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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
Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2010
Power Train

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR 05 NISSAN MAXIMA. RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE WEB. THE COMPANY NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10344513

64,000 miles · Jul 20, 2010
Power Train

2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AUTO TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE RANDOMLY JERKS VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN, BUT IT IS GETTING MORE FREQUENT. JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 55,000 MILES ON IT, LESS THAN 10,000 MILES LATER I AM BEING TOLD I WILL NEED TO RE…

Read full complaint

2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AUTO TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE RANDOMLY JERKS VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN, BUT IT IS GETTING MORE FREQUENT. JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 55,000 MILES ON IT, LESS THAN 10,000 MILES LATER I AM BEING TOLD I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS QUOTED $ 4,200 BY THE DEALER. THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10344301

112,844 miles · Jul 19, 2010
Power TrainTraction Control System

THE TRANSMISSION JERKS SO WHEN DRIVEN IT STOPS TWICE N SHAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343960

105,000 miles · Jul 16, 2010
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK INTO FIRST GEAR WHEN BRAKING TO A FULL STOP AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK INTO FIRST GEAR WHEN BRAKING TO A FULL STOP AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR FOLLOWING THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. NEITHER THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10343648

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2010
Power Train

I PURCHASE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION JERKS WHICH CAUSE THE CAR TO ACCELERATE FROM GEAR TO GEAR. I HAVE SPOKEN TO NISSAN ABOUT THIS AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX IT. AFTER READING MORE THAN A HUNDRED COMPLAINTS THIS IS HAPPENING ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH MODELS FROM 2004 TO 2006 AND I THINK …

Read full complaint

I PURCHASE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION JERKS WHICH CAUSE THE CAR TO ACCELERATE FROM GEAR TO GEAR. I HAVE SPOKEN TO NISSAN ABOUT THIS AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX IT. AFTER READING MORE THAN A HUNDRED COMPLAINTS THIS IS HAPPENING ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH MODELS FROM 2004 TO 2006 AND I THINK NISSAN NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE PRODUCT AND RECALL THE YEAR MODELS THAT AFFECTED BY THERE FAULTY TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND HOLD NISSAN ACCOUNTABLE FOR THERE CARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343387

80,000 miles · Jul 12, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE TRAVELING 0 TO 5 MPH THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE ENGINE MOUNT WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE LOCAL MEC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE TRAVELING 0 TO 5 MPH THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE ENGINE MOUNT WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85000.

NHTSA ODI #10342767

100,000 miles · Jul 12, 2010
Latches/locks/linkages

DRIVERS DOOR LOCK DOES NOT LOCK/UN-LOCK WITH REMOTE ALL THE TIME. MUST USE KEY TO UNLOCK. ONLY NOTICE PROBLEM WITH DRIVERS DOOR LOCK AT THIS TIME. THIS FAILURE HAPPENS 75% OF THE TIME I UNLOCK MY VEHICLE. IT APPEARS TO ALWAYS LOCK, BUT I DO NOT DOUBLE CHECK THE LOCKING SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342573

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND IT'S NOT JUST ME, IF YOU GOOGLE FOR MAXIMA ABS ISSUE, EVERY ONE HAS BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS. APPARENTLY, THE HOLE NEAR THE RIGHT ABS SENSOR IS TOO SMALL FOR THE DUST PARTICLES TO ESCAPE WHICH CLOGS THE ABS AND SHORT CIRCUITS THE ABS MODULE. I LIVE IN NEW YORK STATE WHERE IT SNOWS …

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THE 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND IT'S NOT JUST ME, IF YOU GOOGLE FOR MAXIMA ABS ISSUE, EVERY ONE HAS BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS. APPARENTLY, THE HOLE NEAR THE RIGHT ABS SENSOR IS TOO SMALL FOR THE DUST PARTICLES TO ESCAPE WHICH CLOGS THE ABS AND SHORT CIRCUITS THE ABS MODULE. I LIVE IN NEW YORK STATE WHERE IT SNOWS HEAVILY SOMETIMES IN WINTERS. MY ABS MODULE BLEW UP BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. PEOPLE I HAVE SPOKEN TO HAVE HAD SAME EXACT ISSUE. IT'S AMAZING HOW NISSAN HAS NOT RECALLED THESE VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM. ABS SYSTEM NOT WORKING IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I DON;'T SEE HOW THEY CAN IGNORE THIS. NOT JUST THAT, THIS SORT OF BECOMES A SCAM SINCE THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND STILL NOT RECALLING IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342191

75,000 miles · Jun 29, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

NISSAN MAXIMA, AUTOMATIC, SE, 6 CYL. 3.5L MILEAGE 75,000. PROBLEM: NISSAN DEALER. CONVERTER HEAT SHIELD RATTLE AND CRACK IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. TO REPLACE CONVERTER NISSAN DEALER WANTED $1200.00 TO REPLACE. NISSAN WOULDN'T CONSIDER THE PROBLEM A DEFECT/ UNDER WARRANTY. MY SON'S CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340574

119,000 miles · Jun 22, 2010
Power Train

MY TRANSMISSION SKIPS AND RUNS ROUGH FROM 1ST AND 2ND GEAR... THE NISSAN MAXIMA IS 2005 AND HAS 127,000 MILES. THIS STARTED WHEN THE CAR WAS AT 119,000 NOW IT'S GETTING WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339480

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.