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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

What owners actually said

948 reports
100,000 miles · Aug 30, 2013
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS.

NHTSA ODI #10538175

114,000 miles · Aug 28, 2013
Power Train

HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF FIRST GEAR. HESITATION AND "CLUNKING FEELING". CAR HAS ALWAYS HAD SLIGHT HESITATION SHIFTING INTO/OUT OF FIRST SINCE PURCHASED NEW, BUT IS MUCH WORSE AT HIGHER MILEAGE. DEALER RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION FLUSH, HAS NOT SOLVED PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN MANY ONLINE COMPLAINTS WITH SA…

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HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF FIRST GEAR. HESITATION AND "CLUNKING FEELING". CAR HAS ALWAYS HAD SLIGHT HESITATION SHIFTING INTO/OUT OF FIRST SINCE PURCHASED NEW, BUT IS MUCH WORSE AT HIGHER MILEAGE. DEALER RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION FLUSH, HAS NOT SOLVED PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN MANY ONLINE COMPLAINTS WITH SAME PROBLEM, AND SAME FLUSHING RECOMMENDATION THAT DOES NOT FIX PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. WAITING FOR REPAIR ESTIMATES, BUT SEEING ANYTHING FROM $3000-5000. I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A DEFECT SINCE BEGINNING WITH THIS TRANSMISSION ON THE 2005 MAXIMA, BUT HAS NOW BECOME TOO NOTICEABLE TO IGNORE. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10537785

128,000 miles · Aug 26, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE HARD SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO HARD SHIFT BETWEEN REVERSE AND DRIVE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE HARD SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO HARD SHIFT BETWEEN REVERSE AND DRIVE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE HARD SHIFT. THE DEALER DID NOT REQUIRE THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. UPDATED 9/17/13*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE. UPDATED 10/22/13

NHTSA ODI #10537266

82,000 miles · Aug 26, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER WOULD DECELERATE AND SLIP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER WOULD DECELERATE AND SLIP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT AND THE COMPUTER ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE RECENT VEHICLE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10537212

70,000 miles · Aug 25, 2013
EnginePower Train

MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS BEEN HAVING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM SINCE IT REACHED ABOUT 69,000 MILES. RIGHT NOW THE MAIN PROBLEM IT DOES, IS THAT IN DRIVE IT JERKS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND SHIFT. IT ALSO JERKS PRETTY HARD WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS STARTING TO BEGIN, IT ONLY AFFECTED FROM SHIFTING FROM REVER…

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MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS BEEN HAVING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM SINCE IT REACHED ABOUT 69,000 MILES. RIGHT NOW THE MAIN PROBLEM IT DOES, IS THAT IN DRIVE IT JERKS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND SHIFT. IT ALSO JERKS PRETTY HARD WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS STARTING TO BEGIN, IT ONLY AFFECTED FROM SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE,BUT HAS MOVED TO THE CRAZY JERKING IT DOES NOW. AT ABOUT 71,000 MILES I HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING FROM USING A CODE READER, BUT FROM JUST SOME SIMPLE SHIFTING OUT OF GEARS (PARK TO DRIVE, PARK TO REV) THEY RECOMMENDED A TRANS OIL CHANGE (ABOUT $250) WHICH I DENIED, BECAUSE I LOOKED A THE OIL MYSELF AND IT WAS STILL CHERRY RED, SO THAT WAS TOO MUCH TO SPEND TO JUST "TO SEE IF THAT FIXES THE PROBLEM". SO AT ABOUT 79,000 MILES WHEN THE HARD JERKING STARTED GETTING BAD, I TOOK THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP ,WHICH THEN THEY DID RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM, AND TOLD ME IT WOULD BE ABOUT $4000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH STUNNED ME, ESPECIALLY CAUSE I HAD JUST FINISHED PAYING OFF THE CAR AND THE WARRANTY HAD ENDED. SO I OBVIOUSLY I DENIED SUCH A COSTLY REPAIR,BUT IN TALKING TO THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP , I TOLD HIM THAT THE JERKING PROBLEM ISN'T SO BAD AT ALL WHEN I USE THE MANUAL GEARSHIFTS AND I ASKED HIM WHY. WELL HE TOLD ME THAT PROBLEM COULD ALSO BE IN THE VALVE BODY WHICH COULD BE A CHEAPER FIX,BUT THEY REPLACE WHOLE TRANSMISSION UNITS NOT PARTS, BECAUSE OF WARRANTY PURPOSES, BUT THAT HE'S SEEN QUITE A FEW SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER VEHICLES. SINCE I TOLD HIM IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR ME TO SPEND HE RECOMMENDED A TRANS REPAIR CENTER. SO WHEN I TOOK IT THERE, THEY CONFIRMED THAT JUST CHANGING OUT THE VALVE BODY WOULD BE A "BANDAID FIX" AND THAT A FULL REPLACEMENT WOULD BE NEEDED (ABOUT $3500 FROM THEM). NOW IN READING OTHER STORIES FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10537141

54,000 miles · Aug 20, 2013
Power TrainService Brakes

THE TRANSMISSION START SHIFTING FUNNY 2 YEARS AGO. IN BETWEEN 15-20 MILES (1 GEAR) THERE WAS A DELAY AND A CLICK DURING SHIFTING. AT THAT TIME I HAD A WARRANTY ON MY CAR , BUT THE DEALERSHIP'S MECHANICS DIDN'T IDENTIFY A PROBLEM, RIGHT NOW IT BECOME MORE VISIBLE AND THE OTHER DEALER FOUND THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT NEEDED BUT …

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THE TRANSMISSION START SHIFTING FUNNY 2 YEARS AGO. IN BETWEEN 15-20 MILES (1 GEAR) THERE WAS A DELAY AND A CLICK DURING SHIFTING. AT THAT TIME I HAD A WARRANTY ON MY CAR , BUT THE DEALERSHIP'S MECHANICS DIDN'T IDENTIFY A PROBLEM, RIGHT NOW IT BECOME MORE VISIBLE AND THE OTHER DEALER FOUND THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT NEEDED BUT THE CAT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND REPLACEMENT WILL BE MORE THAN $ 4,000. I ASKED NISSAN CORP. TO COVER THIS REPLACEMENT AS A GOODWILL REPAIR, BUT WAS DENIED DUE TO OUT WARRANTY STATUS (WHICH MAKES NO SENSE TO ME, AS IF I WOULDN'T BE OUT OF WARRANTY WHY SHOULD I REQUEST REPAIR FROM NISSAN CORP. AS I WOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT IN ANY DEALERSHIP). PLUS I HAVE ABS UNIT TO BE REPLACE, BUT THE PROBLEM IS ONLY IN THE SOLENOID NOT IN UNIT, BUT THE DEALERS DO NOT REPLACE THE SOLENOID BUT NEED TO REPLACE THE UNIT FOR $1,900. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536428

70,000 miles · Aug 20, 2013
Power Train

HARSH UPSHIFTS OR DOWNSHIFTS DURING MODERATE ACCELERATION OR WHEN SLOWING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536244

81,843 miles · Aug 19, 2013
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ISSUES. GOT THE CAR AND THE GEAR SHIFTING 2-3 WAS JERKY. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS NORMAL AS A LIE. UPON DRIVING 30-40 MINS, THE SHIFTING FROM D TO R AND R TO D HAS A DELAY AND BIG BANG/THUMP ON THE VEHICLE, AGAIN THE DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL. DOWNSHIFTING FROM 3-2, THE RPM REVS UP AND THE…

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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ISSUES. GOT THE CAR AND THE GEAR SHIFTING 2-3 WAS JERKY. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS NORMAL AS A LIE. UPON DRIVING 30-40 MINS, THE SHIFTING FROM D TO R AND R TO D HAS A DELAY AND BIG BANG/THUMP ON THE VEHICLE, AGAIN THE DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL. DOWNSHIFTING FROM 3-2, THE RPM REVS UP AND THE CAR SHIFTS WITH A DELAY AND SLIPPING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536156

178,000 miles · Aug 19, 2013
Power Train

MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA DOESN'T WANT TO SHIFT. IT WILL REV THE ENGINE AND SHOOT THE RPM UP TO 4. I THEN HAVE TO LET OFF THE GAS IN HOPES THAT IT WILL SHIFT. THEN TODAY AS I WAS DRIVING IT OF COURSE DID THIS AGAIN BUT THEN I STOPPED IN A TURNING LANE TO TURN AND WHEN I WENT TO START TURNING MY CAT WOULD NOT GO, REVVING THE ENG…

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MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA DOESN'T WANT TO SHIFT. IT WILL REV THE ENGINE AND SHOOT THE RPM UP TO 4. I THEN HAVE TO LET OFF THE GAS IN HOPES THAT IT WILL SHIFT. THEN TODAY AS I WAS DRIVING IT OF COURSE DID THIS AGAIN BUT THEN I STOPPED IN A TURNING LANE TO TURN AND WHEN I WENT TO START TURNING MY CAT WOULD NOT GO, REVVING THE ENGINE ONCE MORE, I WAS ALMOST HIT. IT FINALLY DECIDED TO GO. I HAVE READ REVIEWS AND SEEMS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MOST NISSAN MAXIMA'S. I THINK THEY NEED TO CHECK INTO A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536024

117,000 miles · Aug 13, 2013
Power Train

I WAS PULLING OUT OF TACO BELL DRIVE THRU WHEN MY CAR JUST JERKED SO HARD CAUSING ME TO WHIP LASH. I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED ONCE I WAS ON MAIN ROAD BECAUSE MY CAR WAS SUPER SLOW TO ACCELERATE WHEN THIS JERK HAPPENED. THANKFULLY THE CAR WAS ABLE TO MERGE ONTO OTHER OPEN LANE. I HAVE RESEARCHED LOOKING TO SEE HOW I CAN FIX IT AND …

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I WAS PULLING OUT OF TACO BELL DRIVE THRU WHEN MY CAR JUST JERKED SO HARD CAUSING ME TO WHIP LASH. I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED ONCE I WAS ON MAIN ROAD BECAUSE MY CAR WAS SUPER SLOW TO ACCELERATE WHEN THIS JERK HAPPENED. THANKFULLY THE CAR WAS ABLE TO MERGE ONTO OTHER OPEN LANE. I HAVE RESEARCHED LOOKING TO SEE HOW I CAN FIX IT AND ALL I SEE IS 04 AND 05 NISSAN MAXIMA COMPLAINTS OF ALL SAME SYMPTOMS. THEN FOUND OUT NISSAN KNOWINGLY PUT A TRANSMISSION THAT THEY KNEW WOULD FAIL IN TIME BUT SAID NOTHING WHEN THEY STARTED MAKING PROFITS FROM TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND PARTS. THEY ARE PUTTING MY KIDS AND I IN DANGER. ITS GOING TO TAKE A DEATH FOR SOMEONE TO ACT ON THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535222

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.