004. A HARNESS INSIDE THE ENGINE CONTAINING A SENSOR TO DETECT ENGINE KNOCKS WAS DAMAGED BY A RODENT. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BUCK, STOP SHIFTING, CHANGE SPEED OF THE CAR ON IT'S OWN,LOSE ACCELERATION, NOT SHIFT, SHIFT SUDDENLY …

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I PURCHASED A NISSAN MAXIMA SL AT THE START OF NOVEMBER 2004. A HARNESS INSIDE THE ENGINE CONTAINING A SENSOR TO DETECT ENGINE KNOCKS WAS DAMAGED BY A RODENT. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BUCK, STOP SHIFTING, CHANGE SPEED OF THE CAR ON IT'S OWN,LOSE ACCELERATION, NOT SHIFT, SHIFT SUDDENLY AND PUT THE DRIVER IN A SITUATION WHERE IF THEY DID NOT COMPENSATE THEY COULD BE INJURED OR KILLED. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR AND WORSENED OVER THE NEXT THREE THOUSAND MILES OF DRIVING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER IGNORED THE PROBLEM AND SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT UNTIL I SAID I WOULD PAY FOR THEM TO PLUG THE ENGINE INTO A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER. AT THIS POINT THEY FOUND A MISFIRE CODE, THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED MY THE MASTER MECHANIC AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE HARNESS AT MY EXPENSE! THE MANUFACTURE REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DANGEROUS DEFECT. THIS IS A DEFECT IN THEIR COMPUTER LOGIC AND/OR DESIGN. A SENSOR MALFUNCTION SHOULD NOT CAUSE AN ENGINE MISFIRE AND TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. NOTE THE DATE OF NOVEMBER 3 2004 INDICATES THAT THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR AND IT CONTINUED UNTIL THE HARNESS WAS REPLACED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER MANY TIMES AND THEY ARE NOT RETURNING MY CALLS. THE MASTER MECHANIC SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES BEFORE WHICH TELLS ME THAT THIS IS PERHAPS A LONG STANDING PROBLEM THAT NISSAN CHOOSES TO IGNORE.

NHTSA ODI #10120858

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.