NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
948 reports92,000 miles · Jan 4, 2013
EnginePower Train
I PULLED OUT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND MY NISSAN MAXIMA STALLED OUT, IT SEEMED LIKE IT WOULD NOT GO INTO FIRST GEAR, EVEN THOUGH I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR JUST WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR! IT CAUSED OTHER CARS TO HAVE TO SLAM ON BRAKES AND DRIVE ON THE SHOULDER TO AVOID HITTING ME AND EACH OTHER! MY CAR F…
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I PULLED OUT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND MY NISSAN MAXIMA STALLED OUT, IT SEEMED LIKE IT WOULD NOT GO INTO FIRST GEAR, EVEN THOUGH I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR JUST WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR! IT CAUSED OTHER CARS TO HAVE TO SLAM ON BRAKES AND DRIVE ON THE SHOULDER TO AVOID HITTING ME AND EACH OTHER! MY CAR FINALLY "JERKED" VIOLENTLY INTO GEAR. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THIS WAS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION, 4,000 TO FIX!! MIND YOU THEY WILL REPLACE IT WITH A NEW DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION THAT THERE IT NO GUARANTEE IT WILL LAST MORE THAN 1 YEAR! NOT A SAFE CAR TO DRIVE IN METROPOLITAN AREAS! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10491423
88,000 miles · Dec 28, 2012
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK, LUNGE AND SLAMMED INTO GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES, TYPICALLY IN THE LOWER GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT LEAST FIVE TIMES BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK, LUNGE AND SLAMMED INTO GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES, TYPICALLY IN THE LOWER GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT LEAST FIVE TIMES BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
NHTSA ODI #10490394
105,000 miles · Dec 27, 2012
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE WAS A VIOLENT JERK WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEARS, AND ALSO WHEN SHIFTING FROM SECOND AND THIRD GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE WAS A VIOLENT JERK WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEARS, AND ALSO WHEN SHIFTING FROM SECOND AND THIRD GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
NHTSA ODI #10490233
130,000 miles · Dec 21, 2012
Engine
IT HAS BEEN PROVEN AND REPORTED MANY TIMES ON THE INTERNET OF THE POOR DESIGN OF THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAINS, TENSIONERS, AND GUIDES FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF NISSAN. OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE HAD TO PAY HUGE REPAIR BILLS DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS THAT WERE PLACED IN THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURE…
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IT HAS BEEN PROVEN AND REPORTED MANY TIMES ON THE INTERNET OF THE POOR DESIGN OF THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAINS, TENSIONERS, AND GUIDES FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF NISSAN. OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE HAD TO PAY HUGE REPAIR BILLS DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS THAT WERE PLACED IN THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED. THEY WEAR OUT PREMATURELY AND THE ENGINE HAS TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE CAR TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THIS IS INEXCUSABLE ON THE PART OF NISSAN AND THE OWNERS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY THESE HUGE REPAIR COSTS TO REPLACE A PART THAT WAS DEFECTIVE IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10489439
104,000 miles · Dec 19, 2012
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING, SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND BACK FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY HARD, THEN AFTER A WHILE, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP BETWEEN GEAR CHANGES AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE LOCKED IN 3RD GEAR AND WILL NOT SHIFT AND REVS VERY HIGH AND SEEMS TO SLIP AT TIMES. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WOUL…
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WHILE DRIVING, SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND BACK FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY HARD, THEN AFTER A WHILE, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP BETWEEN GEAR CHANGES AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE LOCKED IN 3RD GEAR AND WILL NOT SHIFT AND REVS VERY HIGH AND SEEMS TO SLIP AT TIMES. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP AT SPEEDS AND REV HIGH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD CATCH AGAIN AND JERK THE CAR SIDEWAYS AS IF CHANGING LANES. VERY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING ON ANY ROAD WITH CARS AROUND. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10489274
85,000 miles · Dec 19, 2012
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER HE PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR IT WOULD JERK AND EXHIBIT A CLUNKING NOISE. IN ADDITION, IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE TO GO INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER HE PUT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR IT WOULD JERK AND EXHIBIT A CLUNKING NOISE. IN ADDITION, IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE TO GO INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
NHTSA ODI #10489271
132,000 miles · Dec 18, 2012
Power Train
I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT I BOUGHT IN 2010 WITH 87,000 MILES, I HAD THE CAR FOR 5-6 MONTHS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN OUT WAS TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY VALUE BODY ON THIS MODEL. I CALLED NISSAN CORPORATE AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO. I THEN SPENT $3,000 DOLLARS OUT OF MY POCKET TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT …
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I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT I BOUGHT IN 2010 WITH 87,000 MILES, I HAD THE CAR FOR 5-6 MONTHS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN OUT WAS TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY VALUE BODY ON THIS MODEL. I CALLED NISSAN CORPORATE AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO. I THEN SPENT $3,000 DOLLARS OUT OF MY POCKET TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND THAT HELPED FOR A YEAR AND HALF. WHEN THE MAXIMA HIT APPROX 130,000 MILES THE HARD SHIFTING, HANGING IN GEAR, POPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION RETURNED. THIS CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL COST A LOT TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. I FEEL THIS IS DEFECTIVE PARTS PUT TO USE BY NISSAN AND THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10489156
79,182 miles · Dec 7, 2012
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND MANEUVERING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING TO REVERSE, THERE WAS A SIX SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND MANEUVERING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING TO REVERSE, THERE WAS A SIX SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 79,182.
NHTSA ODI #10487651
75,899 miles · Dec 4, 2012
Power Train
I JUST TOOK DELIVERY OF A USED 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH A 5SPD AUTO TRANSMISSION. I NOTICED A FEW TIMES WHILE DRIVING TODAY THAT THE TRANSMISSION TAKES SOME TIME BETWEEN GEAR CHANGES AND AT TIMES CAN JERK PRETTY HARD AS IT CHANGES GEARS PARTICULARLY BETWEEN 1-2-3. IT APPEARS TO BE THE EARLY SIGNS OF A FAILING TRANSMISSION AS …
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I JUST TOOK DELIVERY OF A USED 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH A 5SPD AUTO TRANSMISSION. I NOTICED A FEW TIMES WHILE DRIVING TODAY THAT THE TRANSMISSION TAKES SOME TIME BETWEEN GEAR CHANGES AND AT TIMES CAN JERK PRETTY HARD AS IT CHANGES GEARS PARTICULARLY BETWEEN 1-2-3. IT APPEARS TO BE THE EARLY SIGNS OF A FAILING TRANSMISSION AS THE SHIFTING CAN BE VERY ROUGH. I NOW FEEL THAT PERHAPS NISSAN WAS NOT THE RIGHT DECISION, AND THIS WILL MOST DEFINITELY DETER ME FROM BUYING A NEW NISSAN IN THE FUTURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10487387
68,000 miles · Dec 3, 2012
Power Train
I BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA NEW IN JULY OF 2005-EARLY 2012 I START HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. IT WOULD STALL, HESITATE AND PULL FORWARD WHE I DRIVE. WHEN I REVERSE AND PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WOULD NOT MOVE FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN JUMP FORWARD. ITS SCARY AT TIMES WHEN I DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ENGI…
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I BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA NEW IN JULY OF 2005-EARLY 2012 I START HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. IT WOULD STALL, HESITATE AND PULL FORWARD WHE I DRIVE. WHEN I REVERSE AND PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WOULD NOT MOVE FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN JUMP FORWARD. ITS SCARY AT TIMES WHEN I DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ENGINE MOUNT-I HAD TO PAY OVER $800 TO GET IT FIXED. AFTER IT WAS FIXED, I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEMS. MY NIECE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS ALSO WITH HER ALTIMA AND WENT ONLINE AND FOUND SIMILIAR COMPLAINTS. SHE DROVE MY CAR ON 11/29/12 AND I TOLD HER TO BE CAREFUL, AND TO BE AWARE OF THE ISSUES WITH THE CAR-SHE HAD HER 3 WEEK OLD BABY WITH HER, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IF ANYTHING WAS GOING ON SHE COULD LET ME KNOW. SHE CALLED LATER ON AND SAID THE CAR SHE HAD BEFORE WAS DOING THE SAME THING AND IT TURNED OUT IT NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. SHE GOOGLED MY CAR AND FOUND 705 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING I WAS GOING THRU-I WAS AMAZED OF ALL THE COMPLAINTS, AND NOTHING SEEM TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. I CALLED NISSAN CONSUMERS AFFAIRS AND THEY WANT ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO NISSAN TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE IT, WHICH WOULD COST ME $99 OF WHIC I DONT HAVE RIGHT NOW. I TOOK MY NIECE TO GET HER CAR ON SATURDAY 12/1 AND A FEW OF THE SALESMEN THERE SAID YEAH THEY KNOW OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND ITS GOING TO COST ME TO FIX. I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE FROM NHTSA TO REVIEW ALL THESE COMPLAINTS AND HAVE NISSAN ACKNOWLEDGE WHATS GOING ON WITH THEIR VEHICLES BEFORE WE HAVE A FATAL ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10487172