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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
90,000 miles · Aug 22, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WHILE SHIFTING AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP. ALSO, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE VALVE BODY. THE VEHICLE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WHILE SHIFTING AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP. ALSO, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE VALVE BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10420969

62,000 miles · Aug 17, 2011
Power Train

I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDED TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION FLUSH WHICH I DID AND IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN SPEEDING UP FROM 1ST TO 2ND, 2ND TO 3RD WHICH MAKES THE RPM'S GO VERY HIGH. AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN IT SUDDENLY JERKS HARD WHEN DOWNSHIFTIN…

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I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDED TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION FLUSH WHICH I DID AND IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN SPEEDING UP FROM 1ST TO 2ND, 2ND TO 3RD WHICH MAKES THE RPM'S GO VERY HIGH. AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN IT SUDDENLY JERKS HARD WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. I TAKES A FEW SECONDS AFTER PUTTING IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE AND THEN IT JERKS HARD. ALSO WHEN STOPPING FROM A MODERATE SPEED, THE CAR SOMETIMES DOES NOT SHIFT DOWN TO FIRST GEAR AND THE ONLY WAY TO GO IS TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL OR SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND TURNING IT BACK ON. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN WHICH AFTER YOU ARE STOPPED AND YOU ARE UNAWARE THAT THE CAR DID NOT DOWNSHIFT BACK TO 1ST AND THEN YOU TRY TO TAKE OFF AND THE CAR TAKES OFF VERY SLOWLY. THIS IS WHEN IT CAN BECAME A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHAT IF THERE IS A CAR COMING AND YOU CANNOT SPEED UP. THE ONCOMING CAR CAN EASILY RAM YOUR CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10420415

65,000 miles · Aug 17, 2011
Power Train

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2005 MAXIMA WITH 65,146 MILES AND I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A VERY HARD KNOCK AND PULL WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTS GEARS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND ABOUT 100 COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I BELIEVE THEIR IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURES PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10419816

81,000 miles · Aug 17, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK AND WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO SHIFT WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE CHARGES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. NO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK AND WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO SHIFT WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE CHARGES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ODI #10419813

75,000 miles · Aug 17, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OFF, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SURGE. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY HARD AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE JERKING SO VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE BODY WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OFF, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SURGE. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY HARD AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE JERKING SO VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE BODY WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILD. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT UNLESS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,900.

NHTSA ODI #10419786

75,000 miles · Aug 16, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION MOTOR MOUNT. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE APPRO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION MOTOR MOUNT. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10419729

85,000 miles · Aug 16, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT GEARS UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY AND HESITATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT GEARS UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY AND HESITATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ODI #10419654

65,000 miles · Aug 15, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. ONCE THE VEHICLE RESPONDED AND ACCELERATED IT LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. ONCE THE VEHICLE RESPONDED AND ACCELERATED IT LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND SUGGESTED THE CONTACT HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10419436

110,000 miles · Aug 13, 2011
Power Train

MY 2005 MAXIMA 3.5 SL IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I SHIFT FROM "PARK" TO DRIVE (FORWARD OR REVERSE) THERE IS A NOTICEABLE LAG BEFORE THE GEARS CATCH. ON AN INCLINE IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE. WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A WHINE AND A DRAG FEELING AS IF THE ENGINE IS STRAINING BECAUSE IT IS IN THE WRONG GEAR. THERE…

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MY 2005 MAXIMA 3.5 SL IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I SHIFT FROM "PARK" TO DRIVE (FORWARD OR REVERSE) THERE IS A NOTICEABLE LAG BEFORE THE GEARS CATCH. ON AN INCLINE IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE. WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A WHINE AND A DRAG FEELING AS IF THE ENGINE IS STRAINING BECAUSE IT IS IN THE WRONG GEAR. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS RUNNING THROUGH ITS GEARS THAT IT APPEARS IT EITHER MISSES A MESHING OR IT IS JUST SPINNING FREELY AND WHEN IT KICKS IN THERE IS A JERK BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AND THEN WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN. THERE IS A JERK AND THUNK SOUND. SOME TIMES WHILE STOPPED AND SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE A NOTICEABLE LURCH FORWARD. I KNOW THAT THE TRANSMISSION/GEAR MESHING IS OFF BECAUSE MY GAS MILEAGE IS OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10419309

86,000 miles · Aug 12, 2011
Power Train

I OWN A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE CAR MAKES JERKING MOVEMENTS OCCASIONALLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT MAY HAPPEN AND IT FEELS AS THOUGH YOU ARE HITTING SOMETHING. TODAY ALL THE LIGHTS CAME, I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE MECHANIC IS SAYING TH…

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I OWN A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE CAR MAKES JERKING MOVEMENTS OCCASIONALLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT MAY HAPPEN AND IT FEELS AS THOUGH YOU ARE HITTING SOMETHING. TODAY ALL THE LIGHTS CAME, I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE MECHANIC IS SAYING THAT IT MAY BE MY TRANSMISSION...86,000 MILES!! I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I AM REPLACING A TRANSMISSION IN A NISSAN WITH 86,000 MILES. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN AND WOULD NOT RECOMMEND. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS AND AM SO DISCOURAGED. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE WITH RANDOM JERKING MOTIONS THAT NISSAN CANNOT DIAGNOSE. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR ITS TRANSMISSION. NISSAN DOES NOT STAND BY ITS CARS OR SERVICE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10418628

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.