IllustrationTHIS IS THE 4TH TIME THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT ON THIS VEHICLE, AND THIS TIME IT HAPPENED ON THE STREET. I FEEL I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO NOT GET STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AS I GOT THE VEHICLE HOME. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2006, THERE HAS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THESE VEHICLES.
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
1380–25K
10625–50K
28150–75K
34975–100K
260100–150K
55150K+
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 reportsTRANSMISSION KEEPS JERKING AND STALLING OUT KEEPS ON SLIPING DURING SHIFTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR JERKED, VIBRATED, AND HESITATED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS PRIOR TO RECEIVING A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR JERKED, VIBRATED, AND HESITATED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS PRIOR TO RECEIVING A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER'S REMEDY DID NOT PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
MY NISSAN MAXIMA JERKS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. ITS UNCONTROLABLE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT ISALSO DELAYED WHEN SWITCHING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. I COULD LIVE WITH REPAIRING THESE ISSUES IF THEY WERENT COMMON BUT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT IVE READ ABOUT WITH THE SAME ISSUES SHOWS ME THAT ITS NOTHING I DID. ITS CLEARLY A MANUFACTUR…
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MY NISSAN MAXIMA JERKS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. ITS UNCONTROLABLE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT ISALSO DELAYED WHEN SWITCHING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. I COULD LIVE WITH REPAIRING THESE ISSUES IF THEY WERENT COMMON BUT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT IVE READ ABOUT WITH THE SAME ISSUES SHOWS ME THAT ITS NOTHING I DID. ITS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND ITS A SHAME THAT NISSAN DOESNT STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS
CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHEN COMING OUT OF TURNS, SEEMS LIKE IT IS GETTING CAUGHT DOWNSHIFTING FROM WHAT MUST BE 3RD GEAR DOWN TO SECOND..WHEN IT CATCHES, THE CAR TAKES OFF AND ACCELERATES FORWARD QUICKLY. BOUGHT THE CAR WITHOUT A WARRANTY AT 79,000 AND AM SHOCKED THIS HASN'T BEEN MADE INTO A RECALL YET FOR THE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS N…
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CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHEN COMING OUT OF TURNS, SEEMS LIKE IT IS GETTING CAUGHT DOWNSHIFTING FROM WHAT MUST BE 3RD GEAR DOWN TO SECOND..WHEN IT CATCHES, THE CAR TAKES OFF AND ACCELERATES FORWARD QUICKLY. BOUGHT THE CAR WITHOUT A WARRANTY AT 79,000 AND AM SHOCKED THIS HASN'T BEEN MADE INTO A RECALL YET FOR THE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS NATURE OF THE PROBLEM.
TRANSMISSION SHIFT ERRATICALLY! SLIPS, CLUNKS, SLAMS INTO OR OUT OF GEAR! THERE ARE TIMES IT IS SO BAD THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE ON PUBLIC ROADS OR HIGHWAYS. SINCE I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM I HAVE READ MANY OTHER OF THE COMPLAINTS WHOM DESCRIBE THE SAME PROBLEMS. NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THIS CAR/TRANSMISSION. THE KNOW…
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TRANSMISSION SHIFT ERRATICALLY! SLIPS, CLUNKS, SLAMS INTO OR OUT OF GEAR! THERE ARE TIMES IT IS SO BAD THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE ON PUBLIC ROADS OR HIGHWAYS. SINCE I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM I HAVE READ MANY OTHER OF THE COMPLAINTS WHOM DESCRIBE THE SAME PROBLEMS. NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THIS CAR/TRANSMISSION. THE KNOW IT IS A DEADLY PROBLEM. IF THERE HAVE BEEN "UNEXPLAINED" INJURY OR DEADLY ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THE NISSAN MAXIMA THE NHTSB MAY WANT TO LOOK INTO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING AND CAUSING THE DEADLY ACCIDENT.
TRANSMISSION JERKS REALLY HARD WHEN DRIVING AND GOING INTO GEAR. ALSO WHILE DRIVING IT DOESNT WANT TO SHIFT AT TIMES.
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 76,000 MILES. NISSAN WOULD NOT HELP IN REPAIRS. FAILED AGAIN @ 139,000 MILES. SAFETY ISSUE WOULD BE WHEN CAR STOPS COMPLETELY AND YOUR CAR COULD GET REAR ENDED AND/OR WHEN IT JUST ALL OF THE SUDDEN SLOWS EVEN WHEN ACCELERATING. ALL THIS WITH LITTLE ONES IN THE CAR!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE OR DECREASE IN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.
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.