SUDDENLY AFTER PUTTING MY CAR IN DRIVE FROM REVERSE AFTER BEING PARKED IN A PARKING LOT MY CAR JERKED SO BAD I THOUGHT MY NECK WAS BROKE. IT HAS CONTINUED. I LIVE ON A BUDGET AND AM DISABLED SO I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE OR MAKE REPAIRS ON MY TRANSMISSION.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Maxima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Power Train complaints
934 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A DELAYED RESPONSE WITHOUT WARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRANSMISSION JERKED VIOLENTLY WHENEVER THE GEAR LEVER WAS SHIFTED FROM THE PARK POSITION INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DI…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A DELAYED RESPONSE WITHOUT WARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRANSMISSION JERKED VIOLENTLY WHENEVER THE GEAR LEVER WAS SHIFTED FROM THE PARK POSITION INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WHEN DOWNSHIFTING AND WOULD SOMETIMES STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WHEN DOWNSHIFTING AND WOULD SOMETIMES STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
THE CAR STARTED BUCKING WHEN IS DOWNSHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR AND IT JERKS AND IT'S SLIPS. I HAVE A HUNDRED 100 THOUSAND MILES ON THE SPEEDOMETER.
WHEN AUTO IS IN MOTION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM LOW TO HIGHER GEAR ENGINE REVS TO EXCEEDINGLY HIGH RPM'S AS IF IN NUETRAL. WHEN LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR AFTER SLOWING THE TRANSMISSION REENGAGES WITH A VIOLENT JERK, VERY DANGEROUS AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS
WHAT IS WRONG WITH NISSAN? WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THE MAXIMA TRANSMISSIONS? SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT ! NOT EVERYONE HAS THE MONEY TO THROW AWAY ON A PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURER CAUSED. SOMEONE SHOULD REALLY HELP SOLVE THIS ISSUE. CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. SO MUCH FOR A RELIABLE CAR…
Read full complaint
WHAT IS WRONG WITH NISSAN? WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THE MAXIMA TRANSMISSIONS? SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT ! NOT EVERYONE HAS THE MONEY TO THROW AWAY ON A PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURER CAUSED. SOMEONE SHOULD REALLY HELP SOLVE THIS ISSUE. CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. SO MUCH FOR A RELIABLE CAR FOR MY SON TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO COLLEGE WITH. MY HUSBAND HAS SERVED THIS COUNTRY FOR CLOSE TO 25 YEARS AND IS SHOCKED THAT NISSAN IS NOT BEING MADE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR MISTAKES.
TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT ON THE HIGHWAY, ALMOST CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, HAD TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, WAS WRITTEN UP AT WORK FOR BEING LATE. I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO. NISSAN LOOKED AT IT SAID IT WAS FINE. 150,000 MILES
SAME PROBLEM AS MANY OTHERS WITH THIS HORRIBLE TRANSMISSION. AT LOW THROTTLE, MAJOR JOLT WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. JUST ABOUT RIPS THE ENGINE OFF IT'S MOUNTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOLENOID NEEDED T…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOLENOID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,000.
I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN INSPECTION, FOUND OUT THAT THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND THERE WAS A GOOD SIZE HOLE. IT COST ME A COUPLE HUNDRED TO FIX BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T PASS THE INSPECTION. THE NEXT THING WAS THE SLACK TIMING CHAIN, THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE A TRUCK. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT WOULD COST UP TO $…
Read full complaint
I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN INSPECTION, FOUND OUT THAT THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND THERE WAS A GOOD SIZE HOLE. IT COST ME A COUPLE HUNDRED TO FIX BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T PASS THE INSPECTION. THE NEXT THING WAS THE SLACK TIMING CHAIN, THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE A TRUCK. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT WOULD COST UP TO $3000 TO FIX. THEN THE BIGGEST SAFETY ISSUE IS THE TRANSMISSION, THIS ONE IS REALLY CONCERNING. THE JERKING, BUCKING, KICKING, CLANGING, THE SECONDS OF HESITATION BETWEEN DRIVE AND REVERSE AND THEN SUDDENLY IT ENGAGES AND THE KICK COULD GIVE YOU WHIPLASH. SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I'M IN A RODEO. WHEN THE CAR SITS FOR AWHILE (OVERNIGHT) THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH THE INITIAL START BUT ONCE IT WARMS UP THAT'S IT. YOU CAN'T ACCELERATE PROPERLY ONCE THE CAR SLOWS DOWN, OR IS MAKING A TURN, GOING AROUND A BEND OR COMES TO A STOP BECAUSE IT DROPS OUT OF GEAR, THEN THERE IS THE HESITATION AND AT THAT POINT IT JUST REVS, THIS HAPPENS 2 OR 3 TIMES BEFORE IT ENGAGES AGAIN THEN THERE IS A MASSIVE BANG AND THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD, BY THEN THE TRAFFIC IS RIGHT UNDER YOUR REAR BUMPER. AFTER THIS HAPPENS A FEW TIMES THERE IS NO MORE ACCELERATION, THE PEDAL HAS TO BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR FOR THE CAR TO MOVE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A MONTH OR TWO AGO AND HASN'T GONE OFF. THIS IS A REAL DANGEROUS, SAFETY ISSUE. A FEW DAYS AGO ANOTHER ISSUE APPEARED, I CANNOT OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WITH THE REMOTE DOOR OPENER OR THE ELECTRONIC DOOR OPENER ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR. AT THIS POINT I'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE ISSUES, THEY ARE ALL MANUFACTURE PROBLEMS BUT THE TIMING CHAIN AND TRANSMISSION IS THE BIGGEST WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE CAR WILL STOP. WHY HASN'T NISSAN DONE A RECALL????? THERE ARE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS.
Official recalls
205V512000 · 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
1PE04035 · 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.
Illustration