NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
1,425 reports79,000 miles · Mar 23, 2011
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 79,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN FIRST OR SECOND GEAR THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND BEGAN TO BANG LOUDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNLESS THE CO…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 79,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN FIRST OR SECOND GEAR THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND BEGAN TO BANG LOUDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNLESS THE CONTACT ASSUMES THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
NHTSA ODI #10392624
58,000 miles · Mar 22, 2011
Power Train
TRANSMISSION JERKS ON MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES AND IM STILL PAYING FOR THIS VEHICLE. I DON'T USE IT MUCH AND I HAVE NOW 58,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR IS SUPPOSED TO BE RELIABLE AND I'VE GOT NOTHING. DEALER HAS NOT HELPED AND I CALLED NISSAN MOTORS OF AMERICA AND I TOLD THEM ABOUT ALL THE ON…
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TRANSMISSION JERKS ON MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES AND IM STILL PAYING FOR THIS VEHICLE. I DON'T USE IT MUCH AND I HAVE NOW 58,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR IS SUPPOSED TO BE RELIABLE AND I'VE GOT NOTHING. DEALER HAS NOT HELPED AND I CALLED NISSAN MOTORS OF AMERICA AND I TOLD THEM ABOUT ALL THE ONLINE COMPLAINTS AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR AND DON'T THINK ITS FAIR THAT I HAVE TO PAY 3500 ON A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BY NISSAN AND FIXED FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10392432
97,000 miles · Mar 21, 2011
Power Train
NISSAN MAXIMA 2004- TRANSMISSION(5 SPEED AUTOMATIC) SLIPPING PROBLEM BETWEEN GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE STARTED SLIPPING A FEW MONTHS AGO. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AROUND 04 AND 05. THEY ALSO SAID I WOULD NEED THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT($3500). I THEN STARTED L…
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NISSAN MAXIMA 2004- TRANSMISSION(5 SPEED AUTOMATIC) SLIPPING PROBLEM BETWEEN GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE STARTED SLIPPING A FEW MONTHS AGO. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AROUND 04 AND 05. THEY ALSO SAID I WOULD NEED THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT($3500). I THEN STARTED LOOKING ONLINE FOR A LESS EXPENSIVE SOLUTION. I THEN FOUND OUT THIS WAS IN FACT A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT OTHER NISSAN OWNERS WERE HAVING. I CALLED MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD IT WAS OUT SIDE OF THE 3 YEAR 36K MILE WARRANTY AND I WAS ON MY OWN. I THEN DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO GET THE PROPER ATHURAITIES INVOLVED TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10392324
78,500 miles · Mar 18, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND APPLIED THE ABS WHEN THE BRAKES LOCKED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ABS SENSORS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIR, THE BRAKES WERE NO LONGER LOCKING BUT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WOULD…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND APPLIED THE ABS WHEN THE BRAKES LOCKED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ABS SENSORS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIR, THE BRAKES WERE NO LONGER LOCKING BUT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC TO INSPECT THE CAUSE FOR THE ABS WARNING LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,500.
NHTSA ODI #10392181
59,875 miles · Mar 18, 2011
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT HARD WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED TWICE BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT HARD WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED TWICE BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED ANY FURTHER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,875.
NHTSA ODI #10392179
84,170 miles · Mar 18, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
I PURCHASED A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA IN AUGUST 2006, AND IT ALL SEEMED FINE FOR A BIT BUT ONCE I REACHED ABOUT 84K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. FIRST, WHEN I SHIFT FROM PARK TO ANY OTHER GEAR. IT SEEMS TO EITHER HESITATE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND ONCE IT DOES IT SHIFTS IN A HORRIBLE KNOCK! IT CONTINUES TO DO THE SAM…
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I PURCHASED A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA IN AUGUST 2006, AND IT ALL SEEMED FINE FOR A BIT BUT ONCE I REACHED ABOUT 84K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. FIRST, WHEN I SHIFT FROM PARK TO ANY OTHER GEAR. IT SEEMS TO EITHER HESITATE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND ONCE IT DOES IT SHIFTS IN A HORRIBLE KNOCK! IT CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL AS SLIP GEARS WHILE IN MOTION. IT USUALLY SLIPS FROM 1ST TO 2ND, OR 2ND TO 3RD. IT CAUSES THE CAR TO REV AND SHIFTS WHEN IT WANTS. THAT MAKES IT SNAP EVEN HARDER. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP WHICH PLACED IT ON THE COMPUTER. THE ERROR WAS A FAULTY CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (BANK 1). COST WAS $181.52. I'M STILL HAVING THE JERKING WITH SECOND GEAR BUT ONLY WHEN I SLOW DOWN EASILY. THE CAR SHIFTS NOW, BUT THE JERKING CONTINUES. THE LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FOR AROUND $3,500 IN ORDER TO ALLEVIATE THE JERKING AND TRANSMISSION SLIP ISSUE. I BOUGHT A NISSAN BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DEPENDABLE LONG LASTING CARS. I WOULD HOPE THAT IT WOULD LAST OVER AT LEAST 100,000 MILES BEFORE ANY SORT OF PROBLEMS WOULD EVEN OCCUR.
NHTSA ODI #10392088
75,000 miles · Mar 17, 2011
Power Train
2004 NISSAN MAXIMA, TRANSMISSION JUMPS AND MAKES LOAD NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO 1ST AND 1ST TO SECOND SOMETIMES. ALSO, REVS HIGH THEN SEEMS TO SKIP A GEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10390486
80,000 miles · Mar 14, 2011
Power Train
TRANSMISSION IN 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SLIPS AND LURCHES INTO GEAR. DEALERSHIP HAS LOOKED AT IT THREE TIMES BUT SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT, THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEED REPLACED. I AM FEARFUL TO PASS A CAR ON TWO LANE ROAD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP AND STALL LEAVING ME IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC W/O POWER TO MOVE OUT …
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TRANSMISSION IN 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SLIPS AND LURCHES INTO GEAR. DEALERSHIP HAS LOOKED AT IT THREE TIMES BUT SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT, THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEED REPLACED. I AM FEARFUL TO PASS A CAR ON TWO LANE ROAD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP AND STALL LEAVING ME IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC W/O POWER TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. THE SHIFTING IS NOT RELIABLE LEAVING ME VULNERABLE BY NOT KNOWING THE RESPONSE I CAN EXPECT FROM THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10390113
142,000 miles · Mar 14, 2011
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VALVE BODY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
NHTSA ODI #10390085
66,815 miles · Mar 9, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
PARTIAL BRAKE FAILURE WHEN APPROACHING HIGHWAY STOP LIGHT AT 45 MPH, DRY CONDITIONS. BRAKING DISTANCE MORE THAN DOUBLED AS FRONT BRAKES MADE VERY LOUD SCRAPING AND GRINDING SOUNDS (NOT TYPICAL ABS SOUND) WHILE NOT HAVING ANY STOPPING POWER - I APPEARED TO ONLY HAVE REAR BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO STOP JUST INSIDE INTERSECTION. LUCKIL…
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PARTIAL BRAKE FAILURE WHEN APPROACHING HIGHWAY STOP LIGHT AT 45 MPH, DRY CONDITIONS. BRAKING DISTANCE MORE THAN DOUBLED AS FRONT BRAKES MADE VERY LOUD SCRAPING AND GRINDING SOUNDS (NOT TYPICAL ABS SOUND) WHILE NOT HAVING ANY STOPPING POWER - I APPEARED TO ONLY HAVE REAR BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO STOP JUST INSIDE INTERSECTION. LUCKILY NO TRAFFIC WAS IN WAY, AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AS CAUSED BY RUST BUILDUP ON REAR HUBS DUE TO LACK OF A DRAINAGE CHANNEL/PORT ON REAR "KNUCKLES" (SAID DRAINAGE PORT WASN'T THERE), A KNOWN PROBLEM. WATER BACKUP IN KNUCKLE CAUSES RUST ON HUB AND ON ABS SENSORS, RESULTING IN PREMATURE FAILURE OF BOTH ABS SENSORS, WHICH IN MY CASE CAUSED AN UNEXPECTED STOPPING PROBLEM. BOTH REAR HUBS AND ABS SENSORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF OVER $1300. CAR IS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND GARAGED. DEALER IDENTIFIED THIS AS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND NISSAN DESCRIBED THE REPAIR IN SERVICE BULLETIN REFERENCE NTB07-016B, ALSO IN NHTSA DATABASE AS SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 07016, NHTSA ITEM # 10021681. THIS FAILURE WAS NOT ROUTINE AND ONLY THE LUCK OF THE SITUATION ALLOWED AN ACCIDENT TO BE AVOIDED. THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED IN 2007 AND I WAS UNAWARE OF IT, THOUGH NISSAN WAS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKES AND SHOULD TRIGGER A RECALL SO THAT OTHERS MAY BE ALERTED TO HAVE THIS REPAIR BEFORE MORE ACCIDENTS OCCUR.
NHTSA ODI #10389448
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.