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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.

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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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2017
Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

I TOOK MY CAR TO NISSAN FOR STATE INSPECTION ON 11-21-2016 AND FOR THE CAR JERKING AND OIL CHANGE. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANGER THAT MY THREE WAY CATALY HAD GONE BAD. THEN IT WAS TOLD OTHER THINGS WAS WRONG WHICH WAS NOT EXPECTED SINCE I GET MY CAR SERVICE REGULARLY. SENSOR ASSY AIR, MOUNTING RUBBER, RIGHT AND LEFT STRUT, SP…

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I TOOK MY CAR TO NISSAN FOR STATE INSPECTION ON 11-21-2016 AND FOR THE CAR JERKING AND OIL CHANGE. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANGER THAT MY THREE WAY CATALY HAD GONE BAD. THEN IT WAS TOLD OTHER THINGS WAS WRONG WHICH WAS NOT EXPECTED SINCE I GET MY CAR SERVICE REGULARLY. SENSOR ASSY AIR, MOUNTING RUBBER, RIGHT AND LEFT STRUT, SPACER FRONT STR., BUMPER ASSY BOUN, INSULATOR ASSY-S, GASKET EXHAUST, HOSE ASSY-BLOW B, ALLL THIS WAS DONE TO FIX THE JERKING WHICH DID NOT WORK. I PAID $3662.55 ON THAT DAY DROVE 10 MILES AND THE CAR WAS STILL JERKING. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING MY CAR BACK ON MONDAY. IT WAS THEN TOLD THAT I HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #10981085

68,000 miles · Dec 20, 2016
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

HARD SHIFTING TRANSMISSION,STALLING AT CRUISING SPEEDS,FLASHING DASH LIGHTS. TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE.

NHTSA ODI #10936389

101,000 miles · Dec 12, 2016
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

AT 101,000 MILES TRANSMISSION CUT OUT. GEARS NOT CHANGING. JERKING MOVEMENT WHEN ACCELERATING. IN MOTION OR STATIONARY

NHTSA ODI #10934819

206,000 miles · Oct 1, 2016
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

MY CAR HAS GIVEN ME TROUBLE SINCE ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I BOUGHT IT USED, BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD NISSANS ARE VERY RELIABLE VEHICLES EVEN WITH HIGH MILEAGE. IT WILL NOT EXCEL FORWARD AT ANY SPEED UNTIL IT GETS UP TO 40MPH AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IT IS A DISASTER IN WAITING. I DRIVE EARLY IN THE MORNING AND …

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MY CAR HAS GIVEN ME TROUBLE SINCE ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I BOUGHT IT USED, BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD NISSANS ARE VERY RELIABLE VEHICLES EVEN WITH HIGH MILEAGE. IT WILL NOT EXCEL FORWARD AT ANY SPEED UNTIL IT GETS UP TO 40MPH AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IT IS A DISASTER IN WAITING. I DRIVE EARLY IN THE MORNING AND AT NIGHT FOR WORK. I AM AFRAID SOMEONE IS GOING TO PLOW INTO ME BECAUSE I AM NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH. THE TRANSMISSION JERKS BAD ENOUGH TO JERK MY HEAD BACK WHENEVER I PUT IT IN REVERSE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE! THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. I QUIT DRIVING IT A FEW WEEKS AGO DUE TO THE JERKING OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN I PUT IT INTO REVERSE. THE DATE BELOW IS THE LAST DAY I DROVE IT.

NHTSA ODI #10910949

225,000 miles · Sep 3, 2016
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

AT A RED LIGHT, CAR STALLED, TOOK A FEW SECONDS TO RESTART. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, IT REVS LIKE IT HAS A STRAIN; NOT GOING ANYWHERE FAST, UNTIL IT GETS TO 40 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. WE HAVE CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY. EACH TIME WE CHANGED A PART, THE CAR WOULD BE FINE FOR A FEW MONTHS. I AM …

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AT A RED LIGHT, CAR STALLED, TOOK A FEW SECONDS TO RESTART. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, IT REVS LIKE IT HAS A STRAIN; NOT GOING ANYWHERE FAST, UNTIL IT GETS TO 40 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. WE HAVE CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY. EACH TIME WE CHANGED A PART, THE CAR WOULD BE FINE FOR A FEW MONTHS. I AM AFRAID WHEN THIS HAPPENS THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO PLOW INTO ME BECAUSE THEY CAN'T STOP IN TIME AS MY CAR IS GOING TOO SLOW. MY HUSBAND SEEMS TO THINK IT'S NOT AS MUCH THE TRANSMISSION AS MAYBE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL. NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SEEING AS THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED OR PROBABLY ALREADY HAS, BUT NO ONE CAN TELL WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT IF THE DRIVER IS DEAD! I LOVE THE CAR AND WOULD BUY ANOTHER NISSAN, BUT I WILL RESEARCH THEM FIRST! I AM GLAD TO SEE IT IS NOT MY IMAGINATION ABOUT THE CAR JUMPING WHILE ACCELERATING. IT SEEMS TO ONLY DO IT WHEN I AM DRIVING, BUT IT STOPS JUMPING WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR.

NHTSA ODI #10903427

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.