Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
370–25K
4225–50K
19850–75K
31075–100K
201100–150K
34150K+
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
92,000 miles · Apr 14, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED, THE ABS ACTIVATED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY COMPUTER CHIP. THE VEHIC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED, THE ABS ACTIVATED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY COMPUTER CHIP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
NHTSA ODI #10395926
Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2011
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A VIOLENT JERK DURING DECELERATION. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THE RPMS WOULD BEGAN TO INCREASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE DIFFERENT TIMES…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A VIOLENT JERK DURING DECELERATION. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THE RPMS WOULD BEGAN TO INCREASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THE SIMILAR FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED AND THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR AFTER THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING UPON A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10395826
85,000 miles · Apr 13, 2011
Unknown Or Other
TRANSMISSION. UNDOCUMENTED FLAW WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR DURING REGULAR DRIVING. VERY HARD JERKY SHIFTS.
NHTSA ODI #10396410
81,635 miles · Apr 13, 2011
Power Train
2005 NISSAN MAXIMA SL SHIFTS HARD AND CAUSES THE CAR TO JUMP FORWARD AND DOES THE SAME WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. NEARLY CAUSED 2 ACCIDENTS AND NO RELIEF FROM NISSAN, AND THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10395698
62,000 miles · Apr 12, 2011
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING GEAR FROM PARK OR DRIVE A CLUNKING SOUND WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE AP…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING GEAR FROM PARK OR DRIVE A CLUNKING SOUND WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
NHTSA ODI #10395575
78,000 miles · Apr 11, 2011
Power Train
EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10395491
114,890 miles · Apr 9, 2011
Power Train
I AM A OWNER OF A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA I HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED SOME TRANSMISSION ISSUES I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO REPORT AN ISSUE THAT INVOLVING MY VEHICLE ... I WAS ALMOST HIT BY AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER IN TRAFFIC AFTER MY CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AT WHICH TIME I WAS ADVISED BY THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THE…
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I AM A OWNER OF A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA I HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED SOME TRANSMISSION ISSUES I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO REPORT AN ISSUE THAT INVOLVING MY VEHICLE ... I WAS ALMOST HIT BY AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER IN TRAFFIC AFTER MY CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AT WHICH TIME I WAS ADVISED BY THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THE TRANSMISSION ON MY VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS RE: TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AFTER BEING TERRIFIED I WROTE NISSAN A CONSUMER REPORT LETTER EXPLAINING MY ISSUES WITH MY TRANSMISSION. I WENT TO THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE NISSAN IS CONCERNED WITH. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN THE COLD SHOULDER AFTER MAKING A $30, 000 PURCHASE THAT HAS ALMOST COST ME AND MY CHILDREN'S LIFE. PLEASE SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS MASSIVE PROBLEM BEFORE SOME ONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT. AFTER TODAY I AM PARKING THIS BEAUTIFUL YET DANGEROUS PIECE OF MACHINERY I CAN NOT IN GOOD FAITH BELIEVE THAT NISSAN HAS PLANNED TO DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO RECTIFY A ISSUE SO LARGE! SOME ONE NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE IN THE NISSAN CAMP FOR RECALLING THIS CAR. I CAN SAY THIS AT LEAST TOYOTA STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10395365
118,281 miles · Apr 8, 2011
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR AND WAS CURRENTLY MALFUNCT…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR AND WAS CURRENTLY MALFUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT ADDRESSED IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,281.
NHTSA ODI #10395271
40,000 miles · Apr 7, 2011
Power Train
WHEN PUTTING THE CAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE IT HESITATES AND THEN JERKS INTO GEAR. HARD SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD. WHEN DOWNSHIFTING THIS ALSO HAPPENS IN THE SAME GEARS. THIS STARTED AROUND $40,000 MILES AND HAPPENS EVERYTIME THE CAR IS DROVE. WHEN THE CAR IS HOT IT JERKS ALOT HARDER WHEN SHIFTING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10395147
60,000 miles · Apr 6, 2011
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE, VIOLENTLY JERK, AND STALL SPORADICALLY. THE FAILURE BEGAN TWO YEARS AGO AND THE DEALER MADE SEVEN ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED THE CONTACT $800 TOWARD REPAIRS Y…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE, VIOLENTLY JERK, AND STALL SPORADICALLY. THE FAILURE BEGAN TWO YEARS AGO AND THE DEALER MADE SEVEN ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED THE CONTACT $800 TOWARD REPAIRS YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,696 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
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.
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.
2005 Nissan Maxima Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year