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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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82,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH HE COULD FEEL THE VEHICLE LUNGE FORWARD WHENEVER HE WAS DOWN SHIFTING AND GOING OVER 40 MPH. WHEN HE SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN THE RPMS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. HE THEN TOOK IT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH HE COULD FEEL THE VEHICLE LUNGE FORWARD WHENEVER HE WAS DOWN SHIFTING AND GOING OVER 40 MPH. WHEN HE SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN THE RPMS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. HE THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ODI #10315723

45,000 miles · Feb 28, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AND I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A SEVERE JERKING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN GOING INTO TO GEAR OR WHEN SHIFTING GEARS WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314987

85,000 miles · Feb 25, 2010
Power Train

MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AT ONLY 85000 MILES. WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR HAS PROBLEM SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD. ALSO THE CAR WHEN IT IS PARKED AND I PUT IT ON DRIVE IT WILL GIVE A QUICK JOLT FORWARDS. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN READING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS…

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MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AT ONLY 85000 MILES. WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR HAS PROBLEM SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD. ALSO THE CAR WHEN IT IS PARKED AND I PUT IT ON DRIVE IT WILL GIVE A QUICK JOLT FORWARDS. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN READING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF POSTS ONLINE WITH PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAY I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH WILL COST AROUND 4000! IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE A CAR LIKE THIS BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314042

82,000 miles · Feb 24, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA SE, AND LIKE ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS IN THE SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, AND A THUMP WHEN PUTTING IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE THUMP IS SO HARD, IT MAKES THE CAR SHAKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10313785

72,000 miles · Feb 10, 2010
Power Train

TRANSMISSION DEFECT/FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308620

70,000 miles · Feb 10, 2010
Power Train

1. CAR STARTED JERKING INTO GEAR AND SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR AT 70K MILES. 2. STARTING HAPPENING WITH MORE REGULARITY MAKING DRIVING THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS WHEN ACCELERATION WAS NEEDED 3. HAD TO CHANGE THE VALVE BODY AND SEALS IN THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER PROBLEM PERSISTED THE COMPUTER WAS FLASHED AND THEN THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. …

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1. CAR STARTED JERKING INTO GEAR AND SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR AT 70K MILES. 2. STARTING HAPPENING WITH MORE REGULARITY MAKING DRIVING THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS WHEN ACCELERATION WAS NEEDED 3. HAD TO CHANGE THE VALVE BODY AND SEALS IN THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER PROBLEM PERSISTED THE COMPUTER WAS FLASHED AND THEN THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. FROM WHAT I'VE READ. THE 04-06 NISSAN MAXIMA'S HAVE ALL HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE PROBLEM TENDS TO RE-APPEAR. NOW I'M OUT $2,000 AND MAY HAVE TO FIX AGAIN IN 50K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308412

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

61,000 miles · Feb 1, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY AN UNINTENDED LUNGE AND FORCEFUL ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING IN THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD GEARS. THE DRIVER PULL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY AN UNINTENDED LUNGE AND FORCEFUL ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING IN THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD GEARS. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000. UPDATED 03/04/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINED THAT WHEN ACCELERATING, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD JERK. THE DEALER FOUND INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BURNED. ALSO THE FRONT AND REAR ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKEN. THE CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SHIFTING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. 08/11/10. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10303692

91,000 miles · Jan 15, 2010
Power Train

TRANSMISSION JERKS HARD BETWEEN 2ND & 3RD GEARS. TRANNY SLIPS AND ALSO STALLS WHEN GOING FROM REV TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10299878

70,000 miles · Jan 13, 2010
Power Train

2005 NISSAN MAXIMA THE TRANSMISSION HAS HARD JERKY SHIFTS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD (SLAMMING INTO GEAR). ALSO THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR OCCASIONALLY DURING REGULAR DRIVING ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO REV FREELY THEN JERKING BACK INTO GEAR. THIS CAN CAUSE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OR TORQUE STEER. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS CAR WILL…

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2005 NISSAN MAXIMA THE TRANSMISSION HAS HARD JERKY SHIFTS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD (SLAMMING INTO GEAR). ALSO THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR OCCASIONALLY DURING REGULAR DRIVING ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO REV FREELY THEN JERKING BACK INTO GEAR. THIS CAN CAUSE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OR TORQUE STEER. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS CAR WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR NOW HAS A BURNT OIL TYPE SMELL. (I KNOW THIS IS NOT GOOD). I JUST HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND NEW FLUID PUT IN FOUR MONTHS AGO. WE NOW HAVE 70,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10299577

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.