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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

Power Train complaints

934 reports
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72,000 miles · Dec 17, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WHEN THE PROBLEM INITIALLY STARTED YOU COULD HEAR A VERY LOUD RATTLING NOISE. NISSAN CERTIFIED DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. LAST MONTH THEY GAVE ME A LIST WHICH WAS HALF PRINTED AND HALF WRITTEN MEANING THAT THE MOST COSTLY, EXPENSIVE, AND IMPORTANT ITEM WERE NOT PUT IN THEIR DATABASE SYSTEM. THE CERTIFIED MECHANIC B…

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WHEN THE PROBLEM INITIALLY STARTED YOU COULD HEAR A VERY LOUD RATTLING NOISE. NISSAN CERTIFIED DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. LAST MONTH THEY GAVE ME A LIST WHICH WAS HALF PRINTED AND HALF WRITTEN MEANING THAT THE MOST COSTLY, EXPENSIVE, AND IMPORTANT ITEM WERE NOT PUT IN THEIR DATABASE SYSTEM. THE CERTIFIED MECHANIC BASICALLY TOLD ME TO GET RID OF THE CAR ( CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION DUE TO BROKEN TENSIONER, MAIN CHAIN). IN ORDER FOR THEM JUST TO CONFIRM THAT-THAT'S THE PROBLEM, IT WOULD APPS. TAKE 8 LABOR HOURS TO TAKE THE MOTOR APART. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS LITERALLY GOING TO FALL APART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10440297

Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10440149

74,600 miles · Dec 16, 2011
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR AND POPS BACK IN AT WILL, I'VE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC WHO SEES NO PHYSICAL SIGNS OF UNDUE WEAR. HE CLEANED FILTER AND PUT IN NISSAN TRANSMISSION FLUID TO NO AVAIL. I FEAR THIS DEFECT WILL HAPPEN AT AN INOPPORTUNE TIME AND GET ME OR MY FAMILY INJURED OR WORSE. HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLA…

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THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR AND POPS BACK IN AT WILL, I'VE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC WHO SEES NO PHYSICAL SIGNS OF UNDUE WEAR. HE CLEANED FILTER AND PUT IN NISSAN TRANSMISSION FLUID TO NO AVAIL. I FEAR THIS DEFECT WILL HAPPEN AT AN INOPPORTUNE TIME AND GET ME OR MY FAMILY INJURED OR WORSE. HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS EXIST ABOUT THIS CAR MODEL AND YEARS 2004-2006. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO SHIFTS VERY ROUGHLY IN LOWER GEARS, EVEN WHEN I EXPECT A BAD SHIFT I CAN'T TELL WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN.THIS OCCURS DURING SPEEDS OF 0 TO 60. I'VE READ NUMEROUS REPORTS OF MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION FAILURES AFTER NISSAN REPLACED THE ORIGINAL. THIS IS A FAULTY PIECE OF MANUFACTURING. NISSAN NEEDS TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OR RE-ENGINEER THE EXISTING ONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10440141

100,000 miles · Dec 14, 2011
Power Train

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2009 WITH 99,000 MILES ON IT. IT RAN EXCELLENT. AT THE FIRST OF THIS YEAR, 2011 IT STARTED HESITATING WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO 1ST. THE PROBLEM THEN PROGRESSED INTO WHEN LETTING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND REAPPLYING IT GOING TO 4 RPM THEN SLAMMING INTO GEAR. THE MAIN PROBLEM WOULD BE WHEN GOING BEL…

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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2009 WITH 99,000 MILES ON IT. IT RAN EXCELLENT. AT THE FIRST OF THIS YEAR, 2011 IT STARTED HESITATING WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO 1ST. THE PROBLEM THEN PROGRESSED INTO WHEN LETTING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND REAPPLYING IT GOING TO 4 RPM THEN SLAMMING INTO GEAR. THE MAIN PROBLEM WOULD BE WHEN GOING BELOW 40 MILES AN HOUR. TODAY, DEC 2011, IT SLIPPED AND SLAMMED INTO GEAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD BARELY GO. NISSAN SAYS I HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT $4500.00. I HAVE READ SO MANY FORUMS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2004 MAXIMAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. 600 PLUS... WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. HOW LONG BEFORE NISSAN HONORS THEIR CUSTOMERS AND DOES SOME TYPE OF RECALL ON THIS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10439920

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A OWNS A 2002 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A VALVE BODY NEAR THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A OWNS A 2002 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A VALVE BODY NEAR THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10439156

75,000 miles · Dec 6, 2011
Power Train

TRANSMISSION JERKS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. WONT SHIFT INTO 3RD. MAKES A VERY HARD JERK WHILE SHIFTING GEARS AND WON'T GO TO 2ND SOMETIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10438812

110,000 miles · Dec 3, 2011
Power Train

WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE THE HARD HESITATED AND SHIFTED HARD MAKING A LOUD NOISE. IT THEN DID NOT GO INTO DRIVE PROPERLY EITHER. IT HAS ALSO STARTED TO SHIFT HARD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10438205

105,000 miles · Nov 30, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR INTO DRIVE FROM REVERSE AND NOTICED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND JERK BEFORE IT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR INTO DRIVE FROM REVERSE AND NOTICED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND JERK BEFORE IT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #10437839

160,000 miles · Nov 22, 2011
Power Train

TOLD BY A TRANS. SHOP I NEED A NEW VALVE BODY & OR A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR MY 2004 MAXIMA. WAS TOLD BY THE SHOP THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH NISSAN MAXIMAS. OWNER SAID I WAS THE THIRD MAXIMA @ HIS SHOP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THIS MONTH! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436785

84,000 miles · Nov 10, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK ABNORMALLY BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK ABNORMALLY BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ODI #10435167

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.