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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
90,000 miles · Feb 15, 2011
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA SE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED SHIFTING INTO GEAR AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA SE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED SHIFTING INTO GEAR AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10382715

95,000 miles · Feb 14, 2011
Power Train

I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. AROUND 95,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. IT WOULD REV THE RPM'S AND THEN SLAM INTO GEAR. ALSO, IT WOULD TAKE A FEW SECONDS TO GO INTO DRIVE, BUT WHEN IT DID IT WOULD SLAM INTO DRIVE JERKING THE CAR AROUND. NISSAN REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AFTER REPEATED VISITS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10382672

92,000 miles · Feb 14, 2011
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, SHE NOTICED THAT IT WOULD JERK WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 2 AND 3 RPMS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO NOT ACCELERATE TO HIGHER SPEEDS AFTER THE GEARS WERE SHIFTED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, SHE NOTICED THAT IT WOULD JERK WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 2 AND 3 RPMS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO NOT ACCELERATE TO HIGHER SPEEDS AFTER THE GEARS WERE SHIFTED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL ON A INTERMITTENT BASIS FOR TWO WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

NHTSA ODI #10382574

117,000 miles · Feb 10, 2011
Power Train

BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. SERVICED AS OUTLINED IN OWNERS MANUAL. TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING ISSUES AROUND 70,000 MILES. I AM IN THE MILITARY AND WITH DEPLOYMENTS, WASN'T ABLE TO GET IT TO A DEALER. I HAVE CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID NUMEROUS TIMES TO TRY AND ALLEVIATE SYMPTOMS TO NO AVAIL. THE TRANSMISSION HAS A 2-4 SECOND DELAY GOING…

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BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. SERVICED AS OUTLINED IN OWNERS MANUAL. TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING ISSUES AROUND 70,000 MILES. I AM IN THE MILITARY AND WITH DEPLOYMENTS, WASN'T ABLE TO GET IT TO A DEALER. I HAVE CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID NUMEROUS TIMES TO TRY AND ALLEVIATE SYMPTOMS TO NO AVAIL. THE TRANSMISSION HAS A 2-4 SECOND DELAY GOING FROM P-D OR D-P, SHIFTS HARD IN MOST GEARS AND SLIPS OUT OF GEAR RANDOMLY. HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO INABILITY TO ACCELERATE. HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY POST OF OWNERS THAT LIST THE EXACT SAME DEFECTS. NISSAN HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 2007-2010 MAXIMAS WITH CVT TRANSMISSION BUT NOT THE 04-06 MODELS FOR SOME REASON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10381469

61,996 miles · Feb 8, 2011
Power Train

TRANSMISSION JERKS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. TERRIBLE LAG BETWEEN SHIFTS AND NERVE RACKING JERKS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10381216

92,000 miles · Feb 8, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS ABNORMALLY SLIPPING OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SPUTTER WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACIN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS ABNORMALLY SLIPPING OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SPUTTER WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ODI #10381123

65,000 miles · Feb 8, 2011
Power Train

2005 MAXIMA IS SLAMMING IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. I HAVE ALMOST HAD A FEW ACCIDENTS BECAUSE MY CAR TAKES TOO LONG TO FINALLY SHIFT INTO GEAR. THIS CAUSES MANY NEAR MISSES WHEN DRIVING IN A METROPOLITAN AREA. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY NISSAN DOESN'T MAN UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM THEY SOLD TO THE PUBLIC??? I BOUGHT THIS C…

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2005 MAXIMA IS SLAMMING IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. I HAVE ALMOST HAD A FEW ACCIDENTS BECAUSE MY CAR TAKES TOO LONG TO FINALLY SHIFT INTO GEAR. THIS CAUSES MANY NEAR MISSES WHEN DRIVING IN A METROPOLITAN AREA. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY NISSAN DOESN'T MAN UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM THEY SOLD TO THE PUBLIC??? I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH THE INTENTIONS OF DRIVING IT FOR 300,000 MILES BECAUSE IT IS A NISSAN AND I WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY WERE ONE OF THE BEST. BOY WAS I WRONG AND 30,000 DOLLARS LATER I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT ISN'T WORTH 10 DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE READ AND HEARD THE EXACT SAME STORY I HAVE FROM EVERYONE WHO OWNS THIS CAR!! HOW CAN THEY NOT SAY IT IS A DEFECT ON THEIR PART AND CORRECT IT?? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10381083

45,000 miles · Feb 7, 2011
Power Train

HARD, JERKING SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR (AND 2ND TO 1ST). ENGINE REVS UP PAST 3000 RPM'S WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS WARM, BUT IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME CAR IS WARM. *LN

NHTSA ODI #10381041

99,000 miles · Feb 7, 2011
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SWITCHING GEARS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIOLENTLY JERK. THE DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED WHO WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO TOOK A COMPLAINT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SWITCHING GEARS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIOLENTLY JERK. THE DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED WHO WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO TOOK A COMPLAINT FOR THE CONTACT AND THEN REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA TO FILE A SAFETY COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10380978

85,000 miles · Jan 27, 2011
Power Train

MY 2005 MAXIMA WAS VIOLENTLY JERKING, STALLING AND HARD SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEARS AND VICE VERSA. I KEPT TELLING NISSAN THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR BUT THEY WOULD TAKE MAY STATEMENT SAY THEY WOULD GET BACK WHEN ME AND WHEN THEY DID THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY. I TOOK MY CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANICS SP…

Read full complaint

MY 2005 MAXIMA WAS VIOLENTLY JERKING, STALLING AND HARD SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEARS AND VICE VERSA. I KEPT TELLING NISSAN THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR BUT THEY WOULD TAKE MAY STATEMENT SAY THEY WOULD GET BACK WHEN ME AND WHEN THEY DID THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY. I TOOK MY CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANICS SPENDING 1000.00 OF DOLLARS AND NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I TOOK MY CAR TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP, AFTER THE GOT THE CAR RUNNING BECAUSE IT HAD STOPPED ON ME ON THE HIGHWAY COMING HOME FROM WORK, THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT JERKS IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR, I ASKED IF THAT COULD BE FIXED THEY SAID THEY'D TRY, AFTER ANOTHER 2000.00 MORE I BROUGHT IT HOME AND AGAIN THE SAME PROBLEM, I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO NISSAN AND THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATED LIST OF REPAIRS THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE FOR APPROXIMATELY $6,000 WHICH INCLUDED $4185 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. HOW IS IT THAT WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS AND ONLY 600 MILES THAT IT GOES FROM SENSORS SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM TO YOU NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW STARTER, I THEN CONTACTED 1-800-NISSAN1 WHICH WAS A WASTE OF TIME THEY SUPPOSEDLY REVIEWED MY COMPLAINT AND TOLD ME THAT UNFORTUNATELY THEY WON'T BE PAYING FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS. WHAT A PIECE OF JUNK CAR AND I CANNOT BELIEVE A RECALL HASN'T BEEN MADE ON THIS CAR! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10379346

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.