NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
948 reports93,000 miles · Jan 27, 2015
Power Train
WE PURCHASED OUR 2005 MAXIMA USED WITH APPROXIMATELY 93000 MILES ON IT, AT FIRST SEEMED LIKE A GREAT CAR. THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING VERY HARD INTO AND OUT OF GEARS, SOME SHIFTS WOULD BE SO HARD THE CAR WOULD LURCH FORWARD. I WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION ACTUALLY BROKE, MAKING THE CAR VERY HARD TO STEER, FORT…
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WE PURCHASED OUR 2005 MAXIMA USED WITH APPROXIMATELY 93000 MILES ON IT, AT FIRST SEEMED LIKE A GREAT CAR. THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING VERY HARD INTO AND OUT OF GEARS, SOME SHIFTS WOULD BE SO HARD THE CAR WOULD LURCH FORWARD. I WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION ACTUALLY BROKE, MAKING THE CAR VERY HARD TO STEER, FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A LOCAL GARAGE. WE PAID OVER 3000 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, SINCE I PURCHASED THE TRANSMISSION FROM ADVANCE AUTO, THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP SAID THAT WOULD NOT OFFER ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY EVEN ON THEIR LABOR. I HAD A 12 MONTH WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION AND AT ABOUT 13 MONTHS THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AGAIN, WITH LESS THAN 1,000 MILES PUT ON THE "USED" TRANSMISSION. I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND WAS PRETTY MUCH TOLD THAT IT WAS MY PROBLEM. SO I NOW HAVE A USELESS CAR THAT I AM STILL PAYING ON, AND I AM NOT WILLING TO PAY ANOTHER 3000 TO FIX NISSAN'S PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10679119
89,000 miles · Jan 26, 2015
Power Train
I PURCHASED MY 05 MAXIMA IN APRIL OF 2014 AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER DRIVING IT HOME A HARD SHIFT INTO 3RD AND INTO 4TH HAPPENED. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, MY MECHANIC FRIEND WAS WITH ME HE HAD ME PUT THE CARE IN DRIVE AND IT SLAMMED INTO GEAR. I CONTACTED A MECHANIC THAT WORKED ON TRANSMISSION AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE VALVE BODY DEFE…
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I PURCHASED MY 05 MAXIMA IN APRIL OF 2014 AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER DRIVING IT HOME A HARD SHIFT INTO 3RD AND INTO 4TH HAPPENED. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, MY MECHANIC FRIEND WAS WITH ME HE HAD ME PUT THE CARE IN DRIVE AND IT SLAMMED INTO GEAR. I CONTACTED A MECHANIC THAT WORKED ON TRANSMISSION AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE VALVE BODY DEFECT THAT WAS NEVER RECALLED AND A MAJOR PROBLEM IN THAT MODEL. I PURCHASED A USED/NEW VALVE BODY FROM A TRANSMISSION SHOP, IT LASTED A FEW MONTHS WENT BAD AS IN JUMPING OUT OF GEAR, STAYING STUCK IN 5TH OR 3RD, PUTTING IT IN PARK AND TRYING TO SHIFT TO DRIVE AND IT NOT GOING INTO GEAR. I RETURNED THE PART GOT ANOTHER USED VALVE BODY AND IT ONLY LASTED A FEW WEEKS. NOW I AM HAVING TO PURCHASE A NEW VALVE BODY FROM NISSAN HOPING THIS WILL FIX IT. AFTER READING MANY FORUMS OF THE SAME ISSUE, NO LONGER ABLE TO BYPASS THE ISSUE AND WISHING NISSAN WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM I AM STUCK WITH BEING ALMOST 2000 OUT OF POCKET ON WHAT SEEMED TO BE A GOOD DEAL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10679038
130,000 miles · Jan 22, 2015
Electrical SystemPower Train
I HAVE HAD MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS NOW. FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS IT'S HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. IT TURNS OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING IT AND I LOSE ALL POWER POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. I ALMOST DROVE INTO THE RIVER YESTERDAY BECAUSE IT SHUT OFF GOING AROUND A TURN AND I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. MY CAR STARTS ACT…
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I HAVE HAD MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS NOW. FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS IT'S HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. IT TURNS OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING IT AND I LOSE ALL POWER POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. I ALMOST DROVE INTO THE RIVER YESTERDAY BECAUSE IT SHUT OFF GOING AROUND A TURN AND I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. MY CAR STARTS ACTING UP AFTER IT WARMS UP ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER START. IT WILL SHIFT VERY HARD AND IS FINE ONCE IT IS PAST 3RD GEAR BUT IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET TO THIRD WHEN IT STARTS TO MESS UP THE RPMS WILL GO UP TO 4 AND 5 THROUGH 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. WHEN YOU'RE GOING DOWNHILL IT WILL DOWNSHIFT LIKE YOU SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. ALSO IF YOU SWITCH OVER TO MANUAL IT WILL SAY YOU'RE IN 5TH GEAR AND REALLY YOU'RE IN 1ST. THE SERVICE ENGINE DIAGNOSIS READS A CODE FOR THE CAM SHAFT SENSORS. I HAVE CHANGED BOTH OF THEM BANK 1 AND BANK 2 AND IT DID NOT FIX ANYTHING. NISSAN HAS FAILED TO DO ANYTHING AND IT'S HAPPENING TO A TON OF CARS. IF I'M ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR SHUTS OFF, IT NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD SITUATION. IF YOU TAKE IT TO NISSAN THEY TRY TO GET YOU TO BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A TWO YEAR OLD AND THE JERKING OF THE CAR OR ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER IS NOT SAFE FOR HER OR ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO REVIEW THIS, I APPRECIATE IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10678186
97,000 miles · Jan 16, 2015
Power Train
TRANSMISSION HARD SHIFTING AND SLIPPING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10676134
107,300 miles · Jan 11, 2015
Power Train
BOUGHT CAR USED FROM NISSAN DEALER. GOOD SERVICE RECORDS WITH REGULAR ON TIME TRANSMISSION SERVICES. DAY AFTER I DRIVE IT OFF THE LOT IT STARTS VIOLENTLY JERKING INTO GEAR AND IN THE MIDDLE OF GEAR. RANDOMLY DROPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR, JERKS OUT OF NOWHERE. HAS JERKED SO HARD MY NECK AND UPPER BODY WERE SOMEWHAT SORE THE NEXT MORN…
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BOUGHT CAR USED FROM NISSAN DEALER. GOOD SERVICE RECORDS WITH REGULAR ON TIME TRANSMISSION SERVICES. DAY AFTER I DRIVE IT OFF THE LOT IT STARTS VIOLENTLY JERKING INTO GEAR AND IN THE MIDDLE OF GEAR. RANDOMLY DROPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR, JERKS OUT OF NOWHERE. HAS JERKED SO HARD MY NECK AND UPPER BODY WERE SOMEWHAT SORE THE NEXT MORNING. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN CLOSE TRAFFIC AS IT COULD EASILY JERK VIOLENTLY ENOUGH TO MAKE ME JERK THE WHEEL, ACCIDENTALLY SLIDE FOOT DOWN ONTO THE GAS OR BRAKE, ETC. THIS TRANSMISSION AND CAR WAS WELL CARED FOR ALL OF ITS 107K MILES AND I HAVE SOLID REPAIR HISTORY PAPERWORK TO PROVE IT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS, POTENTIALLY DEADLY TRANSMISSION IN THESE CARS. I HAVE A QUOTE FOR A $3500 QUOTE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED BY A SHOP. THIS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS OF OWNING THE CAR. I AM COMPLETELY DISGUSTED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10671671
Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainFire
WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR AFTER 2-3 MONTHS I HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIX. AFTER , A COUPLE OF WEEKS I STILL WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR , I TOOK IT BACK THEY SAID , IT WASN'T NOTHING WRONG WITH IT . THEN MY AIR CONDITION WENT OUT, IT WAS MY AIR COMPRESSOR TOOK IT IN TO THE NISSAN …
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WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR AFTER 2-3 MONTHS I HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIX. AFTER , A COUPLE OF WEEKS I STILL WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR , I TOOK IT BACK THEY SAID , IT WASN'T NOTHING WRONG WITH IT . THEN MY AIR CONDITION WENT OUT, IT WAS MY AIR COMPRESSOR TOOK IT IN TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIX, AFTER, A WEEK OR TWO IT WENT OUT AGAIN TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT LOOKED AT I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A PART ( SOME TYPE OF CLIP ). JUNE 10 , 2014 MY CAR WAS ON FIRE IN MY GARAGE WHILE I WAS SLEEPING. WHEN I WOKE UP THAT MORNING MY HEADLIGHTS WERE FLASHING OFF AND ON . WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR MY WINDOW WAS FULL OF SUT AND MY WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED . WHEN I OPEN THE CAR DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE THE DASH BOARD AND UNDER THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED , THE ODOMETER AND THE FUSE BOX (EVERYTHING ON THE DRIVER SIDE WAS MELTED ) .YOU CAN SMELLED THE SMOKE,THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT JUST IN CASE IT SPARKED BACK UP. UNDER THE HOOD WAS NOT DAMAGE. I HAVE PICTURES OF DAMAGES. THEY HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE IT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. THE RESULTS WAS IT STARTED FROM THE FUSE BOX. MY CAR WAS TOTALED OUT BY MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER. I FEEL THIS MATTER NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO AND SOMETHING NEED TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION . THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO BEFORE IT HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE . *TR
NHTSA ODI #10668531
200,000 miles · Dec 15, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 2013 WITH 120,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAS OVERHEATED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT IT, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO CONTROL IT AND KEEP IT FROM CAUSING ANY ISSUES. SUDDENLY, WHEN I WAS SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE THE CAR JERKED EXTREMELY HARD, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR HESITATES TO ACCELERATE, AND HAS A HIGH RPM REA…
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BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 2013 WITH 120,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAS OVERHEATED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT IT, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO CONTROL IT AND KEEP IT FROM CAUSING ANY ISSUES. SUDDENLY, WHEN I WAS SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE THE CAR JERKED EXTREMELY HARD, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR HESITATES TO ACCELERATE, AND HAS A HIGH RPM READING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I HAVE COME ACROSS NO FEWER THAN 30 COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10664453
89,000 miles · Dec 14, 2014
Power Train
I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JUNE 2014 AND IT WAS FINE FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS. ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT WOULD JERK WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE AND WHILE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND. I TRIED TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO HELP AND THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET A HOLD OF THEM UNTIL 30 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT. ONE DAY I WAS WITH MY MOTHER…
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I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JUNE 2014 AND IT WAS FINE FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS. ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT WOULD JERK WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE AND WHILE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND. I TRIED TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO HELP AND THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET A HOLD OF THEM UNTIL 30 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT. ONE DAY I WAS WITH MY MOTHER AND WE WERE DRIVING. IT THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING, THE CAR JERKED AND SKIDDED. WE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I HAVE A FAMILY AND I COULDN'T BARE IT IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO THEM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. THE CAR HAS ALREADY DONE IT DANGEROUSLY ANOTHER TIME SINCE THEN. NISSAN NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT PUT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN DANGER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10664193
37,000 miles · Dec 12, 2014
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicWheels
THE ABS SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE BASED UPON NISSAN MANUFACTURERS BULLETIN REGARDING MAXIMA'S YEARS 2004, 2005, 2006. THE REQUIREMENT OF NISSAN TO REPLACE 2-REAR WHEEL HUBS $444.10, 2-REAR ABS WHEEL SENSORS $627.20, AND POSSIBLY THE ABS ACTUATOR-ASSY $1306.51 ALL DUE TO THE TECHNICAL FACT THAT WATER ACCUMULATES IN THE WHEEL HUBS AND …
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
NHTSA ODI #10664929
151,000 miles · Dec 12, 2014
Engine
EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED, THERE IS A GRINDING, METAL-ON-METAL SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. WE ASSUME THAT IT IS THE TIMING CHAIN THAT IS MAKING THIS NOISE SINCE THIS MOTOR USES PLASTIC PARTS IN THE TIMING CHAIN ASSY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10663779