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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
55,000 miles · Sep 19, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE VEHICLE RPM READING. THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIANS FLUSHED THE TRANS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE VEHICLE RPM READING. THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIANS FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED THE MOTOR MOUNTS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10425997

83 miles · Sep 16, 2011
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR HAS FAILED FOR A THIRD TIME. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS AT ~ 60,000 MILES, AGAIN AT 75,000 MILES, AND NOW AT 83,000 MILES. LUCKILY, I WAS LOCAL AND NOT ON THE INTERSTATE OR DOWNTOWN DALLAS. AFTER READING ALL THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ONLINE IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT THIS TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED O…

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THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR HAS FAILED FOR A THIRD TIME. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS AT ~ 60,000 MILES, AGAIN AT 75,000 MILES, AND NOW AT 83,000 MILES. LUCKILY, I WAS LOCAL AND NOT ON THE INTERSTATE OR DOWNTOWN DALLAS. AFTER READING ALL THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ONLINE IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT THIS TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED OR NISSAN HASN'T STOOD BEHIND IT'S PRODUCT.

NHTSA ODI #10426148

57,714 miles · Sep 15, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND WOULD THEN JERK VIOLENTLY INTO GEAR. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND DENIED …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND WOULD THEN JERK VIOLENTLY INTO GEAR. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE BODY WAS WORN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,714 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,714.

NHTSA ODI #10425636

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TRANSMISSION, EXPERIENCING JERKING WHEN IN 1ST & 2ND GEAR. EVEN WHEN IM ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I SLOW DOWN AND TRY TO SPEED UP AGAIN MY CAR WILL HESITATE AND JUMP INTO GEAR. I ALSO WAS EXITING FREEWAY WHEN MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, I COULD NOT STEAR, LUCKY FOR ME THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. I HAD BOTH OF MY KIDS WITH ME A…

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TRANSMISSION, EXPERIENCING JERKING WHEN IN 1ST & 2ND GEAR. EVEN WHEN IM ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I SLOW DOWN AND TRY TO SPEED UP AGAIN MY CAR WILL HESITATE AND JUMP INTO GEAR. I ALSO WAS EXITING FREEWAY WHEN MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, I COULD NOT STEAR, LUCKY FOR ME THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. I HAD BOTH OF MY KIDS WITH ME AT THE TIME!! I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND HAVE HEARD MANY NISSAN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AND THE CORPORATION IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE BARELY REACHE 70,000 MILES AND IM GETTING A TRANSMISSION PUT IN! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10425275

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2011
Electrical SystemPower Train

THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS IN THE NHTSA DATABASE ABOUT THE 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA!!! 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA PURCHASED NEW IN 2004. THE CAR KEEPS MAKING SUDDEN VIOLENT JERKING MOVEMENTS WHILE DRIVING CREATING A POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR A CAR ACCIDENT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR. I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR O…

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THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS IN THE NHTSA DATABASE ABOUT THE 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA!!! 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA PURCHASED NEW IN 2004. THE CAR KEEPS MAKING SUDDEN VIOLENT JERKING MOVEMENTS WHILE DRIVING CREATING A POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR A CAR ACCIDENT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR. I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS AND CAN NOT GO MORE THAT 35MPH. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE AFTER BEING AT A STOP. THERE IS A LONG HESITATION BEFORE THE CAR BEGINS TO DRIVE AFTER BEING PUT IN GEAR TO DRIVE. IT ALSO JERKS FORWARD SUDDENLY WHEN IT DOES DECIDE TO MOVE. SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T MOVE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. AT STOP LIGHTS I HAVE TO SHIFT GEARS AT TIMES TO GET IT TO MOVE. ANOTHER INCIDENT INCLUDED THE CAR NOT STOPPING. I HAD TO MOVE IT INTO FIRST GEAR TO GET IT TO STOP. THE CAR JERKS BACKWARDS WHEN REVERSING. WHEN THESE PROBLEMS STARTED THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN BECAUSE WE SUSPECTED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THEY TOLD US IT WAS NOT THE TRANSMISSION BUT INSTEAD MOTOR MOUNTS,RODS, AND BOLTS. I SPENT ALMOST $3,000 TO REPAIR IT AND THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. NOW, I AM BEING TOLD THAT IT IS THE TRANSMISSION AND GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $3100. NISSAN HAS DIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM. WE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT FOR THE 2004-2005 MAXIMA. THIS INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT NISSAN IS ACTUALLY AWARE OF. THE BATTERY HAS ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED 3TIMES. THE POWER DOORS NO LONGER WORK NEITHER DOES THE SUN ROOF. I HAVE TO DRIVE TO GET TO WORK AND TO GET THE KIDS TO SCHOOL. I DO NOT LIKE TO DRIVE WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR FOR FEAR THAT THE CAR WILL NOT STOP AGAIN OR THAT THERE WILL BE A COLLISION BECAUSE OF THE JERKY MOVEMENTS AND THE CARS HESITATION. NISSAN HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NO RESOLUTION HAS BEEN OFFERED AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10425125

83,000 miles · Sep 12, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT HARD ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR, THIRD GEAR OR REVERSE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A FAULTY SHIFT IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT HARD ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR, THIRD GEAR OR REVERSE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A FAULTY SHIFT IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,326 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ODI #10425089

82,530 miles · Sep 12, 2011
Power Train

MY TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING UP AND COMPLETELY WENT OUT. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST NISSAN BUT IT WILL BE MY LAST UNLESS THEY ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424702

69,000 miles · Sep 10, 2011
Power Train

I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION HAVING SERIOUS PROBLEMS WHEN IT STARTED SLIPPING REALLY BAD. AFTER A LITTLE WHILE I DECIDED TO TRY FOR NISSAN TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 77,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN. THIS ISSUE STARTED AT ABOUT 69,000 MILES. NISSAN TOLD ME TO TAKE IT INTO A DEALERSHIP AND HAVE A DIAGNOSIS DON…

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I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION HAVING SERIOUS PROBLEMS WHEN IT STARTED SLIPPING REALLY BAD. AFTER A LITTLE WHILE I DECIDED TO TRY FOR NISSAN TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 77,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN. THIS ISSUE STARTED AT ABOUT 69,000 MILES. NISSAN TOLD ME TO TAKE IT INTO A DEALERSHIP AND HAVE A DIAGNOSIS DONE ON THE VEHICLE AND SEND THE PAPERWORK IN. I DID JUST THAT. THEN A WEEK LATER I RECEIVED A CALL SAYING THAT NISSAN WILL NOT COVER MY REPAIR BECAUSE IT WAS SO FAR OUT OF WARRANTY. HOW CONVENIENT, THE VEHICLE STARTS BREAKING RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY GOES OUT. THIS WILL COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM THIS SERIOUS, OR ANY PROBLEM THIS EARLY IN THE LIFE OF ANY OF MY CARS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND NISSAN SHOULD STAND BY THEIR TERRIBLE PRODUCT AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE DAYS MY TRANSMISSION WILL LOCK INTO 5TH GEAR AND STAY THERE. IF I ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE IT WILL STILL BE IN 5TH GEAR. NISSAN IS GARBAGE AND I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN OR RECOMMEND NISSAN IF THIS DOES NOT GET TAKEN CARE OF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424591

72,000 miles · Sep 10, 2011
Power Train

MY CARS TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND SHIFTS HARD FROM FIRST TO SECOND THEN COMPLETELY FAILS TO GO INTO 3RD CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVER REV FINALLY SLAMMING INTO THIRD JERKING THE CAR HARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424562

79,000 miles · Sep 8, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO DOWNSHIFT WHEN IT WAS NECESSARY. THE DEALERS DIAGNOSIS CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO DOWNSHIFT WHEN IT WAS NECESSARY. THE DEALERS DIAGNOSIS CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,503. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ODI #10424315

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.