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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
72,458 miles · Dec 18, 2010
Electrical System

ALL THE SUDDEN THE INSTRUMENT SHUT DOWN (OUT OF ORDER) I GOT PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE AND INSTRUCTED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR TIL FIXING THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10371137

139,015 miles · Dec 18, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AND JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE I AM HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT JOLTS HARD WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR IF I REVERSE AND GO TO DRIVE. ALSO THE CARS GEAR SLIPS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM THIS A VEHICLE THE SAME YEAR…

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I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AND JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE I AM HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT JOLTS HARD WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR IF I REVERSE AND GO TO DRIVE. ALSO THE CARS GEAR SLIPS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM THIS A VEHICLE THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL AND THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN AND NO ONE IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT GETTING IT FIXED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL!!! DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET KILLED FOR THE ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED?? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10371132

Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 2010
Power Train

2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. CONSUMER STATES SHIFTING PROBLEM WITH CVT TRANSMISSION *TGW

NHTSA ODI #10371395

115,000 miles · Dec 9, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE RPMS SUDDENLY INCREASED RAPIDLY WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED GEARS. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF; THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO RESET ITSELF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE RPMS SUDDENLY INCREASED RAPIDLY WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED GEARS. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF; THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO RESET ITSELF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO REFERRED HIM TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #10369729

77,435 miles · Dec 7, 2010
Power Train

I FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA #10357629 -9/25/10. THE SITUATION WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND NOT MENTIONED THE TIMING CHAIN. THE TRANSMISSION SHUT DOWN ; STOPPED ; FAILED ; CEASED TO FUNCTION FRI. NOV /12 /10 @ 5;00 PM DURING RUSH HOUR IN THE CENTER OF THE BUSIEST FREEWAY IN MY AREA LEAVING ME THANKFUL TO GOD AND …

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I FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA #10357629 -9/25/10. THE SITUATION WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND NOT MENTIONED THE TIMING CHAIN. THE TRANSMISSION SHUT DOWN ; STOPPED ; FAILED ; CEASED TO FUNCTION FRI. NOV /12 /10 @ 5;00 PM DURING RUSH HOUR IN THE CENTER OF THE BUSIEST FREEWAY IN MY AREA LEAVING ME THANKFUL TO GOD AND THE RIVERSIDE CTY. FREEWAY SERVICE PATROL WITH WHICH I FILLED OUT A SURVEY #217446 THEIR # 951 369-3691. ACCIDENTS WERE BEHIND ME SOMEWHERE THE TWO DRIVER SAID I WAS FORTUNATE TO NOT SUFFER INJURY AND DAMAGE. THE MAXIMA COST OF REPAIR TO NISSAN'S PRODUCT IS OVER $ 6,000.00. THE MAXIMA HAS ONLY 77,435 MILES. THESE ARE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL DEFAULTS AND THERE ARE SCORES OF OWNERS REPORTING SIMILAR TO IDENTICAL EXPERIENCES ABOUT THEIR MAXIMA CARS FROM 2004 THROUGH 2007. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT NHTSA HAVEN'T RECOGNIZED THIS AS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. WHY DON'T THE PEOPLE THAT BUY THESE PRODUCTS IN GOOD FAITH GET THE BACKING OF THE NHTSA. THERE ARE RECALLS ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND SMALL THINGS LIKE THAT- THAT ANYBODY CAN REPLACE WITHIN TWENTY DOLLARS BUT THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL PROBLEM, THIS IS MONEY FOR PAYING RENT FOR MONTHS, THIS IS THE COST OF SURGERY TO KEEP A WORKING PERSON AMBULATORY, THIS IS A CALL FOR HELP, A CALL TO KEEP SOME OF THE PROFITS OF FOREIGN CORPORATIONS AT HOME .THIS IS WHEN THE FORCE OF THE NHTSA'S AUTHORITY SHOULD SEEMINGLY COME TO THE FOREFRONT DEMANDING THEY STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AS SAFE AND TRUSTWORTHY AND CERTAINLY NOT A VEHICLE DOING SIXTY MILES AN HOUR DURING RUSH HOUR COMING TO A DEAD STOP WITH VEHICLES PEALING TO ALL SIDES IN ALL DIRECTIONS DESPERATELY AVOIDING COLLISIONS AND PERSONAL INJURY AS WELL AS INJURY TO OTHERS AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. HERE I WAS SITTING THERE EYES SHUT TIGHT WAITING FOR THE SLAM OF SOME VEHICLE INTO MINE THAT REFUSED TO BUDGE. I FELT LIKE I WAS IN THE MIDST OF COMMITTING SUICIDE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO PREVENT IT. LIKE A NIGHTMARE, SOME EVIL OCCURRENCE DESCENDING. HELP!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369531

67,000 miles · Dec 1, 2010
Power Train

2005 MAXIMA SL - 67,000 MILES . RECENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM - JERKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MILES. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10368605

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2010
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 TRANSMISSION EVEN THOUGH IT'S THEIR JOB TO TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY CAR, BUT WHILE MY CAR WAS 500 MILES SHORT OF THE 60000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRATION NISSAN K…

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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 TRANSMISSION EVEN THOUGH IT'S THEIR JOB TO TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY CAR, BUT WHILE MY CAR WAS 500 MILES SHORT OF THE 60000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRATION NISSAN KEPT TELLING ME THAT I NEEDED A POWER FLUSH, GOT THAT DONE IT DID MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR A COUPLE WEEKS THEN THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO NISSAN AT 60100 MILES AND THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATED LIST OF REPAIRS THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE FOR APPROXIMATELY $10,000 WHICH INCLUDED $4185 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. HOW IS IT THAT WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS AND ONLY 600 MILES THAT IT GOES FROM A POWER FLUSH SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM TO YOU NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW STARTER, ETC. FOR A MINUTE I THOUGHT I WAS BEING PUNKED! 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 ESPECIALLY NOT THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE HERB GORDON NISSAN HAD NO KNOWLEDGE THAT I'VE EVER REPORTED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, BUT LUCKILY FOR THEM I KEEP EVERYTHING THAT PERTAINS TO MY CAR, WHEN I FAXED ALL THE DIAGNOSIS REPORTS FOR THE PAST 5 MONTHS TO THE REGIONAL SPECIALIST HE TOLD ME THAT UNFORTUNATELY THE DECISION HAD BEEN MADE NOT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND THAT IF I WANT TO APPEAL THE DECISION I SHOULD GO THROUGH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. WTF??? IT TELLS A LOT ABOUT THE MANUFACTURE WHEN THEY ONLY HAVE A 3 YEAR OR 36000 MILE WARRANTY WITH A 5 YEAR OR 60000 MILE POWER TRAIN. NISSAN IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST, WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THEM. BUYERS BEWARE IF YOU WANT TO THROW AWAY MORE MONEY THEN YOUR CAR IS WORTH. NISSAN IS THE WAY TO GO!!!! ???????????*TR

NHTSA ODI #10368299

80,000 miles · Nov 25, 2010
Power Train

I BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA 3.5 SE ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. WELL WHEN I BOUGHT IT I NOTICED THE NEXT DAY IT WAS JERKING TREMENDOUSLY SO I CALLED THE DEALER BACK AND TOLD HIM WHAT WAS GOING ON. WELL HE SAID TAKE IT TO HIS MECHANIC AND THEY WOULD PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED. SO I DID AS HE SAID AND TOOK IT TO HIS MECHANIC. WELL HIS MECHAN…

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I BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA 3.5 SE ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. WELL WHEN I BOUGHT IT I NOTICED THE NEXT DAY IT WAS JERKING TREMENDOUSLY SO I CALLED THE DEALER BACK AND TOLD HIM WHAT WAS GOING ON. WELL HE SAID TAKE IT TO HIS MECHANIC AND THEY WOULD PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED. SO I DID AS HE SAID AND TOOK IT TO HIS MECHANIC. WELL HIS MECHANIC SAID IT WAS IT WAS THE REAR MOTOR MOUNT AND IT HAD BROKE BECAUSE OF THE SHIFTING SO HARD AND HE FIXED IT. WELL I THOUGHT THAT HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM..WELL 2 DAYS LATER IT WAS STILL DOING THE SAME OL' THING SHIFTING REAL REAL HARD BETWEEN 1-2ND GEAR AND THEN WHEN YOUR DOWNSHIFTING IT JERKS BETWEEN 1-2ND GEAR. WELL I CALLED THE MECHANIC BACK AND HE WASN'T AVAILABLE AND THE GUY SAID HE WOULD HAVE HIM CALL BACK. WELL, HE NEVER CALLED BACK. AND THEN AFTER THAT IT REALLY NEVER SHIFTED HARD. WELL GUESS WHAT..ITS BACK AND ITS DOING IT WORSE THAN EVER! SO I DID A LITTLE RESEARCHING AND COME TO FIND OUT THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO SO MANY PEOPLE WHO OWN A 2004 UP TO A 2006 NISSAN MAXIMA. AND IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. SOMETIMES MY CAR TAKES FOREVER TO SHIFT AND I AM SO SCARED TO PULL OUT ON THE FREEWAY AND IT NOT GO AND THEN ILL GET HIT AND DIE. SO I KNOW IT IS IN-FACT A DEFECTED TRANSMISSION BECAUSE I OWNED A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA GLE BEFORE I GOT THIS ONE AND IT NEVER EVER HAD PROBLEMS AT ALL. AND I AM SO SURPRISED NISSAN HASN'T RECALLED THIS BECAUSE OF THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING WITH THERE 05 MAXIMAS SHIFTING HARD WHEN GOING TO 1-2ND GEAR. AND THEN DOWNSHIFTING. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND SOMEONE WILL GET HURT OR KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAVE PRINTED OFF HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND I REALLY NEED HELP ALONG WITH THE OTHER THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THE SAME CAR AND SAME PROBLEMS. ALL I WANT IS MY CAR FIXED. THIS IS NOT FAIR TO US ESPECIALLY AFTER WE PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THE VEHICLE AND THEN HAVE TO TURN AROUND TO BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION. PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10367853

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT JERKS REALLY HARD WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10367218

87,975 miles · Nov 17, 2010
Power Train

MY CAR WOULD JUST START TO JERK REALLY HARD ONCE IT WAS IN 2ND GEAR AND GOING INTO 3RD GEAR. IT WOULD START OF BY OCCURRING EVERY 3RD DAY, BUT IT WORSEN SO I HAD IT TAKEN INTO A MECHANIC TO LOOK INTO IT; HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. CAR WAS RUNNING FINE FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, THEN IT BEGAN ONCE AGAIN WITH THE HARD JERKING AS I W…

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MY CAR WOULD JUST START TO JERK REALLY HARD ONCE IT WAS IN 2ND GEAR AND GOING INTO 3RD GEAR. IT WOULD START OF BY OCCURRING EVERY 3RD DAY, BUT IT WORSEN SO I HAD IT TAKEN INTO A MECHANIC TO LOOK INTO IT; HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. CAR WAS RUNNING FINE FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, THEN IT BEGAN ONCE AGAIN WITH THE HARD JERKING AS I WAS STILL IN 1ST GEAR IT JERKED INTO 2ND GEAR WITH A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND AT THE END. THIS TIME I HAD TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC IN WHICH HE SUGGESTED TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION OIL IN WHICH HE DID. ONCE I GOT MY VEHICLE BACK IT RAN FINE FOR THE FIRST DAY, ON THE SECOND DAY THE PROBLEM HAD RETURNED AGAIN AND SEEMS TO JUST TO GET WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10366633

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.