2004 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT SWAYS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AND SHIFTS HARD OR SKIPS OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. ONLY HAVE 59,500 MILES ON CAR AND FRONT STRUTS SWAY BAR SUB FRAME BUSHINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH STRUTS AND TRANSMISSION. *TR
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.
Suspension complaints
102 reports2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND SLOWED DUE TO TRAFFIC, VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITH A LOUD BANG. OCCURRED WHILE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED FROM 2ND GEAR TO 1ST. OCCURS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND GEAR INTO 3RD AND WHEN PARKED AND TRYING TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. TWO MECHANICS HAVE SUGGESTED TRANSMISSION …
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2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND SLOWED DUE TO TRAFFIC, VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITH A LOUD BANG. OCCURRED WHILE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED FROM 2ND GEAR TO 1ST. OCCURS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND GEAR INTO 3RD AND WHEN PARKED AND TRYING TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. TWO MECHANICS HAVE SUGGESTED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND APPOINTMENT MADE FOR SUCH. VEHICLE ALSO HAS A HORRIBLE STEERING WHEEL SHUDDER/SHAKING THAT GETS WORSE THE FASTER YOU GO (HIGHWAY SPEEDS) TOLD IT WAS STRUTS, SO THEY WERE REPLACED, NUMEROUS WHEEL ALIGNMENTS AND BALANCINGS TO CORRECT, WITH NO SATISFACTION. *TR
FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION, STEERING, BRAKES,BODY WORK, DRIVERS DOOR. HAD ISSUES RIGHT AFTER WIFE BOUGHT THE CAR SHE WENT WITHOUT ME BUT UPON LOOKING AT CAR AFTER SHE CAME HOME WITH IT DID THE CAR FAX ON IT ON THING WERE SOME ELECTRICAL CHECKS THAT'S IT NO ACCIDENTS. STEERING TIGHT WHEN I DROVE IT AND NOTICED NOISE FROM SUSPENSIO…
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FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION, STEERING, BRAKES,BODY WORK, DRIVERS DOOR. HAD ISSUES RIGHT AFTER WIFE BOUGHT THE CAR SHE WENT WITHOUT ME BUT UPON LOOKING AT CAR AFTER SHE CAME HOME WITH IT DID THE CAR FAX ON IT ON THING WERE SOME ELECTRICAL CHECKS THAT'S IT NO ACCIDENTS. STEERING TIGHT WHEN I DROVE IT AND NOTICED NOISE FROM SUSPENSION WHEN GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS AND DRIVER DOOR SAGGING. BROUGHT TO DEALER NEXT DAY AND THE SAID A BAR WAS RUBBING ON ANOTHER THEY FIX THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH SUSPENSION IN HEARING THINGS IS THERE EXACT WORDS AND REPLACED THE DOOR HINGES WHICH ARE PURPLE AND THE CAR IS RED DOOR SAGGING AGAIN BUT I WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT END OF 2008 GOT SIDESWIPED BY 2500 DODGE RAM TRUCK AT 45 MPH ON DRIVERSIDE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THAT BECAUSE BODY SHOP ON REPAIR DAMAGE NOT REPLACED I BROUGHT MY CAR TO ANOTHER BODY SHOP BECAUSE OF ISSUES IM HAVING AND THEY SAID WORK WAS DONE INCORRECTLY. AND TRANSMISSION HAS ALWAYS WHEN I DRIVE MORE THAN 20 MILES CONTINUOUSLY WHEN I COME TO STOP AND START AGAIN THE TRANNY ALWAYS SLIPS BAD BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND INTO 4TH SOMETIMES. *TR
WARNING SIGNS STARTED WITH A HARD SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND TO 3RD AT 45K MILES. DONE REGULAR TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE BUT PROBLEM REMAINS THE SAME. LATER IT STARTED HARD BANG OR JERK WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE OR REVERSE TO DRIVE. AT 112K MILES IT GOT WORSE AND THEN KNEW READING ONLINE ABOUT FAULTY VALVE BODY PROBLEM IN MA…
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WARNING SIGNS STARTED WITH A HARD SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND TO 3RD AT 45K MILES. DONE REGULAR TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE BUT PROBLEM REMAINS THE SAME. LATER IT STARTED HARD BANG OR JERK WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE OR REVERSE TO DRIVE. AT 112K MILES IT GOT WORSE AND THEN KNEW READING ONLINE ABOUT FAULTY VALVE BODY PROBLEM IN MANY 2004-2006 MAXIMAS TRANSMISSION. REPAIR COST IS TOO HIGH TO EVEN MENTION. SECOND PROBLEM IS TIMING CHAIN PLASTIC TENTIONERS. A WHAT? YES PLASTIC TIMING CHAIN TENTIONERS INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PROBLEM STARTED AT 50K AND CONTINUED AS OF TODAY. COMPLAINED TO DEALER WHEN CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND DELER SAID MY CAR IS RUNNING AWESOME. NISSAN LATER CHANGED THE DESIGN OF PLASTIC TIMING CHAIN TENTIONER. BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO HAS FAULTY DESIGNED TIMING CHAIN TENTIONERS? RESPONSIBLE PARTIES KNOWS ABOUT THESE ISSES BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. WHY THERE IS NO RECALL YET?
2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SHIMMY IN STEERING,TRANSMISSION JERK. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. IT HAS 97.000 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IT WON'T GO INTO DRIVE FROM PARK WITHOUT A 3-5 SECOND DELAY, IT DOSEN'T DOWN SHIFT PROPERLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IT'S TO THE POINT NOW THAT WHEN I COME TO A STOP IT DOWN SHIFTS SO ERRATICLY THAT THE TIRES…
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I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. IT HAS 97.000 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IT WON'T GO INTO DRIVE FROM PARK WITHOUT A 3-5 SECOND DELAY, IT DOSEN'T DOWN SHIFT PROPERLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IT'S TO THE POINT NOW THAT WHEN I COME TO A STOP IT DOWN SHIFTS SO ERRATICLY THAT THE TIRES CHIRP. I LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE OVER 150,000 PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE IT, WHICH I THINK IS A FALSEHOOD. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THERE CLEARLY IS A DEFECT WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THEM. THE FOG LIGHTS SHORT OUT AND BURN OUT AFTER LIMITED USE. I HAVE SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON FOG LIGHTS, NOW I JUST GAVE UP AND LEAVE THEM BURNED OUT. THE FRONT STRUTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
2004 AND NEWER NISSAN MAXIMAS HAS A SERIOUS STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AFTER 40MPH. NISSAN DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY ARE NO COMPLAINTS, BUT THE INTERNET IF FULL OF CUSTOMERS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR IS 6YEARS OLD BUT ONLY HAS 34,000 MILES. NEW TIRES, BRAKES,ROTORS,ALIGNMENT MULTIPLY TIRE BALANCES HAS NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM. ON …
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2004 AND NEWER NISSAN MAXIMAS HAS A SERIOUS STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AFTER 40MPH. NISSAN DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY ARE NO COMPLAINTS, BUT THE INTERNET IF FULL OF CUSTOMERS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR IS 6YEARS OLD BUT ONLY HAS 34,000 MILES. NEW TIRES, BRAKES,ROTORS,ALIGNMENT MULTIPLY TIRE BALANCES HAS NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM. ON THE INTERNET CUSTOMER HAVE REPLACED STRUTS, BEARING,CV AXLES AND PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THIS SEEMS LIKE A PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
I HAVE AN 04 NISSAN MAXIMA. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 04. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT 60000 AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP, A 200 DOLLAR TRANSMISSION FLUSH, AND THE REPLACEMENT OF A TRANSMISSION MOUNT, THEY FINALLY REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE T…
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I HAVE AN 04 NISSAN MAXIMA. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 04. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT 60000 AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP, A 200 DOLLAR TRANSMISSION FLUSH, AND THE REPLACEMENT OF A TRANSMISSION MOUNT, THEY FINALLY REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT STRUTS 3 TIMES, MY TIMING CHAIN $3500, AND NOW I NEED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AT 126,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN ON NUMEROUS BLOG SITES WITH PEOPLE WHO SHARED SIMILAR STORIES. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN 2003 IN CALIFORNIA. WITHIN MONTHS TO THE FIRST YEAR, I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END. I'VE HAD MY WHEELS ALIGNED, TIRES BALANCE NUMEROUS TIMES AND CHECKED DUE TO A SHIMMY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, TIRES WEARING UNEVENLY AND A CLANKING OR THUMPING NOISE IN THE FRONT …
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I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN 2003 IN CALIFORNIA. WITHIN MONTHS TO THE FIRST YEAR, I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END. I'VE HAD MY WHEELS ALIGNED, TIRES BALANCE NUMEROUS TIMES AND CHECKED DUE TO A SHIMMY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, TIRES WEARING UNEVENLY AND A CLANKING OR THUMPING NOISE IN THE FRONT RIGHT WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. THESE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD FOR YEARS AND COMPLAINED CONTINUOUSLY. HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP MANY TIMES FOR THESE PROBLEMS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. NISSAN FIXED NOISE AFTER 5 TIMES IN THE SHOP IN 2004 AND 2005. NOW OVER THE YEARS THE NOISE HAS COME BACK, BUT THE SHIMMY WAS ALWAYS A PROBLEM. I JUST LEARNED TO IGNORE IT UNTIL NOW. I'M READING NOW ONLINE OF OTHER MAXIMA OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M PLANNING ON APPROACHING MY NISSAN DEALER HERE IN FLORIDA ABOUT THE SHIMMY, ABNORMAL TIRE WARE AND CLANKIING NOISE AS WELL. CAN YOU HELP ME? *TR
2004 MAXIMA SL - CLUNKING NOISE ON THE FRONT FROM BOTH SIDES, THE CAR IS OVER 36,000 SO I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SINCE IT WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I THINK THE NOISE STARTED WHEN THE CAR WAS AROUND 40,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO GOODYEAR, THEY REPLACED THE STRUTS BUT THE NOISE NEVER WENT AWAY. YOU CAN HEAR IT T…
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2004 MAXIMA SL - CLUNKING NOISE ON THE FRONT FROM BOTH SIDES, THE CAR IS OVER 36,000 SO I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SINCE IT WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I THINK THE NOISE STARTED WHEN THE CAR WAS AROUND 40,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO GOODYEAR, THEY REPLACED THE STRUTS BUT THE NOISE NEVER WENT AWAY. YOU CAN HEAR IT THE MOST WHEN GOING OVER BRICK ROADS AND HUMPS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT WILL FALL APART. *TR
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.
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