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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

23 reports
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156,587 miles · Oct 3, 2015
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

ME RADIO AND GPS AND AIR AND HIT IS THE PROBLEM 1 DAY WORK OTHERS DAY NO

NHTSA ODI #10779498

99,000 miles · Sep 22, 2015
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

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

NHTSA ODI #10767521

111,000 miles · Aug 31, 2015
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

DURING DRIVING ITS JERKING AND BUMPING SHOWS "SERVICE ENGINE" ALERT. MECHANIC VERIFIED AND HE SAID MAY BE TRANSMISSION HAVE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10760351

86,000 miles · Aug 28, 2015
Unknown Or Other

VEHICLE IS SHOWING EARLY SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHEN SLOWING DOWN, DOWN SHIFTING TO THE LOWER GEAR IS HARSH. THE GEAR IS SLAMMED INTO POSITION AND DECELERATES THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS, MANY OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE HAD COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHICH LED TO A REPAIR COST BETWEEN $3000 AND $6000. …

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VEHICLE IS SHOWING EARLY SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHEN SLOWING DOWN, DOWN SHIFTING TO THE LOWER GEAR IS HARSH. THE GEAR IS SLAMMED INTO POSITION AND DECELERATES THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS, MANY OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE HAD COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHICH LED TO A REPAIR COST BETWEEN $3000 AND $6000. I FEAR THAT DURING THE WINTER TIME, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE LOST IN SNOWY CONDITIONS DUE TO A SUDDEN DECELERATION LEADING INTO A SEVERE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10759999

76,000 miles · Jul 18, 2015
Unknown Or Other

FLOORBOARDS ON '04 MAXIMA COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. CAR IS 1 OWNER, GARAGED, LOW MILEAGE. REAR SUB FRAME PART WAS REPLACED ON RECALL SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. REASON- NOT SUITABLE FOR NORTHERN CLIMATE. CAR WAS BOUGHT AND IS STILL IN ST. LOUIS AREA

NHTSA ODI #10734921

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2015
StructureUnknown Or Other

I JUST BOUGHT A 2004 MAXIMA ON AUGUST 2014.JUST BROUGHT THE CAR FOR A OIL AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT A HAVE A ROTTED FLOOR PANEL AN THE PASSANGER SIDE.WENT ON LINE AND NOTICE THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM.CAN YOU HELP? I DONT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE.I HAVE CHILDREN AND IAM AFRAID THAT THIS CAN CAUSE A ACC…

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I JUST BOUGHT A 2004 MAXIMA ON AUGUST 2014.JUST BROUGHT THE CAR FOR A OIL AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT A HAVE A ROTTED FLOOR PANEL AN THE PASSANGER SIDE.WENT ON LINE AND NOTICE THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM.CAN YOU HELP? I DONT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE.I HAVE CHILDREN AND IAM AFRAID THAT THIS CAN CAUSE A ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10730806

150,000 miles · Sep 7, 2014
Unknown Or Other

I AM THE FIRST AND ONLY OWNER OF THIS CAR. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. WHENEVER I SHIFT TO REVERSE THE CAR PAUSES AND THEN JERKS. SAME JERK BEHAVIOR HAPPENS WHENEVER I SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. *TR I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND HAD NEW MOTOR MOUNTS PUT IN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. FOR A FEW DAYS YOU C…

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I AM THE FIRST AND ONLY OWNER OF THIS CAR. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. WHENEVER I SHIFT TO REVERSE THE CAR PAUSES AND THEN JERKS. SAME JERK BEHAVIOR HAPPENS WHENEVER I SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. *TR I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND HAD NEW MOTOR MOUNTS PUT IN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. FOR A FEW DAYS YOU COULD BARELY FEEL THE JERKING WHEN SWITCHING TO REVERSE. LITERALLY BY THE NEXT WEEK IT WAS BAD ALL OVER AGAIN AND THE JERKING RETURNED. ALSO, SOMETIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING I CAN FEEL THE CAR "HESITATING" WHEN SWITCHING GEARS. FOR EXAMPLE, THIS MORNING I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND GOING ONLY AROUND 25MPH AND AS I STARTED TO ACCELERATE THE CAR JERKED AND SLOWED DOWN FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS BEFORE IT RETURNED TO MY NORMAL SPEED. THIS CAN BE VERY FRUSTRATING AND SCARY. ALL REGULAR SCHEDULED SERVICES (INCLUDING OIL AND FLUID CHANGES) WERE PERFORMED BY LOCAL PROFESSIONAL SHOPS. I WOULD LIKE TO GET MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY NISSAN AT THEIR EXPENSE.

NHTSA ODI #10631357

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2014
Unknown Or Other

I AM WONDERING HOW TO FIGURE OUT IF THE RECALLS ON MY CAR HAVE BEEN FIXED. I HAVE HAD IT UNDER A YEAR AND HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WHAT HAS BEEN RECALLED AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THEM FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610553

113,685 miles · Jan 30, 2012
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY FOR 30 MINUTES OR LONGER THIS HAPPENS. AFTER SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A STOP, WHEN STARTING UP THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO MISS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD. THE ENGINE RIVES UP LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS IN NEUTRAL OR PARK. AFTER SLOWING THE ENGINE DOWN AND STARTING UP AGAIN IT WORKS CORRE…

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WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY FOR 30 MINUTES OR LONGER THIS HAPPENS. AFTER SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A STOP, WHEN STARTING UP THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO MISS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD. THE ENGINE RIVES UP LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS IN NEUTRAL OR PARK. AFTER SLOWING THE ENGINE DOWN AND STARTING UP AGAIN IT WORKS CORRECTLY. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10445951

87,000 miles · Jul 22, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainUnknown Or Other

CAR JERKS WHEN GOING INTO 1ST, 2ND OR 3RD AND HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN 3RD GEAR WHEN DRIVING, HAD TO PUT IN MANUAL GEARS IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO WHEN PUTTING IN REVERSE CAR JERKS AND THEN WHEN YOU GO INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE JERKS AGAIN. A/C ALSO WENT OUT ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER OWNING THE CAR, WHICH WAS BOUGHT IN 2009. VEHICLE…

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CAR JERKS WHEN GOING INTO 1ST, 2ND OR 3RD AND HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN 3RD GEAR WHEN DRIVING, HAD TO PUT IN MANUAL GEARS IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO WHEN PUTTING IN REVERSE CAR JERKS AND THEN WHEN YOU GO INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE JERKS AGAIN. A/C ALSO WENT OUT ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER OWNING THE CAR, WHICH WAS BOUGHT IN 2009. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT BY DEALERSHIP AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE MAIN PROBLEM IS WITH THE CAR, AND SAID THEY WOULD FIX 2 THINGS TO SEE IF IT FIXES THE PROBLEM, ONLY IF I PAY THEM ABOUT $3000.00 TO $3500.00. DEALER DOES NOT KNOW THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THEY WANT TO CHARGE FOR "WHAT IF'S". CAR ALSO JERKS WHEN YOU BREAK OR SLOW DOWN WITHOUT USING BREAK SYSTEM. I AM AFRAID FOR MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF MY FAMILY.

NHTSA ODI #10415688

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.