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2004 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Maxima years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Nissan Maxima are substantially higher than the model-year median of 99.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

1,189 reports with mileage · 236 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 934 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 141 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 102 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

33 crash reports16 fire reports22 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

6 reports
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166,000 miles · Apr 18, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND I WAS GOING ABOUT 60MPH THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STALLS OUT I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE I COME WITHIN SECONDS OF BEING REAR ENDED I'M IN THE MIDDLE LANE SO I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MERGE OVER BUT GUESS WHAT I CAN'T BECAUSE THE CAR IS STALLED OUT SO I PUT CAUTION LIGHTS ON AND IT …

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND I WAS GOING ABOUT 60MPH THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STALLS OUT I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE I COME WITHIN SECONDS OF BEING REAR ENDED I'M IN THE MIDDLE LANE SO I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MERGE OVER BUT GUESS WHAT I CAN'T BECAUSE THE CAR IS STALLED OUT SO I PUT CAUTION LIGHTS ON AND IT TAKES ABOUT TWINS BEFORE THE CAR WILL EVEN START BACK UP AND WHEN IT DOES ITS GEARED UP TO WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A FIFTH GEAR AND IT BARLEY TAKES OFF I'M TALKING MY FOOT TO THE FLOOR AND IT'S TAKING OFF AT 2MPH COME ON NOW, SO CALL FOR HELP GET MY CAR TOWED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SAID IT WAS CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAD IT REPLACED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF CAME AND PICKED UP MY CAR HAD TO DRIVE THAT DAY 45MINS FROM WHERE I LIVED AND ABOUT E0MINS INTO THE TRIP BAM IT STALLS AGAIN AT 60MPH SAME SCENARY AFTER THE CAR COOLS DOWN IT STARTS BACK UP JUST FINE BUT AFTER 30MINS OF A CONSTANT DRIVE IT STALLS OUT AND I'M STUCK IN 5TH GEAR ....PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706406

98,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

CAR WILL NOT SHIFT RIGHT-- DEALERSHIP CAN'T REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND THEY DO WORK ON CAR AND IT DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. WE ARE OUT REPAIR BILLS AND THE CAR IS NOT FIXED BY NO MEANS. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617150

60,000 miles · Mar 20, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

UNSAFE START. ENGINE WILL HESITATE BEFORE GOING INTO GEAR AT THE SAME TIME WILL INITIATE HIGH RPM'S ON IT'S OWN CAUSING A UNSAFE START IN CROSSWALKS, DRIVEWAYS AND PUBLIC STREETS. THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WILL ENGAGE IN HIGH RPM'S ON ITS IN MULTIPLE GEARS BEFORE MOVING FORWARD CAUSING SUDDEN JERKS AND FAST STARTS. TRANSMISSION H…

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UNSAFE START. ENGINE WILL HESITATE BEFORE GOING INTO GEAR AT THE SAME TIME WILL INITIATE HIGH RPM'S ON IT'S OWN CAUSING A UNSAFE START IN CROSSWALKS, DRIVEWAYS AND PUBLIC STREETS. THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WILL ENGAGE IN HIGH RPM'S ON ITS IN MULTIPLE GEARS BEFORE MOVING FORWARD CAUSING SUDDEN JERKS AND FAST STARTS. TRANSMISSION HAS A HARD TRANSITION FROM GEARS CAUSING A VIBRATION THROUGHOUT THE CAR WHEN CHANGING GEARS. THE NISSAN NORTH AMERICA CORPORATION WAS NOTIFIED IN WRITING OF THIS PROBLEM IN 2012. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503817

86,000 miles · Jan 23, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC SHOP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL HUB AND THE ABS SENSOR SO I DID WHICH COST ME $800 DOLLARS. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THEY GET A LOT OF MAXIMA IN THERE SHOP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID IT WAS A NISSAN MANUFACTURERS FL…

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MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC SHOP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL HUB AND THE ABS SENSOR SO I DID WHICH COST ME $800 DOLLARS. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THEY GET A LOT OF MAXIMA IN THERE SHOP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID IT WAS A NISSAN MANUFACTURERS FLAW. SO MAKE THE LONG STORY SHORT AFTER I REPLACED THE HUB AND THE ABS SENSOR MY ABS LIGHT STILL STAYS ON AND NOW I NEED AND ABS CONTROL MODULE WHICH WENT BAD BECAUSE OF THE WHEEL HUB GETTING RUSTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10444971

84,000 miles · Apr 22, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, HydraulicWheels

THE ABS CONTROL MODULE ON THE NISSAN 2004 IS NOT ONLY FAULTY BUT DANGEROUS. THE PROBLEM COMES FROM A SHORT ON THE PASSENGER REAR WHEEL SENSOR SHORT WHICH IN TURNS CAUSES THE ABS MODULE TO FAIL. THE ABS MOTOR WILL RUN EVEN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION CAUSING THE BATTERY AND MOTOR TO BECOME VERY HOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10327048

94,000 miles · Feb 7, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS MY ABS SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE IN THE MORNING FOR ABOUT 5 MILES OR SO EVERY TIME I TRIED TO STOP. AFTER THAT THEY WERE FINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A FEW SHOPS AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE WHEN THIS WAS HAPPENING THE ABS LIGHTS WERE NOT SHOWING IN THE DASH THAT IT WAS PROBABLE THAT IT WAS …

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FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS MY ABS SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE IN THE MORNING FOR ABOUT 5 MILES OR SO EVERY TIME I TRIED TO STOP. AFTER THAT THEY WERE FINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A FEW SHOPS AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE WHEN THIS WAS HAPPENING THE ABS LIGHTS WERE NOT SHOWING IN THE DASH THAT IT WAS PROBABLE THAT IT WAS A BRAKE PROBLEM INSTEAD. I REPLACED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WITH NO LUCK. THREE MONTHS LATER THE WHOLE ABS SYSTEM FAILED AND BLEW OUT. *TW

NHTSA ODI #10307163

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.

04V326000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Jul 7, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SKYVIEW ROOFS, THE GLASS FOR THE ROOF MAY NOT HAVE BEEN QUENCHED PROPERLY AFTER THE FORMING PROCESS, RESULTING IN TEMPER IMBALANCE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CREATE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL STRESS IN THE GLASS AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE GLASS TO SHATTER, CREATING A RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE GLASS IN THE SKYVIEW ROOF. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

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

1

PE04035 · Glass Roof Shattering

Opened Apr 12, 2004 · Closed Jul 13, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON APRIL 12, 2004, BASED ON FIVE REPORTS INDICATING THAT THE SKYVIEW GLASS-PANELED ROOF, WHICH IS STANDARD EQUIPMENT IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA VEHICLES, WOULD SUDDENLY SHATTER WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE.FIVE INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO ODI, RESULTING IN CUTS TO THE HEAD, HANDS, ARMS, OR FACE.NISSAN DISCOVERED THAT THEIR SUPPLIER FOR THE SKYVIEW GLASS PANELED ROOF DID NOT PROPERLY QUENCH (COOL) THE GLASS AFTER IT WAS FORMED.THE RESULTING TEMPER IMBALANCE COULD CREATE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL STRESS IN THE GLASS AND CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE GLASS TO SHATTER.NISSAN REPORTS THAT GLASS PRODUCED BEGINNING OCTOBER 23, 2003 WAS PROPERLY QUENCHED.NISSAN HAS INFORMED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL RECALL 32,100 MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMAS BUILT FROM THE BEGINNING OF PRODUCTION THRU DECEMBER 17, 2003.IT REPORTS THAT VEHICLES BUILT AFTER DECEMBER 17 ARE NOT AFFECTED.TO CORRECT THE CONDITION NISSAN WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING SKYVIEW GLASS WITH NEW PROPERLY QUENCHED GLASS.NISSAN WILL BEGIN OWNER NOTIFICATION ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2004.ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY ONE COMPLAINT AND NISSAN REPORTS NO COMPLAINTS OF SKYVIEW GLASS PANELED ROOF BREAKAGE ON VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THE DECEMBER 17 DATE.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED, HOWEVER THE AGENCY WILL MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AS APPROPRIATE.