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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
71,000 miles · Feb 17, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ODI #10448356

212,000 miles · Feb 16, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE SHIFTING FROM FIRST INTO SECOND GEAR AND HESITATED TO ACCELERATE FROM COMPLETE STOPS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE SHIFTING FROM FIRST INTO SECOND GEAR AND HESITATED TO ACCELERATE FROM COMPLETE STOPS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212,000.

NHTSA ODI #10448229

99,869 miles · Feb 15, 2012
Power Train

MY PROBLEM BEGAN IN APRIL 2011 AND CONTINUE STILL. MY CAR WAS SHIFTING HARD AND JUMPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR. I TOOK IT IN TO RAY BRANDT NISSAN AND WAS TOLD THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN AND THIS WAS THE PROBLEM CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO BUMP. AS MY VEHICLE WARRANTY WAS APPROACHING EXPIRATION I HAD IT SERVICED TO MAKE SURE THIN…

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MY PROBLEM BEGAN IN APRIL 2011 AND CONTINUE STILL. MY CAR WAS SHIFTING HARD AND JUMPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR. I TOOK IT IN TO RAY BRANDT NISSAN AND WAS TOLD THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN AND THIS WAS THE PROBLEM CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO BUMP. AS MY VEHICLE WARRANTY WAS APPROACHING EXPIRATION I HAD IT SERVICED TO MAKE SURE THINGS WERE IN ORDER. ANYWAY, JUST 2 WEEKS AGO (MID JANUARY 2012) I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE. WHEN I GOT MY CAR BACK THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING STARTED AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. I WILL BE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRANSMISSION WINDS LIKE IT WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL AND THE BUMPS INTO GEAR GIVING ME A WHIPLASH EFFECT (DID I MENTION I SUFFER WITH NECK PAIN). I AM NOW REALLY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR AS IT MAY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE I AM PASSING SOMEONE OR CROSSING TRAFFIC AND THE RESULT COULD BE FATAL. WITH ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS MADE, I SURE HOPE SOMEONE WILL COME TO OUR AID AND HAVE THIS PROBLEM RECALLED. I CALLED THE NISSAN COMPLAINT DIVISION AND THEY SAID SINCE THEY DID NOT ACTUALLY WORK ON THE TRANSMISSION, THEY COULD NOT HELP ME IN ANY WAY. IN OTHER WORDS, GIVE ME YOUR MONEY AND FORGET YOU. IT IS SAD WHEN YOU BUY A VEHICLE AND PAY ALOT FOR IT THINKING YOU WILL HAVE DEPENDABLE TRANSPORTATION YOU GET SCREWED SO BADLY. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN AND WILL PASS THE WORD ON TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. P.S. I HAVE OWNED TOYOTA'S IN THE PAST AND THEY ALWAYS STAND BEHIND YOU AND HELP AS MUCH AS THEY CAN. PLEASE HELP!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10448037

92,000 miles · Feb 13, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE JERKED FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE ALSO HESITATED TO ACCELERATE WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE JERKED FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE ALSO HESITATED TO ACCELERATE WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ODI #10447818

95,000 miles · Feb 10, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA BEGAN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHEN BEGINNING TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WILL JERK WHEN IT REACHES 2 AND 3 RPMS AND REV THE ENGINE. BEFORE IT RESUMES "NORMAL" DRIVE, IT WILL JERK AGAIN AND MAKE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE. …

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A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA BEGAN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHEN BEGINNING TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WILL JERK WHEN IT REACHES 2 AND 3 RPMS AND REV THE ENGINE. BEFORE IT RESUMES "NORMAL" DRIVE, IT WILL JERK AGAIN AND MAKE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE. I WAS TOLD TODAY BY THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP THAT THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED COSTING APPROXIMATELY $3300.00! THE DEALERSHIP NEVER INFORMED ME OF THESE ISSUES, EVEN AFTER A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND A COURTESY CHECK WHEN I FIRST BROUGHT THE CAR TO THEM SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. I AM SHOCKED AND DISTURBED AFTER READING HOW MANY OTHER NISSAN MAXIMA OWNERS ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS MUST THERE BE FOR A RESOLUTION IF EACH PERSON IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM?! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10447452

79,000 miles · Feb 10, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ODI #10447421

88,000 miles · Feb 9, 2012
Power Train

VEHICLE FAILS TO SHIFT FORM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR SMOOTHLY SOMETIME JERKS SOMETIME REVS RPMS UNTIL REACHES GEAR. ALSO HAS PROBLEMS SHIFTING FROM PARK TO 1ST AND REVERSE TO 1ST - EXTREME JERKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10447273

65,000 miles · Feb 3, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA (BUILD DATE OF 08/04) HAS 77000 MILES AND HAS STARTED SHOWING SIGNS OF WHAT MAY BE SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1. TAKES ABOUT 5 SECONDS TO CLICK INTO GEAR AFTER THE SHIFT LEVER IS PUT IN "D" 2. VERY HARD JERKY SHIFTS BETWEEN 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 1ST AND ACCOMPANIED BY LOUD C…

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MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA (BUILD DATE OF 08/04) HAS 77000 MILES AND HAS STARTED SHOWING SIGNS OF WHAT MAY BE SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1. TAKES ABOUT 5 SECONDS TO CLICK INTO GEAR AFTER THE SHIFT LEVER IS PUT IN "D" 2. VERY HARD JERKY SHIFTS BETWEEN 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 1ST AND ACCOMPANIED BY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. 3. TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR DURING REGULAR DRIVING ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO REV FREELY THEN JERKING BACK INTO GEAR WITH A LOUD CLUNK. THEN FOLLOWED BY A BURNT OIL / ELECTRICAL TYPE SMELL THAT GETS INSIDE THE CAR AND EVIDENT OUTSIDE AFTER STOPPING. 4. ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND NISSAN DEALER REFUSE TO HELP KNOWING THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WITH THEIR MAXIMA. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10446353

99,200 miles · Jan 25, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,200.

NHTSA ODI #10445169

93,000 miles · Jan 23, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THERE WOULD BE A FIVE SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY SHIFTED INTO THE SELECTED GEAR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK WHILE DRIVING 25 TO 30 MPH. THERE WOULD ALSO BE AN INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THERE WOULD BE A FIVE SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY SHIFTED INTO THE SELECTED GEAR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK WHILE DRIVING 25 TO 30 MPH. THERE WOULD ALSO BE AN INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000.

NHTSA ODI #10444872

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.