← New search

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
Clear category filter
105,000 miles · Mar 26, 2015
Electrical SystemPower Train

TODAY IS MARCH 26, 2015 AND FOR THE PAST WEEK; MY CAR HAS BEEN STALLING WHEN I AM SHIFTING GEARS. TODAY I WAS IN A NOT SAFE SITUATION AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN I SHIFTED THE GEARS TO MY CAR TO BEGIN DRIVING, THE CAR STALLED ON ME ALLOWING ME TO ONLY DRIVE AROUND 5-10 MPH DOWN THE STREET. I HAD TO HURRY UP AND PULL OVER BECAUSE I H…

Read full complaint

TODAY IS MARCH 26, 2015 AND FOR THE PAST WEEK; MY CAR HAS BEEN STALLING WHEN I AM SHIFTING GEARS. TODAY I WAS IN A NOT SAFE SITUATION AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN I SHIFTED THE GEARS TO MY CAR TO BEGIN DRIVING, THE CAR STALLED ON ME ALLOWING ME TO ONLY DRIVE AROUND 5-10 MPH DOWN THE STREET. I HAD TO HURRY UP AND PULL OVER BECAUSE I HAD CARS BEHIND ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10702066

80,000 miles · Mar 25, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SWITCHED GEARS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSIO…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SWITCHED GEARS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10701782

140,000 miles · Mar 21, 2015
EnginePower Train

HAVING TROUBLE/DELAYED SHIFTING. IT WENT AWAY FOR A WEEK BUT IT CAME BACK AGAIN. WHEN I'M PRESSING ON THE GAS IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S REVVING THE ENGINE BUT THE CAR IS NOT MOVING AS IT SHOULD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10700850

120,000 miles · Mar 19, 2015
EnginePower Train

TRANSMISSION TAKES ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS TO MOVE AND THEN JERKS FORWARD. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN WARMED UP. SOMETIMES WHEN CAR IS MOVING IT JERKS WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10695524

119,000 miles · Mar 17, 2015
Power Train

THE CAR JERKS WHEN TRANSMISSION IS SWITCHED TO REVERSE, AND TAKES A GOOD 3 SECONDS TO ACTUALLY SWITCH TO REVERSE. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM TO THESE CARS, AND IT IS DEFINITELY A DANGEROUS ONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694846

55,000 miles · Mar 17, 2015
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK AND THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS, CRANK POSITION SENSOR, AND THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY STILL NEED A NEW TR…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK AND THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS, CRANK POSITION SENSOR, AND THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY STILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT THESE REPAIRS SHOULD BE DONE FIRST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10694756

130,000 miles · Mar 2, 2015
EnginePower Train

MY 2005 MAXIMA TRANSMISSION IS JERKING WHEN SWITCHING GEARS AND ALSO SLIPPAGE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE MOUNTS BECAUSE ONE WAS BAD BUT AFTER REPLACING THEM THE PROBLEM STILL WAS STILL THERE. LATER I FOUND OUT IT WAS JUST THE TRANSMISSION. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE STI…

Read full complaint

MY 2005 MAXIMA TRANSMISSION IS JERKING WHEN SWITCHING GEARS AND ALSO SLIPPAGE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE MOUNTS BECAUSE ONE WAS BAD BUT AFTER REPLACING THEM THE PROBLEM STILL WAS STILL THERE. LATER I FOUND OUT IT WAS JUST THE TRANSMISSION. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE STILL HAVE NOT BEEN A RECALL. THIS WILL BE MY LAST NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691515

97,000 miles · Feb 9, 2015
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD MAKE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD MAKE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ODI #10682129

93,000 miles · Jan 27, 2015
Power Train

WE PURCHASED OUR 2005 MAXIMA USED WITH APPROXIMATELY 93000 MILES ON IT, AT FIRST SEEMED LIKE A GREAT CAR. THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING VERY HARD INTO AND OUT OF GEARS, SOME SHIFTS WOULD BE SO HARD THE CAR WOULD LURCH FORWARD. I WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION ACTUALLY BROKE, MAKING THE CAR VERY HARD TO STEER, FORT…

Read full complaint

WE PURCHASED OUR 2005 MAXIMA USED WITH APPROXIMATELY 93000 MILES ON IT, AT FIRST SEEMED LIKE A GREAT CAR. THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING VERY HARD INTO AND OUT OF GEARS, SOME SHIFTS WOULD BE SO HARD THE CAR WOULD LURCH FORWARD. I WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION ACTUALLY BROKE, MAKING THE CAR VERY HARD TO STEER, FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A LOCAL GARAGE. WE PAID OVER 3000 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, SINCE I PURCHASED THE TRANSMISSION FROM ADVANCE AUTO, THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP SAID THAT WOULD NOT OFFER ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY EVEN ON THEIR LABOR. I HAD A 12 MONTH WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION AND AT ABOUT 13 MONTHS THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AGAIN, WITH LESS THAN 1,000 MILES PUT ON THE "USED" TRANSMISSION. I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND WAS PRETTY MUCH TOLD THAT IT WAS MY PROBLEM. SO I NOW HAVE A USELESS CAR THAT I AM STILL PAYING ON, AND I AM NOT WILLING TO PAY ANOTHER 3000 TO FIX NISSAN'S PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10679119

89,000 miles · Jan 26, 2015
Power Train

I PURCHASED MY 05 MAXIMA IN APRIL OF 2014 AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER DRIVING IT HOME A HARD SHIFT INTO 3RD AND INTO 4TH HAPPENED. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, MY MECHANIC FRIEND WAS WITH ME HE HAD ME PUT THE CARE IN DRIVE AND IT SLAMMED INTO GEAR. I CONTACTED A MECHANIC THAT WORKED ON TRANSMISSION AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE VALVE BODY DEFE…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED MY 05 MAXIMA IN APRIL OF 2014 AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER DRIVING IT HOME A HARD SHIFT INTO 3RD AND INTO 4TH HAPPENED. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, MY MECHANIC FRIEND WAS WITH ME HE HAD ME PUT THE CARE IN DRIVE AND IT SLAMMED INTO GEAR. I CONTACTED A MECHANIC THAT WORKED ON TRANSMISSION AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE VALVE BODY DEFECT THAT WAS NEVER RECALLED AND A MAJOR PROBLEM IN THAT MODEL. I PURCHASED A USED/NEW VALVE BODY FROM A TRANSMISSION SHOP, IT LASTED A FEW MONTHS WENT BAD AS IN JUMPING OUT OF GEAR, STAYING STUCK IN 5TH OR 3RD, PUTTING IT IN PARK AND TRYING TO SHIFT TO DRIVE AND IT NOT GOING INTO GEAR. I RETURNED THE PART GOT ANOTHER USED VALVE BODY AND IT ONLY LASTED A FEW WEEKS. NOW I AM HAVING TO PURCHASE A NEW VALVE BODY FROM NISSAN HOPING THIS WILL FIX IT. AFTER READING MANY FORUMS OF THE SAME ISSUE, NO LONGER ABLE TO BYPASS THE ISSUE AND WISHING NISSAN WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM I AM STUCK WITH BEING ALMOST 2000 OUT OF POCKET ON WHAT SEEMED TO BE A GOOD DEAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10679038

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.