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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

Steering complaints

17 reports
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107,000 miles · Aug 10, 2022
Steering

The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the power steering would fail to operate. The steering wheel would require excessive force in order to steer the vehicle. The contact would frequently replenish the steering fluid however, the failure persisted. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified …

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The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the power steering would fail to operate. The steering wheel would require excessive force in order to steer the vehicle. The contact would frequently replenish the steering fluid however, the failure persisted. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000

NHTSA ODI #11478670

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2017
Steering

POWER STEERING GEAR

NHTSA ODI #11024209

101,000 miles · Oct 12, 2016
Power TrainSteeringVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA THE GEARS SLIP AND JUMP INTO GEAR WITH A VIOLENT JERK THAT IS AFFECTING MY DRIVING AND MAY CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND POSSIBLE INJURY MYSELF OR OTHERS. THERE IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THE VALVE BODY THAT IS CAUSING THIS VIOLENT SHIFTING AND IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE T…

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA THE GEARS SLIP AND JUMP INTO GEAR WITH A VIOLENT JERK THAT IS AFFECTING MY DRIVING AND MAY CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND POSSIBLE INJURY MYSELF OR OTHERS. THERE IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THE VALVE BODY THAT IS CAUSING THIS VIOLENT SHIFTING AND IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THIS ISSUE. IT IS DISGRACE THAT THE NHTSA HAD DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THIS WIDE SPREAD ISSUE, MUST PEOPLE DIE FIRST SO IT DOES GET ADDRESSED. I WILL ALSO CONTACT MY STATE REPRESENTATIVE TO REPORT THE ISSUE. I OPENED UP A CASE WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS WITH NO LUCK OR ADMITTANCE OF THEIR FAILED COMPONENT. NISSAN DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION WITH A P0726 CODE AND HAD AN OPEN TECHNICAL BULLETIN NTB11'035 WHICH IS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF NISSANS FAILED DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. NISSAN HAS QUOTED ME OVER $2500 TO REPAIR THEIR FAILED DESIGN COMPONENT.

NHTSA ODI #10915454

175,000 miles · Jul 4, 2016
Air BagsElectrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)CrashInjury

"TAMARA INFLATORS" SEAT BELTS DIDN'T LOCK OR LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. SMASHED BODY ALL THE WAY TO BACK SEAT BOTTOM TO GROUND. ENGINE WAS IDLING VERY HIGH FELT/SOUND AS IF WE WERE GOING 60 BUT ONLY WAS GOING 40. NO AIR BAGS CAME ON. BRAKES GRINDING. BACK WINDOW BLEW OUT AND TIRES FLAT IN BACK.. WINDOWS SLOW ON DRIVERS SIDE. WHEN TH…

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"TAMARA INFLATORS" SEAT BELTS DIDN'T LOCK OR LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. SMASHED BODY ALL THE WAY TO BACK SEAT BOTTOM TO GROUND. ENGINE WAS IDLING VERY HIGH FELT/SOUND AS IF WE WERE GOING 60 BUT ONLY WAS GOING 40. NO AIR BAGS CAME ON. BRAKES GRINDING. BACK WINDOW BLEW OUT AND TIRES FLAT IN BACK.. WINDOWS SLOW ON DRIVERS SIDE. WHEN THE SHERIFF TAHOE HIT US AT 80MPH ON U.S. 40 GREENFIELD IN WAS IN THE SHOP AT J&M TRUCK AN TRAILER ON THE WEST SIDE OF INDIANAPOLIS HAVING THE OIL LEAKED FIXED AND TIRES ALL FIXED AND ROTORS AND LIGHTS BY [XXX] A COUPLE MONTHS PRIOR. I HAD MY LITTLE GIRL IN THE BACK SEAT AS WELL WHERE SHERIFF HIT AND RAN. I UPLOADED A BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURE. VIN#[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10882397

170,000 miles · Sep 28, 2015
EngineService BrakesSteering

PRIOR TO INCIDENT CAR WAS SHIFTING REALLY HARD AND SLIPPING GEARS. ONCE WHEN DRIVING, CAR SUDDENLY WENT INTO A SAFETY MODE NOT LETTING IT SHIFT OUT OF 5TH GEAR. GOING DOWN HILL CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL BECAUSE OF BEING IN 5TH GEAR AND CAR ENGINE TURNED OFF, AS WELL AS POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. HAD IT BEEN ON A BUSY ROAD A …

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PRIOR TO INCIDENT CAR WAS SHIFTING REALLY HARD AND SLIPPING GEARS. ONCE WHEN DRIVING, CAR SUDDENLY WENT INTO A SAFETY MODE NOT LETTING IT SHIFT OUT OF 5TH GEAR. GOING DOWN HILL CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL BECAUSE OF BEING IN 5TH GEAR AND CAR ENGINE TURNED OFF, AS WELL AS POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. HAD IT BEEN ON A BUSY ROAD A CRASH WOULD HAVE OCCURRED.

NHTSA ODI #10778054

71,000 miles · Aug 6, 2015
EnginePower TrainSteeringInjury

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA FROM CARMAX IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND CHANGE GEARS REALLY ROUGH. THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN CHANGING GEARS EITHER AT IDLE OR WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION DOES IT THE MOST BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND AND SECOND TO THIRD AND WHEN DOWN…

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I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA FROM CARMAX IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND CHANGE GEARS REALLY ROUGH. THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN CHANGING GEARS EITHER AT IDLE OR WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION DOES IT THE MOST BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND AND SECOND TO THIRD AND WHEN DOWNSHIFTING IN THOSE SAME GEARS. MY MAIN CONCERN IS MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE OR ANY OTHER FAMILIES IN THE SAME VEHICLE WHEN WE ARE DRIVING IN THE VEHICE OUR HEADS AND NECKS GET WHIPPED BACK AND FORTH VERY ROUGHLY. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION CHANGING GEARS ON ITS OWN WHILE IM DRIVING THE CAR. I ONLY ASK FOR YOU TO PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND MAKE IT A RECALL. NISSAN DID NOT WANT TO HELP ME OUT OR ANYONE ELSE. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND HEARD NUMEROUS STORIES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. NISSAN PUT OUT A POOR PRODUCT AND WONT FIX IT. THEY NEED TO OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKE, BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR DIES. I ASK OF YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. NOT ONLY FOR MY SAFETY OR MY INFANT'S SAFETY BUT FOR ANYONE WHO OWNS THIS VEHICLE. PS. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR I WOULD HAVE NEVER GOTTEN IT. PPS. THE TEST DRIVE AND THE 1ST MONTH WERE FINE UNTIL NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS OCCURRED. PLEASE HELP, PLEASE HELP! GET THIS RECALL ACTIVE! THANKS, FRANK

NHTSA ODI #10746773

109,000 miles · Mar 29, 2014
Power TrainSteering

I AM HAVING A TRANSMISSION ISSUE THAT CANT SEEM TO BE FIGURED OUT. I AM EXPERIENCING A HARD JERK WHEN I SHIFT GEARS FROM 1ST-2ND GEAR. IT WONT HAPPEN FOR DAYS BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL COMEBACK. FOR SOME REASON NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE LOTS OF REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM ON 2004-EARLY …

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I AM HAVING A TRANSMISSION ISSUE THAT CANT SEEM TO BE FIGURED OUT. I AM EXPERIENCING A HARD JERK WHEN I SHIFT GEARS FROM 1ST-2ND GEAR. IT WONT HAPPEN FOR DAYS BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL COMEBACK. FOR SOME REASON NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE LOTS OF REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM ON 2004-EARLY 2005 MODEL NISSAN MAXIMAS. I LOVE THE CAR BUT NISSAN NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10575458

Mileage unknown · Jan 1, 2014
Power TrainSteeringVehicle Speed Control

WHEN TURNING IN BURGER KING DRIVE THRU TURNING THE VEHICLE THE DRIVE SHAFT SOMETHING IN IT BROKE AND THE WHEELS WOULDN'T TURN. WE WOULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SND IT WOU LD JUST SOUND LIKE POPPING SOUND. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IT COULD HAVE KILLED ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558102

97,000 miles · Jul 17, 2012
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,941.

NHTSA ODI #10465978

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

I RECENTLY PURCHASED AN 05 MAXIMA WITH 107,000 MILES ON IT. THE NEXT DAY I HEARD A LOUD TICKING FROM ENGINE. MY TENSIONERS ARE FAILING AN ESTIMATED $2000 REPAIR. IN THE SAME DAY UPON ACCELERATION MY WHEEL JERKED VIOLENTLY, A SIGN OF A FAILING TRANSMISSION. $3000+ THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY CRIMINAL THAT A RECALL HAS …

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I RECENTLY PURCHASED AN 05 MAXIMA WITH 107,000 MILES ON IT. THE NEXT DAY I HEARD A LOUD TICKING FROM ENGINE. MY TENSIONERS ARE FAILING AN ESTIMATED $2000 REPAIR. IN THE SAME DAY UPON ACCELERATION MY WHEEL JERKED VIOLENTLY, A SIGN OF A FAILING TRANSMISSION. $3000+ THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY CRIMINAL THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN INITIATED BY NISSAN.THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, AND A SEVERE RISK TO THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER. I WILL BE CONTACTING EVERY AVAILABLE NEWSPAPER AND NEWS AGENCY IN MY AREA AND WILL TRY TO CONTACT NATIONAL NEWS AGENCIES THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ATROCIOUS. I BEG OTHER NISSAN OWNERS TO MAKE THIS A PROBLEM FOR NISSAN THAT WONT GO AWAY UNTIL PROPER ACTIONS ARE TAKEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454030

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.