← New search

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

Seats complaints

13 reports
Clear category filter
47,000 miles · Feb 18, 2008
Electrical SystemSeatsFire

MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA SL CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH BOARD ON THE DRIVER'S LEFT SIDE ON 2/05/08 AT APPROX 12:00 THAT DAY. AFTER RETURNING FROM A SHORT DRIVE, I SMELLED SMOKE. UPON PARKING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND EXITING THE CAR WE NOTICE FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH BOARD. ONCE WE EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND CALLED THE FIRE D…

Read full complaint

MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA SL CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH BOARD ON THE DRIVER'S LEFT SIDE ON 2/05/08 AT APPROX 12:00 THAT DAY. AFTER RETURNING FROM A SHORT DRIVE, I SMELLED SMOKE. UPON PARKING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND EXITING THE CAR WE NOTICE FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH BOARD. ONCE WE EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPT WE REALIZED THE SOURCE APPEARED TO BE IN THE AREA OF THE FUSE HOUSING AREA. I'VE HAD A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. MY SERVICE RECORD IS QUITE EXTENSIVE ON THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ONE VEHICLE. THE LATEST BEING 12/28/07 WHEN I HAD MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING FOR THE DRIVER SEAT FAILURE TO MOVE. MY VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME ON 12/31/07 AND THE SEAT WAS OPERABLE THEN, BUT I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE TECH THAT THEY WEREN'T SURE IF THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED BUT IT WAS WORKING AT THE PRESENT TIME. AS AN ENSUING RESULT I WAS UNAWARE I WAS DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT COULD OF WENT IN FLAMES WHEN BEING DRIVEN. I'VE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT NISSAN CORP AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH ANYONE OTHER THAN THE REP THAT TOOK MY INFORMATION ON 2/8/08. I'VE ALSO ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE OWNER OF THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AND HAVEN'T HAD ANY LUCK THERE EITHER. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT RAY BRYANT NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED, AGAIN, POST THE FIRE DAMAGE. THIS IS THE SAME DEALERSHIP I'VE BEEN BRINGING MY VEHICLE TO FOR AL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE EXISTED WITH THIS CAR. ANY HELP AND GUIDANCE YOU CAN OFFER ME WITH THIS MATTER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218460

12,000 miles · Oct 17, 2006
SeatsStructure

(1.) AFTER A QUICK TAKE OFF MAKING A LEFT TURN ONE OR TWO THINGS HAPPEN...THERE IS A CLUNK NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT PILLAR AND/ OR (2.)THE DRIVER LUMBAR LOOSES ITS POSITION OF SUPPORT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10171105

Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2006
Electrical SystemSeats

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA TO THE DEALER FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD OF A PENDING RECALL (05V51200) CONCERNING THE POWER FRONT SEAT. *KB THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED BUT THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE WORK NOT BEING PERFORMED PRIOR TO DELIVERY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10160521

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.