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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 · Apr 26, 2010
Power Train

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR. WHEN I DRIVE AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT JERKS REALLY HARD. WHEN I AM ACCELERATING IT DRAGS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO GO AND THEN JERKS AND STARTS BACK UP TO SPEED. NISSAN SAID IT IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM AND NIS…

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I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR. WHEN I DRIVE AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT JERKS REALLY HARD. WHEN I AM ACCELERATING IT DRAGS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO GO AND THEN JERKS AND STARTS BACK UP TO SPEED. NISSAN SAID IT IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM AND NISSAN WOULD NOT FIX IT. I SEE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE AND THEY HAVE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS AND DON'T WANT TO ADMIT, BUT I THINK SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE.. $4800 IS NOT POCKET CHANGE, AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. THEY SHOULD FIX THIS FOR FREE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10327539

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2010
Power Train

I OWN A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA, I HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN MY CAR. WHEN I FIRST TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP HERE IN MEMPHIS, TN, I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE AGENT AFTER TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE THAT I WAS NOT HAVING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BUT THAT I NEEDED MOTOR MOUNTS AMONG OTHER REPAIRS WHICH TURNED OUT TO…

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I OWN A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA, I HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN MY CAR. WHEN I FIRST TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP HERE IN MEMPHIS, TN, I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE AGENT AFTER TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE THAT I WAS NOT HAVING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BUT THAT I NEEDED MOTOR MOUNTS AMONG OTHER REPAIRS WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE QUITE EXPENSIVE...ABOUT 3 DAYS AFTER HAVING THESE REPAIRS DONE, I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AS BEFORE AND WAS THEN TOLD I NEED A TRANSMISSION (THIS WAS MY COMPLAINT WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN, I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION) AND THIS WOULD COST ME $3,000+ IN ADDITION TO THE $2,000+ I HAD ALREADY SPENT. EVERYBODY THAT I KNOW WHO OWNS THE '05 MAXIMA HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OR IS AT THE POINT OF COMPLAINING AND QUESTIONING TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THE DEALER NOR CORPORATE IS OWNING UP TO ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP THAT YOU ALL CAN GIVE TO GET NISSAN CORPORATION TO OWN UP TO THIS KNOWN DEFECT....THANKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10327148

130,000 miles · Apr 20, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2005 MAXIMA WITH THE VERY SAME TRANS PROBLEMS IN THE LOWER GEARS. HARD SHIFTING, SLAMMING INTO GEAR, ETC. FORTUNATELY, IT IS STILL DRIVABLE FOR NOW. I DON'T HAVE THE $3500 TO FIX IT. THIS AFTER JUST SPENDING $1700 FOR A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER 3 MONTHS AGO. THE CAR IS A MONEY PIT. NEVER AGAIN!!! TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT…

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I HAVE A 2005 MAXIMA WITH THE VERY SAME TRANS PROBLEMS IN THE LOWER GEARS. HARD SHIFTING, SLAMMING INTO GEAR, ETC. FORTUNATELY, IT IS STILL DRIVABLE FOR NOW. I DON'T HAVE THE $3500 TO FIX IT. THIS AFTER JUST SPENDING $1700 FOR A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER 3 MONTHS AGO. THE CAR IS A MONEY PIT. NEVER AGAIN!!! TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT I CAN STILL DRIVE IT UNTIL IT WONT GO ANYMORE. THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A VERY SAFE BUSINESS PRACTICE FOR A DEALERSHIP TO TELL ITS CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326727

69,000 miles · Apr 14, 2010
Power TrainCrashInjury

MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA'S TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING IN THE SEPTEMBER OF 2009, I HAD MAINTENANCE DONE ON THE ENTIRE CAR DONE INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION WHICH STOPPED THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. BY JANUARY OF 2010 THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AND WORST. THE CAR WOULD STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND IT TOOK ABOUT 5 SECONDS FOR THE CAR TO…

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MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA'S TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING IN THE SEPTEMBER OF 2009, I HAD MAINTENANCE DONE ON THE ENTIRE CAR DONE INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION WHICH STOPPED THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. BY JANUARY OF 2010 THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AND WORST. THE CAR WOULD STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND IT TOOK ABOUT 5 SECONDS FOR THE CAR TO CHANGE SHIFT. IT WOULD ALSO JERK VERY VIOLENTLY WHEN CHANGING SHIFTS, SO HARD THAT I WAS ALMOST PUSHED OUT TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I FINALLY HAD IT ON APRIL 5TH 2010 WHEN OUT OF NOWHERE THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT ENTIRELY. I WAS GOING UP A HILL AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LET GO SO IT STARTED GOING BACKWARDS FAST, I PRESSED FORWARD ON THE GAS ONLY TO GET A HARD REV AND NOTHING ELSE. I KEPT GOING UNTIL I HIT THE BRAKES HARD INADVERTENTLY MAKING ME HIT A TREE DENTING MY BUMPER. MY CAR IS NOW SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY UNTIL I COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO PAY FOR A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION. I SPOKE TO NISSAN AND THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE MY CAR TO A CERTIFIED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTICS RUN WHICH COST ME 100 DOLLARS. THEY OFFERED ME A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR 4500 BUT I HAGGLED DOWN TO 2500. I AM IN COLLEGE AND CANNOT AFFORD SPENDING THAT KIND OF MONEY. I AM STILL PAYING OFF THIS CAR AND IT IS CAUSING ME DISTRESS. IF I DON'T GET ANY HELP I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WILL DO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10325644

75,000 miles · Apr 13, 2010
Power Train

2005 MAXIMA SE....76,000 MILES...... I HAVE HAD JERKY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AROUND 0-20 MPH... I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS..... SOMEONE GET NISSAN TO DO A RECALL PLEASE... I'M SURE THEY CAN'T COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO REPAIR ALL OF MAXIMA'S TRANSMISSIONS FOR FREE, THAT IS PROBABLY THE ONLY THING HOLDING THEM…

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2005 MAXIMA SE....76,000 MILES...... I HAVE HAD JERKY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AROUND 0-20 MPH... I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS..... SOMEONE GET NISSAN TO DO A RECALL PLEASE... I'M SURE THEY CAN'T COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO REPAIR ALL OF MAXIMA'S TRANSMISSIONS FOR FREE, THAT IS PROBABLY THE ONLY THING HOLDING THEM UP...... WELL, BEING 23 YEARS OLD, WORKING 110 HOUR WEEKS DURING THE SUMMER FARMING.... I FOUND MYSELF BUYING A NICE 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA THINKING THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A DEPENDABLE CAR, WEEKS LATER I FIND OUT IT IS NOTHING BUT JUNK AND IS TOO LATE TO RETURN BACK TO NISSAN.... I'M SURE YOU GUYS HAVE DEALT WITH MANY OF OTHER 2004-2006 NISSAN MAXIMA OWNER'S COMPLAINTS... BUT IT'S TIME TO FORCE NISSAN TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND ADMIT FAILURE, AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO PUT AN END TO THIS NON-SENSE. I HAVE 4 YEARS OF PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR, THE LEAST THEY COULD DO IS GIVE ME A PROPERLY WORKING TRANSMISSION...... ALSO--- I HAVE READ MANY OF A/C COMPLAINTS, ALL WHICH REPORT OF A/C HOSE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED COSTING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS, MY AIR CONDITIONER JUST WENT OUT THE OTHER DAY..... GOOD THING I HAVE A SUN ROOF AND WINDOWS THAT WORK. THIS MIGHT AS WELL ALSO BE THROWN IN THE WITH THE RECALL. THANKS *TR

NHTSA ODI #10325271

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2010
Power Train

I AM FILING A COMPLAIN ABOUT MY NISSAN MAXIMA 05. I HAVE BEEN ON DIFFERENT WEBSITES WERE I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT OWNS THE MAXIMA 04-05 MODELS HAVE THE SAME COMPLAIN. AND THE COMPLAINS ARE THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE TRANSMISSION. I THINK NISSAN SHOULD STAND BY THEIR WORK AND DO A RECALL FOR THEY CAN SEE WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND F…

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I AM FILING A COMPLAIN ABOUT MY NISSAN MAXIMA 05. I HAVE BEEN ON DIFFERENT WEBSITES WERE I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT OWNS THE MAXIMA 04-05 MODELS HAVE THE SAME COMPLAIN. AND THE COMPLAINS ARE THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE TRANSMISSION. I THINK NISSAN SHOULD STAND BY THEIR WORK AND DO A RECALL FOR THEY CAN SEE WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND FIX THE PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL PAYING FOR THIS EXPENSIVE CAR AND CAN'T AFFORD TO PAYING FOR MANUFACTURE PROBLEMS. THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED. AND THE PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10324996

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WOW! THIS IS CRAZY! I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM> I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AND LATELY ABOUT A MONTH AGO WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE IT JERKS BIG TIME. THIS IS ON AND OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER FOR THEM TO SAY IT WAS MY MOTOR MOUNTS AND THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WELL AFTER HEARING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL…

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WOW! THIS IS CRAZY! I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM> I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AND LATELY ABOUT A MONTH AGO WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE IT JERKS BIG TIME. THIS IS ON AND OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER FOR THEM TO SAY IT WAS MY MOTOR MOUNTS AND THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WELL AFTER HEARING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL JUST WASTE MONEY TO GET THESE MOUNTS REPLACED. MY CAR HAS 81,000 MILES ON IT AND ITS BEEN DRIVEN LIGHTLY AND BABIED> I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WILL NOT HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. NOONE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY MONEY FOR AN ISSUE THAT'S OBVIOUSLY MESSING PEOPLE OVER! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10324599

72,000 miles · Apr 6, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA SLIPPING GEARS WHEN EVER YOU GIVE IT GAS. IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET IN A WRECK. I HAVE IT IN THE SHOP NOW AND THEY ARE TELLING ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND VALVE BODY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 77,000 MILES AND NISSAN WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. PLEASE HELP THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ONLINE CO…

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I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA SLIPPING GEARS WHEN EVER YOU GIVE IT GAS. IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET IN A WRECK. I HAVE IT IN THE SHOP NOW AND THEY ARE TELLING ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND VALVE BODY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 77,000 MILES AND NISSAN WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. PLEASE HELP THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ONLINE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE IT IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10323980

70,000 miles · Apr 5, 2010
Power Train

2005 NISSAN MAXIMA JERKS/SURGES FROM DIFFERENT AUTOMATIC GEARS CAUSING VEHICLE TO ESCALATE IN POWER. UPDATED 04/21/10

NHTSA ODI #10323884

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2010
Latches/locks/linkages

DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR IN 05 MAXIMA NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10323693

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.