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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
105,000 miles · Aug 27, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #10472625

62,000 miles · Aug 22, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED BUT FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED BUT FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ODI #10471889

80,222 miles · Aug 20, 2012
Power Train

MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. 1. THERE IS A MAJOR DELAY AFTER THE SHIFT LEVER IS PUT IN DRIVE 2. BETWEEN 1ST TO 2ND GEARS THE CAR CLUNKS AND JERKS INTO GEAR CAUSING THE TIRES SCREECH 3. AFTER ABOUT ONE HOUR OF DRIVING AND I COME TO A STOP, THE CAR WILL NOT TO MOVE OR RESPOND AS IT SHOULD. I CAN BE…

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MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. 1. THERE IS A MAJOR DELAY AFTER THE SHIFT LEVER IS PUT IN DRIVE 2. BETWEEN 1ST TO 2ND GEARS THE CAR CLUNKS AND JERKS INTO GEAR CAUSING THE TIRES SCREECH 3. AFTER ABOUT ONE HOUR OF DRIVING AND I COME TO A STOP, THE CAR WILL NOT TO MOVE OR RESPOND AS IT SHOULD. I CAN BE AT 3000 RPM AT A STOP SIGN AND THE CAR WILL JUST CREEP ALONG UNTIL IT BUILDS UP SPEED. IF I DON'T LET OFF OF THE GAS AFTER SPEED STARTS BUILDING UP TO 20 MPH, IT WELL CLUB AND JERK INTO GEAR ALMOST CAUSING THE CAR WILL TO TURN OUT OF CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471612

1,300,000 miles · Aug 13, 2012
Power Train

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I STARTED FORWARD, CAR MOVED AND THEN JUST REVVED. CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ME. CAR WAS MOVING AND THEN WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE SHIFTED, IT FROZE . WAS TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT AFTER THAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470454

118,200 miles · Aug 13, 2012
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

I WAS ABOUT TO PULL OFF FROM A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN I HIT THE GAS IT WAS LIKE I WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. CARS WERE BLOWING AT ME AND ALL. I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THAT THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE ABS, BRAKE, SERVICE ENGINE AND TNS/INS? LIGHTS WERE ON AND MY GAS HAND HAD DROPPED FROM 3/4 OF A TANK DOWN TO EMPTY AND…

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I WAS ABOUT TO PULL OFF FROM A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN I HIT THE GAS IT WAS LIKE I WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. CARS WERE BLOWING AT ME AND ALL. I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THAT THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE ABS, BRAKE, SERVICE ENGINE AND TNS/INS? LIGHTS WERE ON AND MY GAS HAND HAD DROPPED FROM 3/4 OF A TANK DOWN TO EMPTY AND THE LIGHT CAME ON. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND TURNED IT BACK ON. THE ONLY LIGHT THAT STAYED ON AFTERWARD WAS THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. MY GAS HAND NEVER WENT BACK UP TO THE 3/4 OF A TANK. I WAS NERVOUS THAT THE CAR WAS GOING TO CUT OFF SO I STOPPED AND PUT MORE GAS IN THE CAR. MY CAR NOW DRIVES LIKE THE BOTTOM IS FALLING OUT. IT'S SLOW TO ACCELERATE AND THEN PICKS UP ONCE YOU GET TO ABOUT 35 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470341

170,000 miles · Aug 10, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERKS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR OVER 20 MINUTES. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAG…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERKS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR OVER 20 MINUTES. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,000.

NHTSA ODI #10470109

75,000 miles · Aug 10, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 2 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE EXHIBITED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 2 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE EXHIBITED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE VALVE BODY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND SUGGESTED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED.THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE AND ADVISED TO HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10470103

72,000 miles · Aug 9, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI #10470034

155,000 miles · Aug 9, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND CHANGE GEARS INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND CHANGE GEARS INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI #10469992

79,562 miles · Aug 9, 2012
Electrical SystemPower Train

CAR REVS UP ON ITS OWN, ALSO SLIPS WHEN ACCELERATING I PARKED THE CAR AND GEAR WOULD SLAM WHEN SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE,REVERSE AND WHENEVER SHIFTED TOLD IT IS DUE TO A BAD BODY VALVE WHICH IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 2004 THRU 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA AND OTHER NISSAN MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469966

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.