IllustrationVIBRATION NOISE COMING FROM SUNROOF AREA WHEN SUN SHADE IS OPEN, BUT SUNROOF GLASS IS CLOSED. *NM
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
Structure complaints
56 reportsI WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEAR A LOUD POPPING NOISE. I BECAME STARTLED AND SWERVED. I LOOKED UP AND SAW THAT THE GLASS ON MY SKYVIEW SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO CARS NEXT TO ME NOR ANY TREES OVERHEAD. *AK
MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TURNED THE KEY AND SHUT THE DRIVER DOOR. WHEN I SHUT THE DOOR THE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED ALL OVER ME AND THE CAR. THERE WAS GLASS EVERYWHERE. THE GLASS THAT WAS LEFT ON THE SUNROOF WAS POINTING UPWARD. I GOT CUT ON MY HANDS AND MY HEAD WAS FILLED WITH GLASS. THERE WAS NO …
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MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TURNED THE KEY AND SHUT THE DRIVER DOOR. WHEN I SHUT THE DOOR THE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED ALL OVER ME AND THE CAR. THERE WAS GLASS EVERYWHERE. THE GLASS THAT WAS LEFT ON THE SUNROOF WAS POINTING UPWARD. I GOT CUT ON MY HANDS AND MY HEAD WAS FILLED WITH GLASS. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR SOUND OR NOTICE WHATSOEVER. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS IT CAN BE A SERIOUS HAZARD TO PEOPLE THAT ARE DRIVING AND THIS INCIDENT OCCURS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING A 2004 MAXIMA ( A RENTAL FROM ENTERPRISE) ON INTERSTATE 91 IN CT. ON 3/7/2004, OUT OF NO WHERE THE GLASS ROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD. GLASS COVERED ME AND THE BACKSEAT OF THE CAR. NOTHING HIT THE CAR, I WENT UNDER NO OVERPASSES, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME AT THE TIME. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND SUFF…
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WHILE DRIVING A 2004 MAXIMA ( A RENTAL FROM ENTERPRISE) ON INTERSTATE 91 IN CT. ON 3/7/2004, OUT OF NO WHERE THE GLASS ROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD. GLASS COVERED ME AND THE BACKSEAT OF THE CAR. NOTHING HIT THE CAR, I WENT UNDER NO OVERPASSES, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME AT THE TIME. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND SUFFERED MINOR SCRATCHES TO FOREHEAD AND ARM FROM THE SHATTERED GLASS. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THIS WAS SOME SORT OF DEFECT AND WANT THIS DOCUMENTED AS TO PREVENT FURTHER INJURY TO OTHER DRIVER'S OF THIS MAKE VEHICLE.*AK
WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE. I OPENED THE VISOR OF THE SKYVIEW AND THE ENTIRE GLASS WAS SHATTERED. I GOT OUT THE CAR AND ASKED THE GUY BEHIND ME IN A VAN IF HE SAW SOMETHING HIT MY CAR, HE SAID HED DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING HIT MY CAR. THE SKYVIEW WAS POPPED UP LIKE SOMEONE HAD PUNCHED …
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WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE. I OPENED THE VISOR OF THE SKYVIEW AND THE ENTIRE GLASS WAS SHATTERED. I GOT OUT THE CAR AND ASKED THE GUY BEHIND ME IN A VAN IF HE SAW SOMETHING HIT MY CAR, HE SAID HED DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING HIT MY CAR. THE SKYVIEW WAS POPPED UP LIKE SOMEONE HAD PUNCHED IT OUT FROM THE INSIDE. THE ENTIRE GLASS WAS SHATTERED. THE WEATHER THAT DAY WAS RAINY AND ABOUT 60 - 65 DEGREES. I HAD THE DEFROSTER ON 80 DEGREES FOR THE FRONT WINDOWS AND ALSO HAD THE BACK DEFROSTER ON. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THE WEB AND SO FAR HAVE FOUND TWO OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINT. *AK
THE CAR STARTED UP AND WAS RUNNING FINE. MY WIFE WENT BACK INTO THE HOUSE TO GET OUR DAUGHTER AND FOUND THE CAR HAD STALLED. THE CAR HAS NOT STARTED SINCE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SITUATION, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE CAR JUSTED STALLED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HATE TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING T…
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THE CAR STARTED UP AND WAS RUNNING FINE. MY WIFE WENT BACK INTO THE HOUSE TO GET OUR DAUGHTER AND FOUND THE CAR HAD STALLED. THE CAR HAS NOT STARTED SINCE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SITUATION, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE CAR JUSTED STALLED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HATE TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR. IN ADDITION, ACCORDING TO SEVERAL POST ON EDMUNDS.COM THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHER CONSUMERS. I HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT 3-12-03. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS COMING ON, LEAKING SUNROOF, CD NOT WORKING, A FOG/CONDENSATION BEHIND CENTER CONSOLE SCREEN, AND INTERIOR MOLDING COMING LOOSE. I HAVE CALLED NISSAN USA AND SPOKE TO MATT AT 310-771-8454 EXT 8454. IF YOU CAN HELP WITH THIS PLEASE CONTACT ME AT 410-239-0119. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS. *JB
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.