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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

Tires complaints

17 reports
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91,010 miles · Nov 8, 2011
Air BagsTiresCrashInjury

I'M WAS DRIVING WHEN MY TIRE POPPED AND MY CAR WENT ACROSS ALL THREE LANES, ACROSS THE MEDIAN, THEN ACROSS THREE LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC INTO SOME WOODS AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. ALL SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED BUT THE FRONT ON DIDN'T, WHICH CONCERNS ME SINCE I HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE SIDE AIRBAGS LEFT BRUISES ON MY FACE AND NECK IN…

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I'M WAS DRIVING WHEN MY TIRE POPPED AND MY CAR WENT ACROSS ALL THREE LANES, ACROSS THE MEDIAN, THEN ACROSS THREE LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC INTO SOME WOODS AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. ALL SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED BUT THE FRONT ON DIDN'T, WHICH CONCERNS ME SINCE I HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE SIDE AIRBAGS LEFT BRUISES ON MY FACE AND NECK INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434826

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2010
TiresCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH B.F. GOODRICH TIRES, SIZE 225/55/R17, DOT #VE00AE111109. WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE SUDDENLY EXPLODED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE MEDIAN AND ROLLOVER. THE CONTACT INJURED HER RIBS, BACK , AND FINGERS DURING THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE TI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH B.F. GOODRICH TIRES, SIZE 225/55/R17, DOT #VE00AE111109. WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE SUDDENLY EXPLODED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE MEDIAN AND ROLLOVER. THE CONTACT INJURED HER RIBS, BACK , AND FINGERS DURING THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE TIRE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. UPDATED 12/23/10*LJ THE PASSENGER WAS ALSO INJURED. UPDATED 04/04/11

NHTSA ODI #10357214

73,000 miles · Jun 8, 2010
Power TrainTires

2005 NISSAN MAXIMA STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT OR NEAR 73,000 MILES. PROBLEMS CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING: WHILE SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND VICE VERSA, THE ENGINE JUMPS/JERKS; WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL HESITATE TO ACCELERATE, REVS AND THEN JUMP. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE HAS OVER 80,000 MILES. UNFORTUNATELY …

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2005 NISSAN MAXIMA STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT OR NEAR 73,000 MILES. PROBLEMS CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING: WHILE SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND VICE VERSA, THE ENGINE JUMPS/JERKS; WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL HESITATE TO ACCELERATE, REVS AND THEN JUMP. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE HAS OVER 80,000 MILES. UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IT ASSESSED BY A NISSAN DEALERSHIP BECAUSE WE LIVE IN ITALY (MILITARY). WE HAD THE VEHICLE ASSESSED LOCALLY AND THE PROGNOSIS WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING BAD. WE MOVE BACK TO THE STATES IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WILL BE A STOP AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. WE ANTICIPATE THE SAME RUNAROUND THAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS BEEN GETTING. PLEASE NOTE: WE WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN ANY AND ALL CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS. WE PAY OFF OUR MAX NEXT MONTH! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10335161

60,000 miles · Feb 9, 2009
Tires

I OWN A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA: IN JANUARY ,2009 MY SON WAS DRIVING BACK FROM LUBBOCK TEXAS TO PORTALES NM. THIS IS 110 MILES. MY TIRE A GOODYEAR RS-A 245/45 R18 TIRE WENT FLAT MY SON GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND CHANGED IT IN PITCH DARK. NOT TAKING THE TIME TO LOOK AT THE TIRE IN DEPTH. HE DROVE HOME TO FIND IN THE LATER PART OF HIS…

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I OWN A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA: IN JANUARY ,2009 MY SON WAS DRIVING BACK FROM LUBBOCK TEXAS TO PORTALES NM. THIS IS 110 MILES. MY TIRE A GOODYEAR RS-A 245/45 R18 TIRE WENT FLAT MY SON GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND CHANGED IT IN PITCH DARK. NOT TAKING THE TIME TO LOOK AT THE TIRE IN DEPTH. HE DROVE HOME TO FIND IN THE LATER PART OF HIS TRIP HE DID NOT HAVE ANY BREAKS. HE WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE'S BEADING CAME COMPLETELY OUT. IT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD 45 WIRES HANGING OUT OF THE TIRE. THESE WIRES WERE IN AND OUT OF THE TIRE AND I COULD LITERALLY PICK IT UP BY THE WIRES. THE WIRES (BEADING) WRAPPED AROUND MY BREAK LINES AND CUT THEM COMPLETELY IN HALF, IN ADDITION PULLING THE STEAL MOUNT FOR THE BREAK LINE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CARS MOUNT. THIS COULD HAVE KILLED MY SON, PASSENGERS, AS WELL AS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS SAME SITUATION HAPPENED TO ME THREE WEEKS PRIOR. THIS TIME THE TIRE CAME APART FROM THE INSIDE WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE IT, BUT THE BEADING DID NOT COME OUT. WHEN MY SON'S SITUATION HAPPENED, IT TOOK (MY TIRE, $266.00), (WHEEL $800.00) (BREAK LINES $???.00) DAMAGE TO THE INTERNAL MOUNT AND VESSEL $ ???.00 OF MY CAR'.ALL OUT! THIS TIRE IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY TAKEN OFF THE MARKET. THERE ARE SO MANY INCIDENCES WITH THIS PARTICULAR TIRE AND IT IS EXTREMELY DEADLY! I AM PLEADING WITH NHTSA TO STOP PRODUCTION OF THIS TIRE AND HAVE A FULL RECALL ON IT. ONE PERSON'S LIFE IS NOT WORTH THIS DANGEROUS TIRE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258113

63,000 miles · Jan 12, 2009
Tires

GOODYEAR RS-A 245/45-R18 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA: SON DRIVING HOME FROM LUBBOCK TEXAS TO PORTALES NM, BACK TIRE HAD FLAT HE CHANGED TIRE AND INSIDE SIDE WALL WAS TORN UP! IT WAS AT NIGHT SO HE DROVE HOME. HE COULD NOT SEE THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE BASED ON LACK OF LIGHT. NEXT MORNING I GOT IN CAR AND I COULD NOT BRAK…

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GOODYEAR RS-A 245/45-R18 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA: SON DRIVING HOME FROM LUBBOCK TEXAS TO PORTALES NM, BACK TIRE HAD FLAT HE CHANGED TIRE AND INSIDE SIDE WALL WAS TORN UP! IT WAS AT NIGHT SO HE DROVE HOME. HE COULD NOT SEE THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE BASED ON LACK OF LIGHT. NEXT MORNING I GOT IN CAR AND I COULD NOT BRAKE. I WAS LUCKY AND MANAGED TO STOP MY CAR. I LOOKED UNDER CAR AND FOUND MOISTURE SLAPPED ALL UP UNDER THE TIRE AREA OF VEHICLE. JACKED CAR BACK UP AND FOUND BRAKE LINE CUT IN HALF. LOOKED IN TRUNK AND FOUND TIRE BLOWN OUT WITH WIRES (RESEMBLING HOT WIRE STICKING OUT OF TIRE SIDEWALL. WIRE WAS COMING OUT. THEY LOOKED LIKE STRINGS... BUT METAL AND LOTS OF THEM! THIS IS THE RADIAL PART OF TIRE? IT WRAPPED AROUND MY AXEL AND AROUND THE BRAKE LINE. IT ALSO PULLED THE SOLID STEAL BRACKET THE BRAKE LINE WAS MOUNTED TO OUT OF PLACE. THE MOUNT WAS PULLED DOWN AND CUT THROUGH THE METAL OF MY CAR BASED ON TENSION OF THE WIRES FROM TIRES PULLING IT DOWN. MY SON COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!!!!!!! OR SOMEONE ELSE. BRAKE LINE, RIM. TIRE ALL RUINED. WHAT WAS THE SCARIEST PART IS SOMEONE COULD HAVE DIED. THIS TIRE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE 63K ON THIS VEHICLE. HAVE REPLACED ALL TIRES 2 TIMES WHICH MEANS I HAVE GONE THROUGH 12 TIRES. ALMOST ALL TIRES REPLACED DUE TO SIDEWALL FAILURE. TWO MONTHS AGO I REPLACED ANOTHER TIRE BASED ON TREAD FALLING OFF AND WRAPPING AROUND THE AXEL. THESE TIRES NEED TO BE RECALLED THEY ARE GOING TO KILL PEOPLE!!!!! ALSO EACH TIRE COST 266.00 I HAVE PAID DEARLY FOR THE TIRES THAT COULD HAVE KILLED PEOPLE!!!! PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS I HAVE PICTURES THAT WOULD FRIGHTEN YOU! MARLA SEGOVIA PORTALES NM I WILL HELP TO SUPPORT YOUR CLAIM. THIS COULD KILL YOUR FAMILY OR SOMEONE ELSE. IF HE WAS ONLY FARTHER AWAY FROM HOME HIS BRAKE FLUID WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY GONE AND HE WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!!!! PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS TIRE!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10254677

36,360 miles · Oct 29, 2008
Tires

TL*THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES, SIZE P195/60R15. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SIDEWALLS WERE SEPARATING ON THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE COMPANY AND THEY STATED THAT ALL FOUR SIDEWALLS ON THE TIRES WERE SEPARATING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE FILED CLAIM NUM…

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TL*THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES, SIZE P195/60R15. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SIDEWALLS WERE SEPARATING ON THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE COMPANY AND THEY STATED THAT ALL FOUR SIDEWALLS ON THE TIRES WERE SEPARATING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE FILED CLAIM NUMBER 1006415 WITH GOODYEAR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,366 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,360. UPDATED 11/17/08 *BF UPDATED 11/18/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10247103

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2007
Tires

FACTORY TIRES FOR A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA 3.5 SE GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A P245/45R18 96V CRACKING ON SIDEWALLS M6A9 CMWR 0505. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207966

62,150 miles · Oct 10, 2007
Tires

TIRES DEFECTIVE POOR WORKMANSHIP.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10205351

24,436 miles · Jul 9, 2007
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ONE OF THE GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES FLATTENED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS TREAD SEPARATION. THE CONTACT HAS SINCE CHANGED THE VEHICLES TIRES THREE TIMES SINCE THE FIRST FAILURE. THE # OF CYLINDERS AND DOT NUMBER WERE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ONE OF THE GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES FLATTENED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS TREAD SEPARATION. THE CONTACT HAS SINCE CHANGED THE VEHICLES TIRES THREE TIMES SINCE THE FIRST FAILURE. THE # OF CYLINDERS AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 32,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,436.

NHTSA ODI #10195636

17,900 miles · Jul 6, 2007
Tires

NOTICED CIRCULAR TEARING OF ALL FOUR TIRES BEGINNING AT 16,000 MILES. LATER, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE FRONT LEFT TIRE BLEW AND TORE APART. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS INJURED AND I FOUND A SMALL EDGE OF THE FREEWAY TO CHANGE THE TIRE, WHICH WAS VERY NERVE RACKING WHEN CHANGING THE TIRE. THIS OCCURRED AT 18,000 MILES, 18 MO…

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NOTICED CIRCULAR TEARING OF ALL FOUR TIRES BEGINNING AT 16,000 MILES. LATER, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE FRONT LEFT TIRE BLEW AND TORE APART. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS INJURED AND I FOUND A SMALL EDGE OF THE FREEWAY TO CHANGE THE TIRE, WHICH WAS VERY NERVE RACKING WHEN CHANGING THE TIRE. THIS OCCURRED AT 18,000 MILES, 18 MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR. THIS WAS A WEEK AFTER I TOLD NISSAN TO LOOK AT MY TIRES AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THEM, DESPITE THE CIRCULAR BREAKAGE BEGINNING TO OCCUR. I TOLD THEM TO CHECK FOR LEAKS AS WELL. THEY SAID NO LEAKS. THEY WERE GOODYEAR TIRES 245/45/18 EAGLE RSA TIRES. I HAD TO BUY FOUR NEW TIRES DUE TO SAFETY REASONS AT $575. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10195450

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.