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
What owners actually said
1,425 reports
67,500 miles · Apr 22, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS PARKING WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVABLE CONDITION AND THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS PARKING WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVABLE CONDITION AND THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A CLAIM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 67,500.
NHTSA ODI #10327033
96,000 miles · Apr 21, 2010
Power Train
SHIFT SOLENOID IS GIVING ME PROBLEMS AT 90,000 MILES. THE CAR JERKS SOMETIMES WHEN TAKING OFF OR AT CERTAIN SPEEDS THE ENGINE MAY REV HIGH THEN JERK. A MECHANIC HAS EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS COMMON ON THE 2004 MAXIMA'S. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10326826
70,000 miles · Apr 19, 2010
Power Train
WHEN GOING UP HILL, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS GEARS AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STOP MOMENTARILY. IT HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY, MORE FREQUENT NOW THAN 5 YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST NOTIFIED NISSAN OF THE PROBLEM. I HAD TAKEN IT IN THE PAST TO 3 DIFFERENT NISSAN DEALERS, I GOT 3 DIFFERENT DIAGNOSIS. MADE MOST OF THE REPAIRS BUT THE TRANSMISS…
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WHEN GOING UP HILL, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS GEARS AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STOP MOMENTARILY. IT HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY, MORE FREQUENT NOW THAN 5 YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST NOTIFIED NISSAN OF THE PROBLEM. I HAD TAKEN IT IN THE PAST TO 3 DIFFERENT NISSAN DEALERS, I GOT 3 DIFFERENT DIAGNOSIS. MADE MOST OF THE REPAIRS BUT THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. I WAS FINALLY TOLD BY WOODLAND HILLS CALIFORNIA NISSAN THAT IT WAS THE COMPUTER LINK TO THE TRANSMISSION NOT RECEIVING PROPER SIGNALS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10326480
53,000 miles · Apr 19, 2010
Power Train
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS- '04 MAXIMA SE V6 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 53,000 MILES. EXPERIENCE SUDDEN AND SEVERE JERKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST - 2ND, 2ND - 3RD AND BACK DOWN. NO INJURIES OCCURRED, HOWEVER HIGH POTENTIAL FOR A FRONT TO BACK END COLLISION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10326275
9,500 miles · Apr 18, 2010
Power Train
2004 MAXIMA TRANSMISSION AUTOMATIC WITH / MANUAL PROBLEM AND POSSIBLE LINK TO A SENSOR? TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND WITH HIGH RPM'S WITH A DELAY THEN SLAMMING INTO GEAR. DANGEROUS WHEN HAPPENING IN TRAFFIC, CAR DOES NOT SHIFT FAST ENOUGH TO GET THE PROPER SPEED TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC COMING FRO…
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2004 MAXIMA TRANSMISSION AUTOMATIC WITH / MANUAL PROBLEM AND POSSIBLE LINK TO A SENSOR? TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND WITH HIGH RPM'S WITH A DELAY THEN SLAMMING INTO GEAR. DANGEROUS WHEN HAPPENING IN TRAFFIC, CAR DOES NOT SHIFT FAST ENOUGH TO GET THE PROPER SPEED TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC COMING FROM BEHIND. ALSO NOTICING THAT WHEN BRAKING FROM A HIGH SPEED GOING DOWN HILLS IT SEEMS TO BRING ON THE PROBLEM TOO. HAVE BEEN TO REPAIR SHOPS, AGAIN NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IT CAN BE WITH OUT SPENDING A ZILLION DOLLARS ON ALL THAT THEY THINK IT COULD BE. WAITING FOR A OTHER TRANSMISSION WHICH I FEEL THAT IT IS A WASTE BECAUSE IF THEY CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT THIS PROBLEM IS ON THIS TRANSMISSION THEN IT IS ONLY GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN ON THE NEXT .WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR A WHILE NOW ,BUT BECAUSE OF THE COST OF ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AND THE COST OF LABOR WE HAVE BEEN USING THE CAR AS CAREFULLY AS WE CAN. AFTER READING OF ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET HOPEFULLY SOMETHING WILL BE DONE. WE ARE PAST THE WARRANTY LIKE EVERYONE ELSE THAT HAS FILED A COMPLAINT . THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF FROM NISSAN A LONG TIME AGO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10326213
62,330 miles · Apr 17, 2010
Power Train
AT 50,000 MILES AUTO PRESENTED PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. JERKING AS IF SOMEONE HIT ME ON THE REAR BUMPER. CAR SLOWS DOWN ON STOP LIGHTS AND HIGHWAYS. TOOK IT TO NISSAN DEALER SHOP SINCE BRAND NEW AND ALWAYS TOLD THEM ABOUT JERKY MOVEMENTS. WHEN AUTO WAS 5 YEARS TRANSMISSION BEGAN HAVING SERIOUS PROBLEMS. TOOK IT TO NISSAN …
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AT 50,000 MILES AUTO PRESENTED PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. JERKING AS IF SOMEONE HIT ME ON THE REAR BUMPER. CAR SLOWS DOWN ON STOP LIGHTS AND HIGHWAYS. TOOK IT TO NISSAN DEALER SHOP SINCE BRAND NEW AND ALWAYS TOLD THEM ABOUT JERKY MOVEMENTS. WHEN AUTO WAS 5 YEARS TRANSMISSION BEGAN HAVING SERIOUS PROBLEMS. TOOK IT TO NISSAN DEALER AND THEY DID TRANSMISSION FLUSH. THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO A SCAN ON THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION. DISMISSED AS NOT NECESSARY (SEPT 2009). THEY ACKNOWLEDGED FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE CARS AND SUGGESTED A NEW TRANSMISSION. AFTERWARDS THE CAR HAS GONE BAD. I CALLED NISSAN REPS AT NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AND WAS REFERRED TO LOCAL OFFICE. FINALLY I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT IS SITTING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I FEAR FOR MY LIFE WHILE DRIVING. NOT ABLE TO CHANGE LANES OR ACCELERATE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10326146
125,000 miles · Apr 15, 2010
Power Train
HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT DOESN'T PROPERLY ENGAGE WHEN UPSHIFTING, USUALLY ALLOWING THE RPM'S TO REV UP AND THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR JERKING THE CAR FORWARD. I DON'T KNOW OF ANY EVENTS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS FAILURE. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS WARMED UP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10325802
84,000 miles · Apr 12, 2010
Power Train
TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AND IMMEDIATELY STALLED VEHICLE AT AN INTERSECTION NARROWLY AVOIDING A HEAD O COLLISION. NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER ABOUT SAFETY PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON FILE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10325194
91,386 miles · Apr 11, 2010
Power Train
WHILE TRAVELING TO FLORIDA FROM NORTH CAROLINA, I HIT A TRAFFIC JAM. UPON THE START AND GO, MY TRANSMISSION GAVE ME A WHIPLASH TYPE OF EFFECT. THE TRANSMISSION IS HAVING ISSUES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10324966
45,000 miles · Apr 10, 2010
Power Train
MY TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SLIPS FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD I HAD IT FLUSHED AND STILL AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. *TR
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.
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.
2004 Nissan Maxima Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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