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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
65,000 miles · Sep 13, 2010
Power Train

VEHICLE HAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INTO GEAR. WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND THEN JERKS INTO GEAR WITH ALOT OF FORCE. THIS PROBLEM CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED AND MAY A LEAD TO REAR-END COLLISION. ADDITIONALLY IT CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN MERGING INTO FASTER MOVING TRAFFI…

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VEHICLE HAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INTO GEAR. WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND THEN JERKS INTO GEAR WITH ALOT OF FORCE. THIS PROBLEM CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED AND MAY A LEAD TO REAR-END COLLISION. ADDITIONALLY IT CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN MERGING INTO FASTER MOVING TRAFFIC (I.E. MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY). THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A FAULTY VALVE BODY THAT ULTIMATELY LEADS TO THE DETERIORATION OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY NISSAN CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10355204

52,000 miles · Sep 13, 2010
Power Train

TRANSMISSION RACES AND BANGS. STARTED RIGHT AFTER CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. CONTACTED NISSAN. CAR IS A NISSAN MAXIMA 2005 WITH UNDER 60,000 MILES. THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION STARTS TO RACE AND BANG IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AFTER CAR BANGS A FEW TIMES , ITS HARD TO GET THE CAR MOVING FROM A STOP. WE HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH WITH NISSAN …

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TRANSMISSION RACES AND BANGS. STARTED RIGHT AFTER CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. CONTACTED NISSAN. CAR IS A NISSAN MAXIMA 2005 WITH UNDER 60,000 MILES. THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION STARTS TO RACE AND BANG IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AFTER CAR BANGS A FEW TIMES , ITS HARD TO GET THE CAR MOVING FROM A STOP. WE HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH WITH NISSAN AND BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WILL CHARGE US FOR THIS FIX. WE FEEL AS THOUGH THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE RECALLED. WE ARE GETTING PRICES FOR OUR CAR OUTSIDE OF NISSAN BECAUSE OF THE FRUSTRATION WE HAVE GONE THROUGH WITH THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10355177

75,000 miles · Sep 11, 2010
Power Train

I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION ALREADY? WELL CARED FOR 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT APPROX 75,000 MILES. NISSAN HAS NOT DONE A RECALL AND MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE. MY CAR HAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC 3 TIMES ALREADY ! SOMETIMES WON'T ACCELERATE AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT ME HAVING …

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I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION ALREADY? WELL CARED FOR 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT APPROX 75,000 MILES. NISSAN HAS NOT DONE A RECALL AND MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE. MY CAR HAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC 3 TIMES ALREADY ! SOMETIMES WON'T ACCELERATE AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT ME HAVING TO RESTART THE ENGINE. JERKS WHEN GOING TO FROM 1ST TO SECOND AND VICE VERSA. I'M STILL MAKING $500.00 PAYMENTS ON THE CAR! VERY DISCOURAGING, NISSAN SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10355022

112,000 miles · Sep 8, 2010
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND 2ND TO 1ST GEAR, SOMETIMES WON'T CHANGE AND THAN SLAMS INTO 2ND GEAR OR WILL DOWNSHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR TO EARLY . THIS CAUSES NO ACCELERATION OR STOPPING SHORT. HAVE NOW READ MANY COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10354452

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2010
Power Train

ITS SEEMS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 05 MAXIMA IS GOING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10354369

66,000 miles · Sep 7, 2010
Power Train

2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH ONLY 67 THOUSAND MILES, CAR JERKS FORWARD WHEN STOPPED, STALLS, AND JERKS WHEN TRYING TO REVERSE, I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF CONSUMER REPORTS AND THIS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH NISSAN, DEALERSHIP SAYS MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 3 TO 4000! I DON'T HAVE THAT KI…

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2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH ONLY 67 THOUSAND MILES, CAR JERKS FORWARD WHEN STOPPED, STALLS, AND JERKS WHEN TRYING TO REVERSE, I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF CONSUMER REPORTS AND THIS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH NISSAN, DEALERSHIP SAYS MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 3 TO 4000! I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF CASH. AND AM IN A WORLD OF TROUBLE WITH NO CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10354148

69,000 miles · Sep 6, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA AND HE IT JERKING WHEN I PUT IT IN "D" AND I HAVE READ MANY REVIEWS AND THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. WE SPEND TOO MUCH MONEY ON THESE CARS AND THEY ARE NOT SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10353973

81,000 miles · Sep 3, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE VEHICLE DROVE AS IF IT WAS CHANGING GEARS. WHEN SHE ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING SLOWLY AS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND IT BEGAN TO JUMP AND CHANGE GEARS, AS IF IT WAS A MANUAL VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE VEHICLE DROVE AS IF IT WAS CHANGING GEARS. WHEN SHE ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING SLOWLY AS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND IT BEGAN TO JUMP AND CHANGE GEARS, AS IF IT WAS A MANUAL VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SINCE THE DEALER WANTED $4400 TO REPAIR IT. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A VIN. THE APPROXIMATE AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,000.UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, IT DIDN'T MOVE IMMEDIATELY, BUT THEN IT WOULD JERK INTO GEAR AFTER THE ACCELERATOR WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD TAKE OFF VERY FAST. UPDATED 03/24/11

NHTSA ODI #10353694

62,000 miles · Aug 30, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND SLIPPED INTO THIRD OR FOURTH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MISCOMMUNICATION WITH THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM. NONE OF THE PARTS WERE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND SLIPPED INTO THIRD OR FOURTH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MISCOMMUNICATION WITH THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM. NONE OF THE PARTS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE VIN INFORMATION WASN'T AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI #10352844

70,000 miles · Aug 30, 2010
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT, THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED FROM AMBER THEN RED AND MY TRANSMISSION DROPPED VERY HARD FROM 3 TO 2 AS IF I SLAMMED THE BREAKS AND THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME. IT WOULD APPEAR TO THE CAR BEHIND ME THAT I SLAMMED THE BRAKES MANY FEET TOO EARLY AND WAS UNPREDICTABLE. THE ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED BY THE DR…

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WHILE DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT, THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED FROM AMBER THEN RED AND MY TRANSMISSION DROPPED VERY HARD FROM 3 TO 2 AS IF I SLAMMED THE BREAKS AND THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME. IT WOULD APPEAR TO THE CAR BEHIND ME THAT I SLAMMED THE BRAKES MANY FEET TOO EARLY AND WAS UNPREDICTABLE. THE ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED BY THE DRIVER FROM BEHIND AND RESULTED BY ANGRY GESTURES AND HONKING. LUCKILY NO ONE GOT HURT. THIS ISSUE OCCURS FROM TIME TO TIME WITH THIS TRANSMISSION THAT I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE. THE CAR IN VERY GOOD SHAPE, AND RELIABLE. ALL THE SERVICES HAS BEEN DONE BY THE DEALER, BUT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED SINCE ITS PAST THE 5 YEAR MARK. NISSAN MAXIMA 2005. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352769

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.