NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
948 reports100,000 miles · Jun 12, 2012
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN SECOND GEAR. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE BEFORE SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUF…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN SECOND GEAR. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE BEFORE SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT A REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE WOULD BE CONTACTED FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #10461352
78,000 miles · Jun 11, 2012
Power Train
SLAM SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND DRIVE, INTERMITTENT REV LIMITATIONS, HIGH REVS WITH NO TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT, STALL & ROUGH IDLE, FEELS LIKE SOMEONE SLAMS INTO THE BACK OF ME WHEN I COME TO A STOP, CAR REVS UP AND THEN HARD JERKS FORWARD VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CVT TR…
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SLAM SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND DRIVE, INTERMITTENT REV LIMITATIONS, HIGH REVS WITH NO TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT, STALL & ROUGH IDLE, FEELS LIKE SOMEONE SLAMS INTO THE BACK OF ME WHEN I COME TO A STOP, CAR REVS UP AND THEN HARD JERKS FORWARD VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10461241
68,000 miles · Jun 10, 2012
Power Train
TRANSMISSION JERKED HARD AND CAR TURNED OFF. THE TRANNY NO LONGER ENGAGES INTO DRIVE AND LITERALLY JUMPS INTO REVERSE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10461156
Mileage unknown · May 30, 2012
EnginePower Train
I BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS (JUST RIGHT OVER 100K MILES), I HAVE NOTICED MAJOR JERKING AND PULLING WHILE DRIVING OR SHIFTING GEARS. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC, BUT WHEN I START TO GO, IT TAKES IT A FEW SECONDS TO GET IN GEAR AND JERKS. I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH 2…
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I BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS (JUST RIGHT OVER 100K MILES), I HAVE NOTICED MAJOR JERKING AND PULLING WHILE DRIVING OR SHIFTING GEARS. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC, BUT WHEN I START TO GO, IT TAKES IT A FEW SECONDS TO GET IN GEAR AND JERKS. I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH 2004-2005 MODELS. ARE THERE ANY RECALLS AS OF YET? I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT MAXIMAS AND DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION, ESPECIALLY THIS EARLY ON! PLEASE HELP! THANK YOU! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10460050
70,000 miles · May 28, 2012
Service Brakes
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH A SERVICE RECORD AND A REPAIR OF OVER $2000 YET NISSAN REFUSES TO COVER THE REPAIR OR RECALL THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST INCIDENT IN MY VEHICLE OCCURRED IN OCTOBER 2011. IT HAS SINCE HAD THE SAME ISSUE THREE TIMES. THE CAR PU…
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THE VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH A SERVICE RECORD AND A REPAIR OF OVER $2000 YET NISSAN REFUSES TO COVER THE REPAIR OR RECALL THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST INCIDENT IN MY VEHICLE OCCURRED IN OCTOBER 2011. IT HAS SINCE HAD THE SAME ISSUE THREE TIMES. THE CAR PULLS WHEN BRAKING, MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND BRAKE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10459798
113,000 miles · May 24, 2012
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFTER GEAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF FOR A MOMENT TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT A DIAGNOSTIC WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE F…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFTER GEAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF FOR A MOMENT TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT A DIAGNOSTIC WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SUGGESTING THEY BUY THE VEHICLE BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
NHTSA ODI #10459534
87,000 miles · May 21, 2012
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT WAS MOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE VALVE COVER BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT WAS MOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE VALVE COVER BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
NHTSA ODI #10459072
70,000 miles · May 17, 2012
Power Train
MY CAR HAS A SHIFTING PROBLEM. IT SHIFTS VERY HARD BETWEEN 1 AND 2 GEAR. IT WILL ALSO REV TO HIGH RPM WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. LAST YEAR I TOOK IT TO A NISSAN MECHANIC AND HAD THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED AND THAT HELPED SOME, BUT THE CAR STILL SHIFTS VERY HARD AND BUCKS LIKE A BRONCO. I ONLY H…
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MY CAR HAS A SHIFTING PROBLEM. IT SHIFTS VERY HARD BETWEEN 1 AND 2 GEAR. IT WILL ALSO REV TO HIGH RPM WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. LAST YEAR I TOOK IT TO A NISSAN MECHANIC AND HAD THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED AND THAT HELPED SOME, BUT THE CAR STILL SHIFTS VERY HARD AND BUCKS LIKE A BRONCO. I ONLY HAVE 123000 MILES ON IT AND IT SHOULD NOT BE ACTING LIKE THIS. I'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS YEAR MODEL AND ALL THE ISSUES PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. I THOUGHT MAYBE I JUST GOT A LEMON, BUT IT SEEMS THERE WAS A LOT OF LEMONS IN THIS MODEL AND YEAR CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10458877
90,000 miles · May 17, 2012
EnginePower Train
1. TAKES ABOUT 5 SECONDS TO CLICK INTO GEAR AFTER THE SHIFT LEVER IS PUT IN "D" 2. VERY HARD JERKY SHIFTS BETWEEN 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 1ST AND ACCOMPANIED BY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. 3. TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR DURING REGULAR DRIVING ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO REV FREELY THEN JERKING BACK INTO GEAR WITH A LOUD CLUNK. THE IS FOL…
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1. TAKES ABOUT 5 SECONDS TO CLICK INTO GEAR AFTER THE SHIFT LEVER IS PUT IN "D" 2. VERY HARD JERKY SHIFTS BETWEEN 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 1ST AND ACCOMPANIED BY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. 3. TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR DURING REGULAR DRIVING ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO REV FREELY THEN JERKING BACK INTO GEAR WITH A LOUD CLUNK. THE IS FOLLOWED BY A BURNT OIL / ELECTRICAL TYPE SMELL THAT GETS INSIDE THE CAR AND EVIDENT OUTSIDE AFTER STOPPING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10458794
73,000 miles · May 17, 2012
Power TrainSuspension
I HAVE HAD MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS. PURCHASED IT FROM USED CAR DEALERSHIP. THE FIRST YEAR I HAD IT, I HAD TO GET A TRANSMISSION. I PURCHASED A TRANSMISSION FOR ABOUT 3000, AND STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE. THE CAR IS REALLY NICE EXCEPT FOR THE TRANSMISSION. I FOUND OUT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE COMPLAININ…
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I HAVE HAD MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS. PURCHASED IT FROM USED CAR DEALERSHIP. THE FIRST YEAR I HAD IT, I HAD TO GET A TRANSMISSION. I PURCHASED A TRANSMISSION FOR ABOUT 3000, AND STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE. THE CAR IS REALLY NICE EXCEPT FOR THE TRANSMISSION. I FOUND OUT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE COMPLAINING. I HAD TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL TRANSMISSION PLACES FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT, BUT THEY ALL SAY THESE CARS HAVE THAT PROBLEM, AND THEY THINK IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLE FOR THAT REASON. PLEASE HELP. I DO NOT WANT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR, BUT I HAVE TO HAVE TRANSPORTATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10458767