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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
86,000 miles · Oct 13, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE CONTACT WOULD HEAR A THUMP WHILE ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT COULD NOT AFFORD THE COST OF THE REPAIRS SO THE MECHANIC TO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE CONTACT WOULD HEAR A THUMP WHILE ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT COULD NOT AFFORD THE COST OF THE REPAIRS SO THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION DIES. EVENTUALLY THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION MAKING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DEALER STATED THEIR IS NO RECALL SO THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ODI #10360311

72,000 miles · Oct 13, 2010
Power Train

I PURCHASED A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AND FROM DAY 1 I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION JERKING. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO NISSAN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED, 2 TIMES SINCE JULY 2009. OF COURSE THE JERKINESS HAS NEVER DUPLICATED ITSELF. AUG OF 2010, I WAS TOLD THE MOTOR MOUNTS SNAPPED AND…

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I PURCHASED A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AND FROM DAY 1 I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION JERKING. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO NISSAN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED, 2 TIMES SINCE JULY 2009. OF COURSE THE JERKINESS HAS NEVER DUPLICATED ITSELF. AUG OF 2010, I WAS TOLD THE MOTOR MOUNTS SNAPPED AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AND OF COURSE I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE JERKINESS IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TECH COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AS OF TODAY, I STILL HAVE THE JERKINESS WHICH IS BAD AND AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT I THINK THE VEHICLE WON'T WORK ANYMORE. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT JUST CAME ON AND I NOTICE THAT THE ENGINE IS RIDING HARD. JUST LIKE IT DID WHEN I FOUND ABOUT THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND NOW THE JERKINESS IN THE TRAINING IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME. IT JERKS INTO GEAR REALLY HARD TO THE POINT WHERE YOU MIGHT THINK THE CAR IS GOING TO SHUT OFF. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED AT NISSAN. I DID FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS BECAUSE IT IS NOT FAIR. THERE IS A PROBLEM. A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. NISSAN HAS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360300

100,000 miles · Oct 11, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES, MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP. WHETHER PUTTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE OR IN TO GEAR TO GO FORWARD, THE CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY, AS WELL AS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR REVS TO UP TO THE 5000 RPM RANGE, AND THEN JERKS INTO GEAR. THIS OCCURS BETWEEN 1ST AND SE…

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I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES, MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP. WHETHER PUTTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE OR IN TO GEAR TO GO FORWARD, THE CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY, AS WELL AS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR REVS TO UP TO THE 5000 RPM RANGE, AND THEN JERKS INTO GEAR. THIS OCCURS BETWEEN 1ST AND SECOND GEAR, AS WELL AS 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. THIS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST GET IN TO AN ACCIDENT. AFTER DOING RESEARCH THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER NISSAN MAXIMA FROM 2005 EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360018

145,000 miles · Oct 5, 2010
Power Train

MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT IS VERY WIDE SPREAD FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND. WHILE DRIVING VIOLENT BANGS OCCUR BETWEEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD. THIS DEFECT IS SO SEVERE IT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A DRIVER NOT EXPECTING IT TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE! THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF…

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MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT IS VERY WIDE SPREAD FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND. WHILE DRIVING VIOLENT BANGS OCCUR BETWEEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD. THIS DEFECT IS SO SEVERE IT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A DRIVER NOT EXPECTING IT TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE! THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I'M REALLY AGGRAVATED NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY NISSAN OR ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. AS OF NOW MY CAR IS PARKED AND I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A SECOND VEHICLE AVAILABLE TO ME FOR WORK. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AND NISSAN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT. ANYONE OUT THERE LOOKING TO BUY A CAR STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!! TRUST ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10359345

74,000 miles · Oct 5, 2010
Power Train

2005 NISSAN MAXIMA - INCIDENT REPORT - FAULTY TRANSMISSION LED TO CAR'S FAILURE TO ACCELERATE IN INTERSECTION CAUSING NEAR COLLISION WITH 18 WHEELER. AS I WAS ENTERING INTERSECTION AN 18 WHEELER WAS COMING DOWN THE HILL. I NEEDED TO ACCELERATE TO MOVE OUT OF HIS WAY AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO DO SO THE ENGINE MERELY REVVED AND WOUL…

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2005 NISSAN MAXIMA - INCIDENT REPORT - FAULTY TRANSMISSION LED TO CAR'S FAILURE TO ACCELERATE IN INTERSECTION CAUSING NEAR COLLISION WITH 18 WHEELER. AS I WAS ENTERING INTERSECTION AN 18 WHEELER WAS COMING DOWN THE HILL. I NEEDED TO ACCELERATE TO MOVE OUT OF HIS WAY AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO DO SO THE ENGINE MERELY REVVED AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. I HAVE READ AND REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO NISSAN AND THIS AGENCY AS HAVE SO VERY MANY OTHERS. I SUPPOSE IT WILL REQUIRE A DEATH TO GET ANYONE TO SIT UP AND MAKE NISSAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR FAULTY AW55-50S TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SHOPS ALL OVER THIS NATION AND INDIVIDUALS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. WE DON'T ALL HAVE 3 TO 4 GRAND SITTING AROUND TO PAY FOR THAT WHICH NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THE TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY AND THE NISSAN IS NOT THE ONLY AUTO WITH THIS IN IT. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE A LIFE IF FORFEIT FROM THEIR FAILURE TO ACT. READ THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON THIS PRODUCT - THERE ARE NOT 10'S - NOT 100'S - BUT, THOUSANDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10359277

54,000 miles · Oct 5, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH 54000 AND MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE. I HAVE READ PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE FROM OTHER PEOPLE. ITS VERY DANGEROUS MY CAR JERKS AND I HAVE MY FAMILY IN THE CAR AND I GET VERY SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I DON'T KNOW WHY NISSAN HASN'T HAD A RECALL ON THIS CAR YET. I TOOK MY CAR FOR GET FIXED AND THE DEALER …

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I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH 54000 AND MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE. I HAVE READ PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE FROM OTHER PEOPLE. ITS VERY DANGEROUS MY CAR JERKS AND I HAVE MY FAMILY IN THE CAR AND I GET VERY SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I DON'T KNOW WHY NISSAN HASN'T HAD A RECALL ON THIS CAR YET. I TOOK MY CAR FOR GET FIXED AND THE DEALER ENDED UP FIXING UP MY MOTOR MOUNTS WHICH WASN'T THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS REALLY MY TRANSMISSION AND I PICKED UP THE MY CAR WHEN IT WAS DONE AND MY TRANSMISSION GAVE AWAY IN TWO DAYS. THEY FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME AND IT WASN'T MY MOTOR MOUNTS THAT WAS CAUSING THE JERKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10359257

130,000 miles · Oct 5, 2010
Power Train

MY CAR JERKS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AND WHEN DOWN SHIFTING. IT STARTED SHIFTING HARD WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE, FEELING AS IF I HIT SOMETHING EVERY TIME. I WOULD HAVE TO PUSH DOWN ON THE BRAKE HARD BECAUSE IT WOULD JERK SO HARD. THEN MY CAR STARTED SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN GEARS WHILE DRIVING. IT WAS SUCH A VIOLENT SHIFT THAT IF F…

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MY CAR JERKS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AND WHEN DOWN SHIFTING. IT STARTED SHIFTING HARD WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE, FEELING AS IF I HIT SOMETHING EVERY TIME. I WOULD HAVE TO PUSH DOWN ON THE BRAKE HARD BECAUSE IT WOULD JERK SO HARD. THEN MY CAR STARTED SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN GEARS WHILE DRIVING. IT WAS SUCH A VIOLENT SHIFT THAT IF FELT LIKE SOMEONE HAD HIT MY CAR. IT SHIFTED SO HARD YESTERDAY THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I TOOK THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO MY NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I NEED A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION ($3000). I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF 2004,05,06 NISSAN MAXIMA OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING. I HAVE CALLED NISSAN AND NO RECALLS! NISSAN REFUSED TO ACT LIKE THIS WAS A PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP! I COULD UNDERSTAND IF MY CAR WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT WITH HUNDREDS OF OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, THAT IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND NISSAN NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10359206

60,000 miles · Oct 1, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND VIBRATE WHILE DOWN SHIFTING OR SHIFTING FROM THE FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND VIBRATE WHILE DOWN SHIFTING OR SHIFTING FROM THE FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60000.

NHTSA ODI #10358603

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AND THE TRANSMISSION IS GIVING ME A PROBLEM. I SHIFTS REALLY HARD WHEN THE ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING. THE PROBLEM OCCURS ONLY AFTER THE CAR HAS WARMED UP. WHILE TEST DRIVING THE CAR, THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR; AFTER I HAD SIGNED ALL THE PAPERS AND DRIVEN THE CAR HOME DID 30 MINS. AWAY DID THE PROB…

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I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AND THE TRANSMISSION IS GIVING ME A PROBLEM. I SHIFTS REALLY HARD WHEN THE ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING. THE PROBLEM OCCURS ONLY AFTER THE CAR HAS WARMED UP. WHILE TEST DRIVING THE CAR, THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR; AFTER I HAD SIGNED ALL THE PAPERS AND DRIVEN THE CAR HOME DID 30 MINS. AWAY DID THE PROBLEM OCCUR. THE CAR WAS SOLD AS-IS. I AM VERY UPSET. NISSAN NEEDS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT NOT COST TO US. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10358444

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2010
Power TrainCrashInjury

I BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA SL IN JANUARY 2010, SO ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO. IT DROVE BEAUTIFULLY, IT WAS SMOOTH AND EVERYTHING. I CHANGED THE OIL, GOT A TRANSMISSION FLUSH, NEW TIRES, EVERYTHING. A FEW DAYS AFTER I GOT IT, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, AND AS I WAS DOI…

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I BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA SL IN JANUARY 2010, SO ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO. IT DROVE BEAUTIFULLY, IT WAS SMOOTH AND EVERYTHING. I CHANGED THE OIL, GOT A TRANSMISSION FLUSH, NEW TIRES, EVERYTHING. A FEW DAYS AFTER I GOT IT, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, AND AS I WAS DOING THAT IT STALLED, THEN JERKED AND HYDROPLANED AT THE INTERSECTION AND INTO THE INCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC INTO ANOTHER CAR. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP TO REPAIR IT WHICH TOOK A FEW MONTHS. THEN, ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR STARTED TO GET WORSE AND WOULD STALL AND THEN JERK WHEN I WOULD REVERSE THE CAR FROM PARK. SPECIFICALLY WHEN REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. AS THE WEEKS WENT BY, IT GOT EVEN WORSE. THE CAR WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK WHILE SWITCHING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR OR WHEN BRAKING SUDDENLY OR WHEN ACCELERATING SUDDENLY. SOMETIMES WHILE ACCELERATING, THE CAR WILL STALL, THE ENGINE REVS UP, AND THEN THE CAR WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK FORWARD AS IF IT WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. IN ONE INSTANCE I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO MAKE SURE THAT I WASN'T HIT BY A CAR, WITH THE LATTER NOT BEING THE CASE AT ALL. IT HAPPENS EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT NOW. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND HE THOUGHT THAT IT NEEDED A NEW SENSOR, SO HE INSTALLED IT, AND TOLD ME THAT IT DIDN'T STOP THE JERKING. THEN I GOT ANOTHER TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND IT HASN'T HELPED THE SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10358148

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.