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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

3 reports
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98,465 miles · Jan 15, 2014
Exterior LightingPower Train

I LIVE IN WASHINGTON STATE. I BOUGHT MY 2005 MAXIMA SE IN FEB 24 2007 WITH 48,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN IT REACH 98,000 MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES), MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN DISPLAYING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. 1.FROM PARK AND/OR REVERSE TO DRIVE IT HAD A 5 SECOND DELAY TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, AND WHEN IT DID IT SHIFTED HARD. 2.T…

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I LIVE IN WASHINGTON STATE. I BOUGHT MY 2005 MAXIMA SE IN FEB 24 2007 WITH 48,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN IT REACH 98,000 MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES), MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN DISPLAYING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. 1.FROM PARK AND/OR REVERSE TO DRIVE IT HAD A 5 SECOND DELAY TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, AND WHEN IT DID IT SHIFTED HARD. 2.TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR DURING SLOW AND GO DRIVING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV AT HIGH RPM?S AND THEN SLAMMING INTO GEAR. 3.VERY HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR WHEN SHIFTING UP AND DOWN AT SPEEDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH. 4.ONCE IT SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, AND SHUT MY ENGINE DOWN. DURING SLOW AND GO DRIVING I COULD FEEL THE TRANSMISSION BEGIN TO SHIFT AT15 MPH, AND GET A HARD SHIFT AT ABOUT 20 AND 25 MPH. IT SHIFTED HARD BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW GEARS. I ALSO, EXPERIENCED LAG TIME, AND HIGH RPM?S BEFORE IT SLAMMED INTO GEARS WHEN SHIFTING. EVERY TRANSMISSION PLACE I WENT TO WANTED $3500 TO $4000 TO REPLACE IT. AS AN ALTERNATIVE, I BOUGHT A USED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH 62,000 MILES IN DEC 15 2008, AND HAD IT INSTALLED FOR $2000.00. AFTER 150,000 MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES) ON THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. I?VE HAD THE CAM SENSORS, SOLENOIDS, AND FLUIDS REPLACED AND IT STILL RESPONSE THE SAME WAY. I FIND IT ODD OF 2 DIFFERENT TRANSMISSIONS THAT ACTING THE SAME WAY. ALSO, EVER SINCE I GOT THIS CAR I HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS EVER YEAR. NOT GOOD FOR A CAR THAT COST $40,000 NEW FROM A COMPANY THAT USED TO HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560053

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2006
Exterior Lighting

THE PROJECTOR HEADLAMPS ON MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAVE FAILED TO PERFORM AS DESIGNED AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE, AND IS CURRENTLY WORKING IN THE SHOP FOR REPEAT OF INITIAL FAILURE. THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED INITIALLY AS A WHOLE AND THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE PROJECTOR LAMPS …

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THE PROJECTOR HEADLAMPS ON MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAVE FAILED TO PERFORM AS DESIGNED AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE, AND IS CURRENTLY WORKING IN THE SHOP FOR REPEAT OF INITIAL FAILURE. THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED INITIALLY AS A WHOLE AND THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE PROJECTOR LAMPS UTILIZE A SHUTTER TO CHANGE FROM HIGH TO LOW BEAM. AFTER THE LAMP HAS OPERATED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME (30 MIN-1 HOUR) THE SHUTTER DOES NOT MOVE FULLY, LEAVING THE LAMPS IN A PARTIAL OR FULL HIGH BEAM MODE, EVEN WHEN LOW BEAM IS CALLED FOR BY THE CONTROL SWITCH. THIS IS A HAZARD TO ONCOMING DRIVERS, AND I GET FLASHED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC FREQUENTLY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10166067

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2005
Exterior Lighting

2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HEADLIGHTS STOLEN. WAS NEVER TOLD THAT THIS IS A VERY POPULAR HOT MARKET ITEM THAT MANY THIEVES ARE STEALING. FACTORY ALARM ONLY GOES OFF IF SOMEONE TRIES TO DRIVE AWAY WITH THE CAR BUT IF THE LIGHTS ARE TAMPERED WITH OR STOLEN THEY DO NOT GO OFF. IF NISSAN KNEW THESE LIGHTS ARE SO POPULAR AMONG THIEVES THEN T…

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2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HEADLIGHTS STOLEN. WAS NEVER TOLD THAT THIS IS A VERY POPULAR HOT MARKET ITEM THAT MANY THIEVES ARE STEALING. FACTORY ALARM ONLY GOES OFF IF SOMEONE TRIES TO DRIVE AWAY WITH THE CAR BUT IF THE LIGHTS ARE TAMPERED WITH OR STOLEN THEY DO NOT GO OFF. IF NISSAN KNEW THESE LIGHTS ARE SO POPULAR AMONG THIEVES THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN ME THE OPTION TO ADD A SPECIAL ALARM THAT WOULD GO OFF WHEN SOMEONE TRIES TO STEAL THESE POPULAR LIGHTS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10144981

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.