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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

What owners actually said

948 reports
70,000 miles · Mar 28, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10504814

109,108 miles · Mar 26, 2013
Power Train

I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW VIA SPECIAL ORDER IN 2005. THE CAR COST ME $33K AND ANOTHER ALMOST $5K FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR UP TO 7 YEARS AND UP TO 100K MILES. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE SEVEN YEARS WAS UP IN JULY OF 2012. THE CAR HAS ALMOST 110K MILES ON IT CURRENTLY. FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SEVERE JERK…

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I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW VIA SPECIAL ORDER IN 2005. THE CAR COST ME $33K AND ANOTHER ALMOST $5K FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR UP TO 7 YEARS AND UP TO 100K MILES. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE SEVEN YEARS WAS UP IN JULY OF 2012. THE CAR HAS ALMOST 110K MILES ON IT CURRENTLY. FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SEVERE JERKING WHEN UP SHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING. MY MECHANIC NOTIFIED ME THAT IT IS MY TRANSMISSION, THE PRICE OF THE FIX IS BETWEEN $3800-4500. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN BEAT UP AND IS IN IMMACULATE CONDITION. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN HOUSED IN A GARAGE SINCE I BOUGHT IT. AFTER DOING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RESEARCH I FOUND THAT TECHNICALLY THIS REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE EFFECTED BY THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2004-2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE JERKING HAS RECENTLY BEGAN TO GET ALOT WORSE...SO BAD THAT MY HUSBAND HIT HIS HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD AND THOUGHT WE WERE REAR ENDED. I ALSO HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THE PROBLEM AND I WILL BE CONTACTING THEM TOO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504591

65,000 miles · Mar 22, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSeats

I PURCHASED MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA BRAND NEW IN APRIL OF 2005. I PAID COLD HARD EARNED CASH ($35,000) FOR THIS CAR. WE REFINANCED OUR HOME TOO BUY AN RELIABLE, STURDY, DEPENDABLE, STYLISH, ROAD CAR (INSTEAD WE GOT A LEMON). I HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR. THE HEADLINER CONSTANTLY FALLING DOWN OVER MY HEAD WHILE DRIVING WIT…

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I PURCHASED MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA BRAND NEW IN APRIL OF 2005. I PAID COLD HARD EARNED CASH ($35,000) FOR THIS CAR. WE REFINANCED OUR HOME TOO BUY AN RELIABLE, STURDY, DEPENDABLE, STYLISH, ROAD CAR (INSTEAD WE GOT A LEMON). I HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR. THE HEADLINER CONSTANTLY FALLING DOWN OVER MY HEAD WHILE DRIVING WITH THE SUNROOF OPEN, THE SUNROOF NOT OPENING AND CLOSING PROPERLY, THE O2 SENSORS GOING OUT CONSTANTLY, , THE BRACKETS BEING REPLACED, THE LEATHER SEATS LOOK AS IF I HAVE RAZOR BLADES ATTACHED TO MY BOTTOM SIDE, AND THE TRANSMISSION IS AWFUL!!! AT 65,000 MILES IT STARTED GOING OUT. THE LOCAL DEALER REPLACED THE TRANNY WITHOUT ADMITTING ANY FAULT ON NISSANS BEHALF. AT THE TIME WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE TROUBLING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2004-2005 TRANSMISSIONS. THEY ONLY CHARGED US FOR THE LABOR COST. WE ACTUALLY THOUGHT "WOW, THEY ARE COOL"!! HERE WE ARE AT 157,000 MILES (ABOUT 70,000 LATER AND THE TRANNY IS:JERKING EXTREMELY HARD ( IT FEELS LIKE I AM BEING RAMMED FROM THE REAR BY A 18 TON SEMI-TRAILER) BETWEEN GOING INTO 1ST AND SECOND GEAR AND AGAIN BACK IN REVERSE FROM 2ND INTO 1ST GEAR. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT IS NOW HESITATING IN SHIFTING AND I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!! I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH, AND THIS IS AN EPIDEMIC. NISSAN HAS TOO STEP UP AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS COUNTRY HAS HIT A RECESSION. US HARDWORKING AMERICANS DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS. PLEASE HELP US CONSUMERS. THANK [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504066

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2013
Power TrainStructure

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE ON FEBRUARY 2 2012 AT 86,000 MILES CAR WAS FINE. A YEAR LATER I HAD TO GET IT INSPECTED THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT MOTOR AND THIS WAS PROBABLY THE REASON FOR THE JERKING I HAD MY MOTOR MOUNT REPLACED. AND GUESS WHAT STILL JERKING. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS A RECALL. I HAVE SPOKEN TO DIFFERENT…

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I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE ON FEBRUARY 2 2012 AT 86,000 MILES CAR WAS FINE. A YEAR LATER I HAD TO GET IT INSPECTED THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT MOTOR AND THIS WAS PROBABLY THE REASON FOR THE JERKING I HAD MY MOTOR MOUNT REPLACED. AND GUESS WHAT STILL JERKING. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS A RECALL. I HAVE SPOKEN TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE YEAR MAKE AND MODEL AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. NOT EVERY KNOWS TO COME TO MAKE A COMPLAINT. NISSAN SHOULD VOLUNTARILY RECALL THIS MAKE AND MODEL TO MAKE THE REPAIRS. THIS CAN ALSO BE A SAFETY HAZARD TO ANY NON EXPERIENCE DRIVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503934

40,930 miles · Mar 20, 2013
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK ONCE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY AND CAUSED A DELAY IN STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK ONCE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY AND CAUSED A DELAY IN STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ABS SENSOR WAS CAUSING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM TO ENGAGE DURING NORMAL BRAKING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ABS SENSOR AS WELL AS THE REAR HUB ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,930.

NHTSA ODI #10503737

59,000 miles · Mar 19, 2013
Power Train

WHEN IN LOW GEARS 1-2, 2-3 GEARS JERKS. HIGH REV THEN STRONG JERK. FELT LIKE GEARS SLIPPED. CAR THEN BECAME SLUGGISH AND WOULD NOT POWER OF 5MPH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD CAR CHECKED CODE P0780 SHOWED. SHIFT MALFUNCTION. THIS SEEMS TO BE ON GOING WITH MAXIMA 04-06. RECALL MUST BE CALLED!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503688

121,000 miles · Mar 19, 2013
Power Train

TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT ROUGH, SLIP AND MAKE THE ENGINE REV HIGH BETWEEN SHIFTS, THIS IS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF AUTO, MAINLY INVOLVING THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY AND SOLENOIDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503652

69,750 miles · Mar 15, 2013
Power Train

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOPLIGHT TO APPROXIMATELY 45MPH ON NORTHWEST EXPRESSWAY IN OKLAHOMA CITY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING HARD INSTEAD OF THE NORMAL SMOOTH SHIFTING. IT SEEMED AS THOUGH IT STUCK MOMENTARILY OR WAS EVEN SHIFTING DOWN INSTEAD OF UP TO THE NEXT GEAR. WHEN I GOT ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET GOING A…

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WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOPLIGHT TO APPROXIMATELY 45MPH ON NORTHWEST EXPRESSWAY IN OKLAHOMA CITY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING HARD INSTEAD OF THE NORMAL SMOOTH SHIFTING. IT SEEMED AS THOUGH IT STUCK MOMENTARILY OR WAS EVEN SHIFTING DOWN INSTEAD OF UP TO THE NEXT GEAR. WHEN I GOT ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET GOING AT A SLOWER SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN SHIFTED HARD. THE STRANGE SHIFTING HAPPENED AGAIN 2 DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED. MY HUSBAND LOOKED AT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID ON 3/12/13 AND THOUGHT IT APPEARED TO BE BURNT LOOKING. I TOOK MY CAR TO FENTON NISSAN WEST IN OKLAHOMA CITY ON FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2012 AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. AFTER KEEPING THE CAR MOST OF THE DAY, WE WERE INFORMED THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS BURNT, BUT DID NOT CHANGE IT AS THIS COULD CAUSE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WE WERE NOT CHARGED ANYTHING & WERE TOLD TO WAIT ON DOING ANYTHING ELSE AS THERE MAY BE RECALLS. THIS SEEMED STRANGE SINCE THEY ORIGINALLY TOLD US THEY HAD NOT HEARD FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS I HAD DESCRIBED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503228

85,000 miles · Mar 13, 2013
Power Train

TRANSMISSION IS BUCKING AND JERKING BETWEEN GEARS. CAR "SLIP" BETWEEN GEARS WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSES THE CAR TO REV IN NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AND THEN SUDDENLY "JUMP" INTO GEAR WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD SUDDENLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502716

121,000 miles · Mar 13, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE UPSHIFTED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE UPSHIFTED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

NHTSA ODI #10502706

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.