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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
58,000 miles · Dec 30, 2008
Power Train

DECEMBER 2007 - TOOK CAR INTO NISSAN DEALER BECAUSE TRANSMISSION WAS HESITATING AND SLAMMING HARD INTO THE "DRIVE" GEAR. DEALER DISCOVERED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. JANUARY 2008, I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK WITH A REMAN TRANSMISSION FROM NISSAN. FEBRUARY THROUGH MAY 2008 - TOOK CAR INTO DEALER A FEW MORE TIMES DUE TO ISSUE…

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DECEMBER 2007 - TOOK CAR INTO NISSAN DEALER BECAUSE TRANSMISSION WAS HESITATING AND SLAMMING HARD INTO THE "DRIVE" GEAR. DEALER DISCOVERED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. JANUARY 2008, I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK WITH A REMAN TRANSMISSION FROM NISSAN. FEBRUARY THROUGH MAY 2008 - TOOK CAR INTO DEALER A FEW MORE TIMES DUE TO ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSION AGAIN. OCTOBER 2008 - RETURNED CAR AGAIN TO NISSAN BECAUSE ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSION WAS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. TOLD ME IT WAS DUE TO (2) TORN ENGINE MOUNTS. I REPLACED THEM BY MY OWN LOCAL MECHANIC. A FEW DAYS AFTER THEY WERE REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING UP AGAIN. TOOK CAR BACK TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE (2) REAR ENGINE MOUNTS WERE CRACKED/TORN. I ENDED UP REPLACING THOSE AS WELL. ONE WEEK LATER, THE ISSUE CAME BACK. OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2008 - TOOK CAR BACK TO THE SAME NISSAN DEALER 3 MORE TIMES AND EVEN AFTER SHOWING THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THE HEAD TECHNICIAN THE PROBLEM THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS "NORMAL" AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL AN ISSUE AND WAS NEVER RESOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253160

71,000 miles · Oct 29, 2008
Visibility

TO NHTSA: I AM FILING A COMPLAINT AGAINST NISSAN CAR DEALERSHIP OF SHAKER HEIGHTS. ON OCTOBER 19TH, 2008, I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA SE ON THE HIGHWAY ALONG A STRAIGHTAWAY WHEN MY SKYLIGHT MOON ROOF SUDDENLY IMPLODE. IT WAS A LOUD BURST CAUSING SMALL MICROSCOPIC GLASS PARTICLES TO SCATTER THROUGHOUT MY INTERIOR.…

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TO NHTSA: I AM FILING A COMPLAINT AGAINST NISSAN CAR DEALERSHIP OF SHAKER HEIGHTS. ON OCTOBER 19TH, 2008, I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA SE ON THE HIGHWAY ALONG A STRAIGHTAWAY WHEN MY SKYLIGHT MOON ROOF SUDDENLY IMPLODE. IT WAS A LOUD BURST CAUSING SMALL MICROSCOPIC GLASS PARTICLES TO SCATTER THROUGHOUT MY INTERIOR. THE GLASS CUT MY ARM AND FLEW IN MY HAIR. I BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE SLIGHTEST POSSIBLE TWISTING OR TORQUE OF THE FRAME BENDING WITH THE ROAD. THE 2004 MODEL OF MY VEHICLE RECENTLY HAD A RECALL DUE TO THIS EXACT ISSUE. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURE IN JAN. 2005, I SUSPECT THAT IT WAS MADE UNDER THE SAME PARAMETERS AS THE 2004 MODEL. I BELIEVE THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED AS WELL DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION SINCE THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10247175

36,360 miles · Oct 29, 2008
Tires

TL*THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES, SIZE P195/60R15. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SIDEWALLS WERE SEPARATING ON THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE COMPANY AND THEY STATED THAT ALL FOUR SIDEWALLS ON THE TIRES WERE SEPARATING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE FILED CLAIM NUM…

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TL*THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES, SIZE P195/60R15. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SIDEWALLS WERE SEPARATING ON THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE COMPANY AND THEY STATED THAT ALL FOUR SIDEWALLS ON THE TIRES WERE SEPARATING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE FILED CLAIM NUMBER 1006415 WITH GOODYEAR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,366 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,360. UPDATED 11/17/08 *BF UPDATED 11/18/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10247103

89,900 miles · Oct 28, 2008
Latches/locks/linkages

ALL FOUR DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED, NO DOORS CAN BE UNLOCKED OR LOCKED VIA THE DOOR SWITCH OR THE REMOTES. VERY UNSAFE, CAN NOT GET CHILDREN OUT OF BACK SEATS WITHOUT REACHING INTO THE BACK SEAT THROUGH THE INTERIOR AREA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246906

70,000 miles · Oct 27, 2008
Power TrainInjury

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM W/ 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. HAVE DONE ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICE AND BEEN TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS WHO CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION JERKS INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING AND STOPPING IN SUCH A MANNER THAT SHAKES ALL PASSENGERS. I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM W/ NO …

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TRANSMISSION PROBLEM W/ 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. HAVE DONE ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICE AND BEEN TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS WHO CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION JERKS INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING AND STOPPING IN SUCH A MANNER THAT SHAKES ALL PASSENGERS. I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM W/ NO ANSWERS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246875

144 miles · Oct 23, 2008
Suspension

CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. SUSPENSION NOT PROPERLY FUNCTIONAL ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE. FEELS LIKE LOSS OF CONTROL MAY OCCUR. LOUD NOISE ON RIGHT SIDE WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE ABOVE 75 DEGREES. REPEATED TRIPS FOR INSPECTION AT DEALER. ON ONE OCCASION THE REAR SHOCKS WERE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246507

125,000 miles · Oct 21, 2008
Power Train

PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. HAS BEEN ADVISE THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246224

75,000 miles · Oct 15, 2008
Power Train

2004 & 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I OWN A '05 NISSAN MAXIMA SE AND AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS HUNDREDS (THOUSANDS?) OF OTHER OWNERS ARE. THE CAR HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM 1-2 AND 2-3 AND JERKS FORWARD LIKE YOU ARE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. THERE ARE TIMES THAT YOU WORRY THAT YOU CAN EVEN MAKE IT HOME SAFE…

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2004 & 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I OWN A '05 NISSAN MAXIMA SE AND AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS HUNDREDS (THOUSANDS?) OF OTHER OWNERS ARE. THE CAR HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM 1-2 AND 2-3 AND JERKS FORWARD LIKE YOU ARE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. THERE ARE TIMES THAT YOU WORRY THAT YOU CAN EVEN MAKE IT HOME SAFELY! WHEN YOU TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER THEY LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU NEED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION AT ABOUT $4,000. THIS IS CLEARLY A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY NISSAN IMMEDIATELY! IF I WAS THE ONLY ONE HAVING THE PROBLEM I WOULD UNDERSTAND BUT PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE FOR MORE DESCRIPTIONS! HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_61092.HTML. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245556

51,470 miles · Oct 2, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA 3.5 IN EFFINGHAM, IL. SHE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN OFF OF KELLER DRIVE ONTO WEST JEFFERSON STREET. AFTER THE LIGHT CHANGED, SHE PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE "BARELY" MOVED - THAN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED VERY QUICKLY - SHE THOUGHT HER FOOT MAY HAVE SLIPPED OFF THE ACCELERATOR.…

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA 3.5 IN EFFINGHAM, IL. SHE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN OFF OF KELLER DRIVE ONTO WEST JEFFERSON STREET. AFTER THE LIGHT CHANGED, SHE PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE "BARELY" MOVED - THAN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED VERY QUICKLY - SHE THOUGHT HER FOOT MAY HAVE SLIPPED OFF THE ACCELERATOR. SHE DROVE FIVE BLOCKS AND CAME TO A STOP INTERSECTION OF MAPLE STREET AND JEFFERSON STREET. AFTER STOPPING SHE BEGAN TO PROCEED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN. AFTER LEAVING EFFINGHAM SHE DROVE HOME TO METROPOLIS WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 160 MILES. I CAME HOME FROM WORK AND SHE EXPLAINED THE TWO INCIDENTS THAT HAD OCCURRED IN EFFINGHAM. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IN A FEW SECONDS THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT APPEARED. I CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL AND IT STATED THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT MAY BE THE RESULT OF AN IMPROPER FITTING FUEL TANK CAP. I CHECKED THE FUEL TANK CAP AND IT APPEARED ON CORRECTLY. I REMOVED THE FUEL TANK CAP AND RESET IT AGAIN AS THE OWNER MANUAL STATED. ACCORDING TO NISSAN THE LIGHT MAY GO OFF AFTER A SHORT TRIP. WE DROVE TO PADUCAH KY. AND RETURNED TO METROPOLIS - APPROXIMATELY A 20 MILE ROUND TRIP. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT REMAINED ON. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE, WHICH HAS 51,000 MILES ON IT TO A LOCAL GARAGE (A1 AUTOMOTIVE). A1 TECH'S PLACED THE VEHICLE ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE WHICH INDICATED THE CODE IDLE ADAPTATION. A1 SERVICE PERSONNEL CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND ADVISED THAT IF THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT RETURNS OR THE SAME ACCELERATION PROBLEMS RETURN THAN THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDS REPLACED. THE NEED TO REPLACE A FAULTY THROTTLE BODY WHEN A VEHICLE HAS 50,000 SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE NISSAN OWNERS MANUAL. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AT CENTRALIA, IL. AND WE CAN PROVIDE ALL SERVICE DOCUMENTATION. WE WANT TO GO ON RECORD AND REPORT THIS PROBLEM WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244264

48,000 miles · Oct 1, 2008
Power Train

I HAVE A 2008 MAXIMA SE WHICH I PURCHASED LAST YEAR. THE CAR CONTINUES TO JERK (HARD) WHEN THE CAR IS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD, AND IT ALSO HAPPENS ON THE DOWNSHIFT FROM 2ND TO 1ST. THE CAR WAS PROBLEM-FREE FOR THE 1ST YEAR BUT FOR THE PAST 3-4 MONTHS IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. THE JERKING GETS SO BAD, IT FEELS LIK…

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I HAVE A 2008 MAXIMA SE WHICH I PURCHASED LAST YEAR. THE CAR CONTINUES TO JERK (HARD) WHEN THE CAR IS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD, AND IT ALSO HAPPENS ON THE DOWNSHIFT FROM 2ND TO 1ST. THE CAR WAS PROBLEM-FREE FOR THE 1ST YEAR BUT FOR THE PAST 3-4 MONTHS IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. THE JERKING GETS SO BAD, IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE GETTING PUNCHED! THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND RARELY OCCURS ON THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN GET THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE FIXED...AT NO COST TO THE OWNER SINCE IT'S OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKE WITH OTHER NISSAN MAXIMA OWNERS AND HAVE READ SEVERAL FORUMS AND THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244094

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.