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2005 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Maxima years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Nissan Maxima are substantially higher than the model-year median of 99.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

822 reports with mileage · 126 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 777 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports10 fire reports19 injury reports

Equipment complaints

5 reports
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95,000 miles · Oct 29, 2015
EngineEquipment

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,00…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 08/16/16*LJ *JS

NHTSA ODI #10787069

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2011
Electrical SystemEquipmentPower Train

2005 NISSAN MAXIMA PURCHASED NEW IN 2004. THE CAR KEEPS MAKING SUDDEN VIOLENT JERKING MOVEMENTS WHILE DRIVING CREATING A POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR A CAR ACCIDENT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR. I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS AND CAN NOT GO MORE THAT 35MPH. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING W…

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2005 NISSAN MAXIMA PURCHASED NEW IN 2004. THE CAR KEEPS MAKING SUDDEN VIOLENT JERKING MOVEMENTS WHILE DRIVING CREATING A POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR A CAR ACCIDENT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR. I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS AND CAN NOT GO MORE THAT 35MPH. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE AFTER BEING AT A STOP. THERE IS A LONG HESITATION BEFORE THE CAR BEGINS TO DRIVE AFTER BEING PUT IN GEAR TO DRIVE. IT ALSO JERKS FORWARD SUDDENLY WHEN IT DOES DECIDE TO MOVE. SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T MOVE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. AT STOP LIGHTS I HAVE TO SHIFT GEARS AT TIMES TO GET IT TO MOVE. ANOTHER INCIDENT INCLUDED THE CAR NOT STOPPING. I HAD TO MOVE IT INTO FIRST GEAR TO GET IT TO STOP. THE CAR JERKS BACKWARDS WHEN REVERSING. WHEN THESE PROBLEMS STARTED THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN BECAUSE WE SUSPECTED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THEY TOLD US IT WAS NOT THE TRANSMISSION BUT INSTEAD MOTOR MOUNTS,RODS, AND BOLTS. I SPENT ALMOST $3,000 TO REPAIR IT AND THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. NOW, I AM BEING TOLD THAT IT IS THE TRANSMISSION AND GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $3100. NISSAN HAS DIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM. WE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT FOR THE 2004-2005 MAXIMA. THIS INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT NISSAN IS ACTUALLY AWARE OF. THE BATTERY HAS ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED 3TIMES. THE POWER DOORS NO LONGER WORK NEITHER DOES THE SUN ROOF. I HAVE TO DRIVE TO GET TO WORK AND TO GET THE KIDS TO SCHOOL. I DO NOT LIKE TO DRIVE WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR FOR FEAR THAT THE CAR WILL NOT STOP AGAIN OR THAT THERE WILL BE A COLLISION BECAUSE OF THE JERKY MOVEMENTS AND THE CARS HESITATION. NISSAN HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NO RESOLUTION HAS BEEN OFFERED AT THIS TIME. CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10417883

65,000 miles · Jun 6, 2011
EquipmentPower Train

TRANSMISSION ISSUES. AFTER 65,000 MILES 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA JERKS BETWEEN LOW GEARS SHIFTS AND SLIPS FREQUENTLY DURING NORMAL DRIVING. A TRANSMISSION FLUSH HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS VEHICLE AS RECOMMENDED BY NISSAN SERVICE STAFF HOWEVER ISSUES CONTINUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10404549

92,600 miles · Aug 26, 2010
Equipment

2005 NISSAN MAXIMA SL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE CAR HAS A REAL PROBLEM GOING INTO GEAR FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352213

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2010
EquipmentPower Train

I LEASED A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AND FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CAR SO MUCH THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR WHEN THE LEASE WAS UP. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I BEGAN SMELLING BURNED OIL. I ALSO NOTICED THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK REALLY HARD GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND GOING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT T…

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I LEASED A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AND FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CAR SO MUCH THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR WHEN THE LEASE WAS UP. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I BEGAN SMELLING BURNED OIL. I ALSO NOTICED THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK REALLY HARD GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND GOING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING BAD AND THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE IT. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 44K MILES ON IT AT THIS POINT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REMANUFACTURED ONE. THE CAR WAS FINED BUT SEEMED NOT TO HAVE THE SAME POWER. ANYHOW, THREE MONTHS IN TO HAVING THE REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO THE DRIVING GEAR. THE CAR WOULD ONLY MOVE IN REVERSE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 46,524 MILES ON IT. *TW

NHTSA ODI #10307310

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.

05V338000 · Child Seat:latch Strap

Jul 26, 2005

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE LOWER ANCHORAGE BRACKETS IN THE REAR SEATS DO NOT MEET THE LOCATION REQUIREMENT IN THIS STANDARD. THIS MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY IN ATTACHING SOME CHILD SEATS TO THESE BRACKETS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF A CHILD SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER ANCHORAGE BRACKETS WITH MODIFIED BRACKETS TO ENSURE THAT THE STANDARD IS MET. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 28, 2006. THE INFINITI Q45 MODEL VEHICLES ARE BEING CAMPAIGNED UNDER A SEPARATE RECALL (PLEASE SEE 05V374000). OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.