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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

Power Train complaints

777 reports
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50,000 miles · Aug 29, 2014
Power Train

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. CAR ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT. AT 50,000 MILES I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT WOULD JERK REALLY BAD, THEN PUT INTO DRIVE AND AGAIN A VERY BAD JERK. IT IS VERY SCARY AND I KNOW THAT IT IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH THE GEARS. WHEN I DRIVE BE…

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I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. CAR ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT. AT 50,000 MILES I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT WOULD JERK REALLY BAD, THEN PUT INTO DRIVE AND AGAIN A VERY BAD JERK. IT IS VERY SCARY AND I KNOW THAT IT IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH THE GEARS. WHEN I DRIVE BETWEEN 20-30 MILES IT JUST STARTS JERKING AGAIN AND THE GEARS ON THE TRANSMISSION CHANGE. I NEED 2 MOTOR MOUNTS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD HOPE WITH ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS, THERE WILL BE A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629483

98,000 miles · Aug 18, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainService BrakesCrashInjury

WE PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 08/13 AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR IT NEEDED A TRANSMISSION THEN ENDED UP PUTTING 2 TRANSMISSIONS IN THE CAR, ALSO A NEW THROTTLE BODY WITH ALL THIS AND THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR IT IS OVER $8,000 IN THIS USELESS CAR, THAT NOW IS TOTALED DUE TO FAULTY BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL, THESE CARS ARE DANGEROUS IT WAS…

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WE PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 08/13 AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR IT NEEDED A TRANSMISSION THEN ENDED UP PUTTING 2 TRANSMISSIONS IN THE CAR, ALSO A NEW THROTTLE BODY WITH ALL THIS AND THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR IT IS OVER $8,000 IN THIS USELESS CAR, THAT NOW IS TOTALED DUE TO FAULTY BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL, THESE CARS ARE DANGEROUS IT WAS ONLY GOIN 20 MPH THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, AND THE BRAKES LOCKED AND THE THROTTLE WAS HUNG OPEN, THEN IT HIT A BANK AND FLIPPED OVER NOW IT IS TOTALED AND WE HAVE NOTHING THESE CARS ARE JUNK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10625919

154,008 miles · Aug 15, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:1) WHEN YOU SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE THE CAR DOES NOT ENGAGE AT FIRST THEN SUDDENLY ENGAGES AND ACCELERATES VERY QUICKLY. 2) HARD JERKING SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND FROM 2ND TO 1ST. 3) WHEN DE-ACCELERATING FROM A HIGHER GEAR TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES THEN ENGAGES HARD. 4) THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY DOES THI…

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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:1) WHEN YOU SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE THE CAR DOES NOT ENGAGE AT FIRST THEN SUDDENLY ENGAGES AND ACCELERATES VERY QUICKLY. 2) HARD JERKING SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND FROM 2ND TO 1ST. 3) WHEN DE-ACCELERATING FROM A HIGHER GEAR TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES THEN ENGAGES HARD. 4) THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY DOES THIS GOING A DAY OR TWO PERFORMING NORMALLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10622435

105,768 miles · Aug 11, 2014
Power Train

OKAY, I AM LIKE ALMOST EVERYBODY ON HERE! MY CAR SEVERAL YEARS AGO STARTING SLIPPING IN BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. JERKING FORWARD AND I HAVE NEARLY GOTTEN INTO SEVERAL WRECKS BECAUSE OF IT. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. I PAID OVER A $1000 BUCKS AND THE TOLD ME MY TRANSMISSION WOULD EVEN…

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OKAY, I AM LIKE ALMOST EVERYBODY ON HERE! MY CAR SEVERAL YEARS AGO STARTING SLIPPING IN BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. JERKING FORWARD AND I HAVE NEARLY GOTTEN INTO SEVERAL WRECKS BECAUSE OF IT. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. I PAID OVER A $1000 BUCKS AND THE TOLD ME MY TRANSMISSION WOULD EVENTUALLY GO. WHICH IS A $3200 FIX. WHAT THE CRAP. IT'S NOT MY FAULT THEY MADE A FAULTY PART. OWN UP TO IT AND FIX IT. WELL THIS PAST FRIDAY 08/08/2014, THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY WENT. NOW I HAVE LOST MY ONLY VEHICLE AND DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10621584

108,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Power TrainCrashInjury

CAR KEPT JERKING BETWEEN GEARS, ENGINE REV'D TO 5000 RPMS CAR LUNGED FORWARD - HITTING TRAILER HITCH AND REAR END OF AN SUV STOPPED IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617396

90,000 miles · Jul 15, 2014
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

I TOOK MY CAR TO NISSAN TO HAVE MY CAR TOTALLY CHECKED OVER . THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD SHARP JERKS FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND HESITATION AROUND 40 MPH . THE TIMING CHAIN ALSO HAD A RATTLE WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED. MY ABS SYSTEM HAD FAILED DUE TO WATER SHORTING OUT THE ABS SENSOR WHICH DESTROYED THE ABS CONTROL MODULE REPA…

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I TOOK MY CAR TO NISSAN TO HAVE MY CAR TOTALLY CHECKED OVER . THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD SHARP JERKS FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND HESITATION AROUND 40 MPH . THE TIMING CHAIN ALSO HAD A RATTLE WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED. MY ABS SYSTEM HAD FAILED DUE TO WATER SHORTING OUT THE ABS SENSOR WHICH DESTROYED THE ABS CONTROL MODULE REPAIR COST 1200.00 . WHEN I TOLD THE SERVICE ADVISOR MY ABS LIGHT WAS ON, HE HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN AT HIS STATION WITH EXACTLY WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH MY CAR. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS A VALVE BODY DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR COST 3500.00 TO REBUILD AND INSTALL NEW VALVE BODY DESIGN . THE TIMING CHAIN HAS GUIDES THAT WEAR AND CHAIN RUBS AGAINST PLASTIC THEN DOWN TO METAL REPAIR COST 1500.00. NISSAN NEEDS TO FIX ALL OF THESE DEFECTIVE CARS AND PAY THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THESE COSTLY REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610581

50,000 miles · Jul 12, 2014
Power Train

AFTER THE CAR RUNS FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OR COMES OUT OF GEAR AT 5-45 MPH. WHEN YOU PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC AND ARE TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEED ITS LIKE IT GOES FROM IN GEAR TO NEUTRAL WITH YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAVE THAT WILL G…

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AFTER THE CAR RUNS FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OR COMES OUT OF GEAR AT 5-45 MPH. WHEN YOU PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC AND ARE TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEED ITS LIKE IT GOES FROM IN GEAR TO NEUTRAL WITH YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAVE THAT WILL GET PEOPLE KILLED GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW MANY ALREADY HAVE!!! NISSAN IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS AND REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH A RECALL ON A POOR PRODUCT. PLEASE HELP ALL OF THE 2005 MAXIMA OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610076

159,120 miles · Jul 7, 2014
Power Train

AFTER COMING TO A STOP THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE. GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE BUT THE CAR IS NOT SHIFTING WELL INTO ANY GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION ALREADY FAILED AT 48,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS SAD TO KNOW THAT NISSAN WOULD NOT CORRECT THE TRUE PROBLEM, SIMPLY MASK IT FOR THE TI…

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AFTER COMING TO A STOP THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE. GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE BUT THE CAR IS NOT SHIFTING WELL INTO ANY GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION ALREADY FAILED AT 48,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS SAD TO KNOW THAT NISSAN WOULD NOT CORRECT THE TRUE PROBLEM, SIMPLY MASK IT FOR THE TIME BEING AND PUT A SINGLE MOTHER RIGHT BACK INTO THE SAME DIFFICULT SITUATION. THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. 2 OUT OF THE 4 CARS THAT I HAVE OWNED HAVE BEEN NISSAN'S. I PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR RELIABILITY. SURE, PROBLEMS WILL COME ABOUT WITH ANY CAR OVER 100,000 MILES, BUT YOU DON'T EXPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT ON YOUR NISSAN. NISSAN NEEDS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THESE PREMATURELY FAILING TRANSMISSIONS! *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608624

100,000 miles · Jun 28, 2014
Power Train

MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA EXPERIENCES SHIFTING PROBLEMS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, IT SLAMS INTO GEAR, REVS THE RPM UP PAST 5, DOWNSHIFTS ON ITS OWN. DELAYS WHEN CHANGING GEARS AND THEM SLAMMED ITSELF INTO GEAR CAUSING CAR TO JERK FORWARD OR SLAMM TO A STOP. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO SHOP SEVERAL TIMES WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A DEFECT IN THE …

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MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA EXPERIENCES SHIFTING PROBLEMS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, IT SLAMS INTO GEAR, REVS THE RPM UP PAST 5, DOWNSHIFTS ON ITS OWN. DELAYS WHEN CHANGING GEARS AND THEM SLAMMED ITSELF INTO GEAR CAUSING CAR TO JERK FORWARD OR SLAMM TO A STOP. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO SHOP SEVERAL TIMES WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY, TOOK CAR TO DEALER WITHOUT THEM EVEN TESTING CAR THEY SAID IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNTS. THIS IS THE 4TH NISSAN I'VE OWNED NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. AFTER REVIEW OF OTHER COMPLAINTS THOUSANDS OF OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM SOME WITH AS FEW AS 30,000.00 MILES THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606649

89,000 miles · Jun 17, 2014
Power Train

THIS VEHICLE ALONG WITH MANY 2004-2006 NISSAN MAXIMS HAVE A LOT OF TRANSMISSION ISSUES, MY CAR HAS SWITCHED GETS SO HARD I HD A MINOR WHIPLASH, THE RPMS RAISE SO HIGH THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP. THIS IS A BAD ISSUE THAT HAPPENS IT CAUSES MY VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD AFTER PRESSING ON THE GAS, AND I HAVE A 2 YR OLD DAUGHTER TH…

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THIS VEHICLE ALONG WITH MANY 2004-2006 NISSAN MAXIMS HAVE A LOT OF TRANSMISSION ISSUES, MY CAR HAS SWITCHED GETS SO HARD I HD A MINOR WHIPLASH, THE RPMS RAISE SO HIGH THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP. THIS IS A BAD ISSUE THAT HAPPENS IT CAUSES MY VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD AFTER PRESSING ON THE GAS, AND I HAVE A 2 YR OLD DAUGHTER THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, HELP THE PEOPLE, SOMEONE GET OFF THEIR ASSESS AND HELP US. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10599042

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.