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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 →
1,425Owner complaints

Model-year median: 99

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
172
2001205
2002206
20031,425
2004948
2005576
2006129
2007
Compare all Maxima years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
934Tires
141Suspension
102Engine And Engine Cooling
70Service Brakes, Hydraulic
61
All reported categories
Electrical System
56Structure
56Engine
51Vehicle Speed Control
38Steering
37Visibility
30Unknown Or Other
23Equipment
20Seats
15Air Bags
13Exterior Lighting
9Latches/locks/linkages
7Wheels
7Electronic Stability Control (esc)
6Fuel/propulsion System
6Service Brakes
5Service Brakes, Electric
4Seat Belts
3Child Seat
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Traction Control System
2Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1Service Brakes, Air
1

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.

33 crash reports16 fire reports22 injury reports

What owners actually said

1,425 reports
152,000 miles · Mar 3, 2010
Power Train

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, WHEN YOU TAKE OFF IT SHIFTS NICELY, BUT WHEN IN HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT LOOSES GEARS, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS, SOMEONE MIGHT CRASH INTO ME, SINCE THE VEHICLE LOOSES SPEED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ALL THE TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. TO FIX THE PROBLEM I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION THEY DEALER (N…

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2004 NISSAN MAXIMA TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, WHEN YOU TAKE OFF IT SHIFTS NICELY, BUT WHEN IN HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT LOOSES GEARS, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS, SOMEONE MIGHT CRASH INTO ME, SINCE THE VEHICLE LOOSES SPEED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ALL THE TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. TO FIX THE PROBLEM I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION THEY DEALER (NISSAN) SAID WHICH WOULD COST ME AROUND $3500 OR $4000 DOLLAR WHICH IS RIDICULOUS FOR A VEHICLE THAT HAS FLAWS IN THE POWERTRAIN SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10316118

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2010
Visibility

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA, DEALER REPLACED GLASS IN THE SKYVIEW ROOF. *BF

NHTSA ODI #10313199

53,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Visibility

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY (MY NORMAL ROUTE HOME FROM WORK). SUDDENLY, I HEARD A VERY LOUD 'POPPING' SOUND. I OPENED THE SLIDING DOOR TO INSPECT THE ROOF, AND FOUND OUT THAT THE GLASS HAD SUDDENLY SHATTERED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10315970

89,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE ABS LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON MY CARS 2004 MAXIMA AND ITS MAKING A LOUD NOISE OFF AND AT LOW SPEED: REPAIR BILL 2600 THE DEAL STATED I NEED 2 REAR HUB 2 REAR SENSOR AND ACTUATOR CHANGE (ABS ACTIVATES WITH NORMAL BRAKING / ABS WARNING LAMP IS ON) C1110 CONTROLLER FAILURE IS THE PROBLEM ACCORD TO THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10315935

63,000 miles · Feb 27, 2010
Power Train

04 NISSAN MAXIMA STARTED SLIPPING IN 3RD GEAR AND FROM REV. TO DRIVE AROUND 63,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION AND VALVE BODIES NEED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SOLENOIDS. NOT TO MENTION A BROKEN AXLE WHEN TRYING TO CROSS TRAFFIC. IN LIGHT OF THE TOYOTA DEBACLE, WHEN WILL YOU MAKE NISSAN "DO THE RIGHT THING?" *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314878

95,000 miles · Feb 27, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN 1 AND 2. I TOOK IT TO A TRANNY PLACE AND THEY PLUGGED IN AND GOT ANY ELECTRONIC CODE. THE TRANNY CODE FOR MY MAXIMA WAS A 726 WHICH DEALS WITH THE ENGINE SPEED SENSOR. THE TRANNY TECH FOUND AN ARTICLE IN "TRANSMISSION DIGEST" THAT DEALT WITH A BAD VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR CA…

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I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN 1 AND 2. I TOOK IT TO A TRANNY PLACE AND THEY PLUGGED IN AND GOT ANY ELECTRONIC CODE. THE TRANNY CODE FOR MY MAXIMA WAS A 726 WHICH DEALS WITH THE ENGINE SPEED SENSOR. THE TRANNY TECH FOUND AN ARTICLE IN "TRANSMISSION DIGEST" THAT DEALT WITH A BAD VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR CAUSING HARD SHIFTING BUT THE ARTICLE WAS CONCERNING CODE 720. THE TECH ASSURED ME THAT HE HAD READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THE ENGINES SPEED SENSOR WAS PROBABLY THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT WANT TO REBUILD OR REPLACE THIS TRANNY AND IT APPEARS THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OVER THE WEB ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE REPLACING PARTS, FLUSHING THEIR TRANSMISSION, ETC BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THE HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND. THANKS FOR ANY HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314783

80,250 miles · Feb 22, 2010
Power Train

ON 02/19/10 WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 MAXIMA AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON A OPEN FLAT HIGHWAY, IT SUDDENLY DOWNED SHIFTED TO APPROXIMATELY 2ND GEAR. NOW IT WILL ONLY DO 40 MPH. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THEIR ARE SEVERAL OF 2004 MAXIMA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN ADVISE BY MY MECHANIC THAT IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $…

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ON 02/19/10 WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 MAXIMA AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON A OPEN FLAT HIGHWAY, IT SUDDENLY DOWNED SHIFTED TO APPROXIMATELY 2ND GEAR. NOW IT WILL ONLY DO 40 MPH. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THEIR ARE SEVERAL OF 2004 MAXIMA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN ADVISE BY MY MECHANIC THAT IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $3000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. MY VEHICLE IS NOW PARKED AND NOT DRIVE ABLE. I NEED HELP ! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312824

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2010
Power Train

WE HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA (AUTOMATIC) EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT I'VE ALWAYS NOTICED A SLIGHT JERK WHEN I ACCELERATE BUT NEVER THOUGHT TWICE. NOW THAT SAME PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE WHERE THE JERK IS MORE NOTICEABLE. I'VE GOTTEN A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND CHANGED OUT MY ENGINE AND RADIATOR MOUNTS AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM SEEMS T…

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WE HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA (AUTOMATIC) EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT I'VE ALWAYS NOTICED A SLIGHT JERK WHEN I ACCELERATE BUT NEVER THOUGHT TWICE. NOW THAT SAME PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE WHERE THE JERK IS MORE NOTICEABLE. I'VE GOTTEN A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND CHANGED OUT MY ENGINE AND RADIATOR MOUNTS AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR. SO I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND CAME ACROSS 339 COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE ALONE. HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2004/NISSAN/MAXIMA/AUTOMATIC+TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING ISSUE WHERE THE AUTO MECHANIC TELLS THE CONSUMER THEY NEED THEIR TRANSMISSION REPLACED. I HAVE 3 LITTLE KIDS AND DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO THEM. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312612

63,000 miles · Feb 21, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I PUT ON BRAKES WITH PEDAL & STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS DEC 2009, I TOOK IT TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS FOR THE PROBLEM & WAS TOLD I NEEDED FRONT & BACK BRAKES & ROTORS WHICH I PURCHASED COSTING OVER $700.00 AND THE PROBLEM WASN'T RESOLVED, I TOOK THE CAR TO JEFFREY NIS…

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MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I PUT ON BRAKES WITH PEDAL & STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS DEC 2009, I TOOK IT TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS FOR THE PROBLEM & WAS TOLD I NEEDED FRONT & BACK BRAKES & ROTORS WHICH I PURCHASED COSTING OVER $700.00 AND THE PROBLEM WASN'T RESOLVED, I TOOK THE CAR TO JEFFREY NISSAN DEALER IN ROSEVILLE,MI AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, THIS WENT ON FOR OVER A MONTH AND FINALLY THE ABS LIGHT & BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SAME NISSAN DEALER AT WHICH TIME I WAS INFORMED THAT MY ABS SYSTEM HAD WENT, COSTING ME $2400.00 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS(IN ADDITION TO THE $700.00 DOLLARS ALREADY SPENT FOR A TOTAL OF $3100.00 DOLLARS). I BELIEVE THE ABS SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED BY NISSAN AND LOOKING AT ALL THE OTHER COMMENTS REGARDING THE 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312446

57,000 miles · Feb 20, 2010
Power Train

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ONLY HAS 57000 MILES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD JUMP OUT OF GEAR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/29/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10312434

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.